St Philip and St James 		May 1
Apostles
Virtually all we know about these two apostles is to be found in the New Testament, and even that information is not extensive.
Philip is mentioned in the synoptic Gospels and Acts solely in the lists of the twelve apostles, but in John’s Gospel he figures more prominently. We meet him first as Jesus gathers his disciples around him (John 1:43). He then brings Nathanael to Jesus (John 1:45-49). His home town was Bethsaida, as it was also for Andrew and Peter. Philip appears next at the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:5-7). After Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, some Greeks ask Philip to take them to Jesus (John 12:21-22). Later in the Gospel, during Jesus’ long discourse at the Last Supper, he asks Jesus about the way to the Father (John 14:8-9). We hear no more about Philip. Later traditions tend to confuse him with Philip the evangelist in Acts.
Our information about James is even scantier, though it becomes more complicated by the tendency in later tradition to confuse or equate various people called James who appear in the New Testament. The Calendar in the Prayer Book clearly separates three people called James: (1) one of the sons of Zebedee and brother of John (see 25 July); (2) James of Jerusalem brother of Jesus and leader of the church in Jerusalem after the resurrection (see 23 October); and (3) James, son of Alphaeus, commemorated with Philip as an apostle (today, 1 May). This last James is sometimes called James the Less to distinguish him from the others. Apart from his inclusion in the lists of the twelve apostles we know nothing about him, and even the oblique reference to “Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses” (Mark 15:40) at the crucifixion may not be about him.
The commemoration of Philip and James on the same day is very ancient, and may go back to the dedication of a basilica to both apostles, where the supposed remains of Philip were buried.
For Liturgical Use
Little is known about these two apostles. Both appear in the lists of the twelve apostles in the New Testament, and are frequently confused with other early Christians of the same names. All we know of James, sometimes called James the Less to distinguish him from others of the same name, is that he was the son of Alphaeus. Philip has a more prominent role in John’s Gospel in various episodes. They have been commemorated together since early in the church’s tradition.
Sentence, Prayers and Readings as in A New Zealand Prayer Book - He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa, page 650-651