Answered
In The Bible
How do you know that Philip the apostle and Philip the deacon are not the same person?
Scripturally, there is no reason to think they are the same person. The very purpose of choosing men to be deacons was so that the apostles could devote themselves to "the w…ord of God" rather than "serving tables" (Acts 6:2). It's quite a stretch to imagine the apostle Philip "stepping down" from the apostleship into the role of deacon and itinerant evangelist. Also, as the deacons are introduced by name in Acts 6:5, Stephen is prominent, then Philip and the others. If Philip were the apostle, he would be prominent. Also, the manner of presentation is clear that these men are being newly introduced to scripture. In the following verse, the seven are "set before the apostles" to be commissioned. There's a clear distinction between the apostles and the deacons which further denies that Philip the apostle and Philip the deacon are the same person. All evidence is that they were two different men. (MORE)
