Philip, foster-brother of Antiochus Epiphanes (1 Macc. vi. 14, &c. 55; 2 Macc. ix. 29.), was a Phrygian by birth, and very much in Antiochus's favour. This prince made him governor of Jerusalem (2 Macc. viii. 8. v. 22.) where he committed many outrages upon the Jews, to force them to forsake their religion. Seeing that Apollonius and Seron were defeated by Judas Maccabeus, he sent for new succours to Ptolemy governor of Coelo-Syria, who sent him Gorgias and Nicanor with a powerful army. Some time after, Antiochus going beyond the Euphrates, to extort money from the people, Philip went along with him; and Antiochus finding himself near his end (1 Macc. vi. 14.) made him regent of that kingdom, put his diadem into his hands, his royal cloak, and his ring, that he might render them to his son the young Antiochus Eupator. But Lysias having taken possession of the government in the name of young Eupator, who was but a child, Philip not being able to come with him, durst not return into Syria: but he went into Egypt, carrying the body of Epiphanes along with him, there to implore assistance from Ptolemy Philometer against Lysias the usurper of the government of Syria. The year following, while Lysias was busy in the war carrying on against the Jews, Philip got into Syria, and took possession of Antioch: but Lysias returning into the country, with great diligence, retook Antioch, and put Philip to death, who was taken in the city.

Philip the apostle was a native of Bethsaida in Galilee. Jesus Christ having seen him, said to him, "Follow me," John i. 43, 44, &c. Philip followed him; and soon after finding Nathanael, Philip said to him, "We have found the Messiah, of whom Moses and the prophets have spoken, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael asked him, "Can any thing good come out of Nazareth?" To which Philip replied, "Come and see." Then he brought Nathanael to Jesus, and they went with him to the marriage of Cana in Galilee. St Philip was called at the very beginning of our Saviour's mission; and when Jesus Christ was about to feed the 5000 that followed him (Luke vi. 13; Mat. x. 2; John vi. 5—7.), he asked St Philip, only to prove him, whence bread might be bought for such a multitude of people? Philip answered, that 200 pennyworth of bread would not be sufficient for every one to taste a little. Some Gentiles, having a curiosity to see Jesus Christ, a little before his passion, they addressed themselves to St Philip (John xii. 21, 22), who mentioned it to St Andrew, and these two to Christ. At the last supper, Philip desired our Saviour, that he would be pleased to show them the Father, being all that they desired (John xiv. 8—10.) But Jesus told them, that seeing the Son they saw the Father. This is all we find concerning Philip in the gospel.

The upper Asia fell to this apostle's lot, where he took great pains in planting the gospel, and by his preaching and miracles made many converts. In the latter part of his life, he came to Hierapolis in Phrygia, a city very much addicted to idolatry, and particularly to the worship of a serpent of a prodigious bigness. St. Philip by his prayers procured the death, or at least the disappearing, of this monster, and convinced its worshippers of the absurdity of paying divine honours to such odious creatures. But the magistrates, enraged at Philip's success, imprisoned him, and ordered him to be severely scourged, and then put to death, which some say was by crucifixion; others, by hanging him up against a pillar. St. Philip is generally reckoned among the married apostles; and it is said he had three daughters, two whereof preserved their virginity, and died at Hierapolis: the third, having led a very spiritual life, died at Ephesus. He left behind him no writings. The gospel under his name was forged by the Gnostics, to countenance their bad principles and worse practices. The Christian church observes the festival of this saint, together with that of St. James, on the first day of May. Euseb. lib. iii. c. 30.