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Detail from Ribera's St. Philip
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Reflection on Psalm 23 for People with Cancer. The most popular song in the entire history of the world has brought more comfort and courage to more people at more times at more places than any other words every written.
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n the distribution made by the apostles
of the several regions of the world in which they were to preach the gospel
after our Lord’s ascension, Upper Asia fell to Philip, where he labored
with the most indefatigable diligence to propagate the doctrine of his
Master in those parts. From the constancy and power of his preaching,
and the efficacy of his miracles, he gained numerous converts, whom he
baptized in the Christian faith, curing at once their bodies of infirmities
and distempers, and their souls of errors and idolatry. Here he continued
a considerable time, and, before he left the place, settled the churches
and appointed Christian pastors over those whom he had converted.
After Philip had for several years successfully exercised his apostolic
offices in Upper Asia, he went to Hierapolis in Phrygia, a city remarkably
rich and populous, but at the same time overrun with idolatry. Philip
was greatly grieved to see the people so wretchedly enslaved by error
and superstition; he therefore repeatedly offered up his prayers to Heaven
in their behalf, till, by his prayers, and often calling on the name of
Christ, he procured the death, or at least the vanishing, of a dragon
to which they paid adoration.
Having thus demolished their deity, Philip clearly demonstrated to them
how ridiculous and unjust it was to pay divine honors to such odious creatures:
he told them that God alone was to be worshipped as the great Parent of
the world, who in the beginning made men after his glorious image, and
when fallen from that innocent and happy state, sent his own Son into
the world to redeem them. That, in order to perform this glorious work,
he died on the cross, and rose again from the dead, and at the end of
the world would come again to raise all the sons of men from the chambers
of the dust, and either sentence them to everlasting punishment, or reward
them with everlasting felicity.
This discourse roused them from their lethargy, insomuch that great
numbers being ashamed of their idolatry, immediately forsook it, and embraced
the doctrine of the gospel. But the success attending Philip’s endeavors
proved fatal to him. The magistrates were so incensed at his having obtained
such a number of converts, that they resolved to put an effectual stop
to his proceedings. They accordingly ordered him to be seized, and thrown
into prison, whence, after being severely scourged, he was led to execution,
and put to death, the manner of which, according to some, was being hanged
against a pillar, and according to others, by crucifixion.
As soon as he was dead, his body was taken by Bartholomew, his fellow-laborer
in the gospel, and Mariamne his sister, the constant companion of his
travels, and decently interred in a private place near the city, both
of whom, for performing this friendly office, barely escaped with their
lives.
The martyrdom of St. Philip happened about eight years after that of
St. James the Great.
Resources: This story is adapted from John Kitto's 1870 History
of the Bible and represents the commonly accepted views about this
apostle among rank and file believers in the late 19th century.
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