- PHILETUS amiable, with Hymenaeus, at Ephesus, said that the
“resurrection was past already” (2 Timothy 2:17, 18). This was a Gnostic
heresy held by the Nicolaitanes. (See ALEXANDER [4].) - PHILIP lover of horses. (1.) One of the twelve apostles; a native of
Bethsaida, “the city of Andrew and Peter” (John 1:44). He readily
responded to the call of Jesus when first addressed to him (43), and
forthwith brought Nathanael also to Jesus (45,46). He seems to have held a
prominent place among the apostles (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; John
6:5-7; 12:21, 22; 14:8, 9; Acts 1:13). Of his later life nothing is certainly
known. He is said to have preached in Phrygia, and to have met his death
at Hierapolis.
(2.) One of the “seven” (Acts 6:5), called also “the evangelist” (21:8, 9).
He was one of those who were “scattered abroad” by the persecution that
arose on the death of Stephen. He went first to Samaria, where he laboured
as an evangelist with much success (8:5-13). While he was there he
received a divine command to proceed toward the south, along the road
leading from Jerusalem to Gaza. These towns were connected by two
roads. The one Philip was directed to take was that which led through
Hebron, and thence through a district little inhabited, and hence called
“desert.” As he travelled along this road he was overtaken by a chariot in
which sat a man of Ethiopia, the eunuch or chief officer of Queen Candace,
who was at that moment reading, probably from the Septuagint version, a
portion of the prophecies of Isaiah (53:6,7). Philip entered into
conversation with him, and expounded these verses, preaching to him the
glad tidings of the Saviour. The eunuch received the message and believed,
and was forthwith baptized, and then “went on his way rejoicing.” Philip
was instantly caught away by the Spirit after the baptism, and the eunuch
saw him no more. He was next found at Azotus, whence he went forth in
his evangelistic work till he came to Caesarea. He is not mentioned again
for about twenty years, when he is still found at Caesarea (Acts 21:8)
when Paul and his companions were on the way to Jerusalem. He then
finally disappears from the page of history.
(3.) Mentioned only in connection with the imprisonment of John the
Baptist (Matthew 14:3; Mark 6:17; Luke 3:19). He was the son of Herod
the Great, and the first husband of Herodias, and the father of Salome. (See
HEROD PHILIP I.)