St. Philip
"Then Jesus said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.' "
The Story In A Minute
Saint Philip
St. Philip was born in Bethsaida, Galilee, the city of Saint Peter and Saint Andrew. Since his youth he devoted himself to studying the Holy Books and was acquainted with the prophecies about the coming of the Savior. For this reason he immediately accepted the call of the Lord Christ to follow Him.
"The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, 'Follow Me.' Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter."
Philip followed the Lord Christ during His ministry on earth and became His disciple along with the rest of the apostles.
Philip and Nathanael - Bartholomew
Philip found Nathanael and brought him to Jesus. He believed that one meeting with Jesus would convince him that Jesus was the Lord Christ that the prophecies had spoken about.
And it came to pass that Nathanael became one of the apostles of the Lord Christ. St. John recounts,
"Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.' And Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him, 'Come and see.' Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, 'Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!' Nathanael said to Him, 'How do You know me?' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.' "
Other Bible References to Saint Philip The Apostle
The Miracle of Feeding the Five Thousand
"Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, 'Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?' But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. Philip answered Him, 'Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.' "
Monday Following Palm Sunday
"Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, 'Sir, we wish to see Jesus.' Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus."
The Last Supper
St. Philip is mentioned also in the Last Supper when he said to the Lord, 'Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.' Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father?' ”
Preaching The Gospel and Becoming a Fisher of Men
After the Ascension of the Lord to heaven and the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples, St. Philip first ministered in Jerusalem. He also preached in Persia, Africa, and the surrounding regions. He also went to Hierapolis- in Asia Minor, where he led the people to the knowledge of God, confirming them in the faith.
While preaching in all these different locations, he performed many miracles and wonders which astounded the people. He truly became a fisherman as the Lord Jesus Christ told him:
"Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."