Bible Strands
John 1:44
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator records this detail immediately after Jesus commands Philip to follow Him in Galilee. The statement bridges Jesus’ initial call to Philip and Philip’s subsequent report to Nathanael.
The words — The Greek phrase ἀπὸ Βηθσαϊδὲ (apo Bēthsaida) literally translates to “from Bethsaida.” This prepositional phrase grounds Philip’s identity in a specific locale shared by Andrew and Peter.
The thread — John 12:21 later confirms Philip’s Bethsaida origin when visitors seek him out. Matthew 10:3 lists Philip among the twelve apostles without repeating his hometown.
Why it lands — The text states a factual geographic connection before drawing any theological conclusion. A reader must observe how ordinary hometown ties frame the initial movement toward following Jesus.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
Cross-references
- John 12:21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
- Matthew 11:21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
- Matthew 10:3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
- Mark 3:18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,
- Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.
- Mark 8:22 When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.
- Luke 9:10 Then the apostles returned and reported to Jesus all that they had done. Taking them away privately, He withdrew to a town called Bethsaida.
- Luke 10:13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
- Luke 6:14 Simon, whom He named Peter, and his brother Andrew; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;
- John 14:8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”