Philip the Evangelist

Philip is one of the seven deacons who were selected by members of the Jerusalem church, at the suggestion of the Apostles to support them. He is to be distinguished from the features mentioned in the Gospels apostles of the same name, even if the two Philip biographies were mistakenly connected to each other in the legend.

Biblical report and legend

According to the Acts of the Apostles Philip was appointed deacon of the early Jerusalem church. The initiative to appoint deacons, went out from the circle of the apostles. The criteria by which the deacons should be called, were established by the Apostles themselves ( men of good repute, full of spirit and wisdom). However, the selection of deacons was incumbent on the community. In addition to Philip, who made ​​a name for itself in the proclamation of the Gospel, Stephen, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicholas were appointed to this service.

During the time of the first persecution of the Christians in Jerusalem, Philip worked in Samaria (Acts 8.4 to 13 EU). He preached and healed the lame and crippled. For many possessed unclean spirits went out with a loud cry.

According to the Biblical narrative in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 8.26-40 EU) Philip was led supernaturally on the desert road near Gaza. There he met the eunuch of Candace, queen of Ethiopia, in some sources also called eunuch under Candace, who was on his way back from Jerusalem in his African homeland. Philip sat down with him in the car and gestured to him a passage from the Book of Isaiah ( 53:7 EU). The eunuch then sought the baptism of Philip. See Except Biblical narratives in this baptism of the eunuch the beginning of the Ethiopian Church.

Then - as reported by the Acts - Philip worked in the area of Caesarea (Acts 21.8 to 9 EU), most recently together with his four daughters in the Phrygian Hierapolis. There are not according to biblical accounts, the five have been taken, was crucified, while also stoned.

Anniversaries

  • Evangelical: October 11, in the calendar of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
  • Roman Catholic: October 11
  • Orthodox: October 11 and January 4
  • Armenian: February 27, April 9 and 11 October
  • Coptic: October 11
Prochorus (deacon) Nicanor the Deacon Kandake
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