He was one of the Seven Deacons ordained by the Apostles, as we are told in the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 6. It was he who baptized the eunuch of Queen Candace, of Ethiopia, to let us know how much God values every soul of good will, no matter how socially low or useless he may be according to the standards of the world. Saint Philip the Deacon was a great friend of Saint Paul. Saint Philip was the father of four daughters, virgins, all of whom are honored as saints, and all of whom were given by God the gift of prophecy.
There are five great Philips among the saints: Saint Philip the Apostle, Saint Philip the Deacon, Saint Philip Neri, Saint Philip Benizi and Saint Philip of Jesus, the last of whom was a Mexican, martyred in Japan in 1597.
Rembrandt, The Baptism of the Eunuch, 1626, Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht
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