According to the account written by the apostle John, Jesus had invited Philip to be his follower. In turn, Philip searched out his friend Nathanael, breaking to him the joyful news: “We have found the one of whom Moses, in the Law, and the Prophets wrote, Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”​—John 1:45.

Doubtless he was acquainted with these words of Micah’s prophecy: “You, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, the one too little to get to be among the thousands of Judah, from you there will come out to me the one who is to become ruler in Israel, whose origin is from early times, from the days of time indefinite.” (Mic. 5:2)