Philip, whose name is interpreted “mouth of a lamp” or “mouth of hands,” was one of Christ’s college of twelve. Christ called him to follow him, as is recorded in John 1. Philip in turn brought to him his brother Nathanael, a doctor of the Law in whom, as Christ said, there was no deceit, presenting Christ to him as the Messiah.
Yet Nathanael, learned and innocent though he was, was not called to the apostolate. No sufficient reason for this can be assigned other than God’s will, which cannot be unjust. Nevertheless, it may be said that this was done so that the conversion of human beings to the faith through apostolic preaching would not be attributed to human skill or goodness.
After this Apostle had preached throughout Scythia for twenty years, he came to the city of Hierapolis, where he found the heresy of the Hebeonites, who say that Christ assumed an imaginary flesh rather than true flesh. He was finally seized by the pagans and led away to sacrifice to a statue of Mars.
A huge dragon came out from beneath the base of the statue. With its breath it killed the priest’s son, who was tending the fire for the sacrifice, and two tribunes whose attendants were holding the Apostle. It also infected many others and made them sick.
Philip said to them: “Believe in Jesus Christ, take down this statue, and erect the Lord’s cross in its place. Your sick will be healed and your dead restored to life.”
Those who were tormented by that sickness or infection cried: “Only cause us to be healed, and we shall destroy this Mars.”
Philip commanded the dragon to go to a desert place without harming anyone, and it immediately disappeared. By his prayer the Apostle of God healed all those who were sick and restored the dead to life and health. After their conversion to the faith, he preached to them for a year.
Seven days before his martyrdom he summoned all the bishops and priests. He admonished them to preserve constancy in the faith and to instruct the peoples committed to them.
When he was eighty-seven years old, the unbelievers seized him and fastened him to the cross he had preached, in imitation of his Master.
He had two daughters by a wife whom he had married before he was called to the apostolate. These daughters were most holy virgins and drew many to the faith by their example of holiness and their admonition. When they had rested in peace, they were buried beside their father, one on his right and the other on his left. This is found in Cause 13, Question 2, § Item Joseph.
It should be noted that this Philip differs from the one discussed in Acts 8. This man was one of the twelve apostles; the other was one of the seven deacons instituted by the apostles, as appears in Acts 6. This man was buried at Hierapolis; the other rests at Caesarea. The Apostle had two virgin daughters who were prophetesses; the deacon had four. Although the Ecclesiastical History seems to say that Philip the Apostle was the one who had four daughters, Jerome thinks the contrary, and his opinion is more generally followed.