What does John 1:43 mean?

Philip, like Andrew, has a Greek name—Philippos—rather than something more traditionally Hebrew. This shows the extent of Greek culture's influence on Israel by the time of Jesus' earthly ministry. John only briefly relates the conversation between Jesus and Philip. Most likely, it was more involved than Jesus simply walking up to Philip and saying, "Follow me," without any other words. John tells us what's needed to understand the event; that does not require a full transcript of their meeting. Galilee is a region west of the Sea of Galilee and probably where Jesus spent most of His youth.

At least seven of the twelve disciples were fishermen (John 21:2). This implies something important about how God uses people to accomplish His will. Fishermen, by necessity, were hard-working, practical, and durable men. They were not necessarily ignorant, but advanced education wasn't a requirement for them to do their jobs well. They were their era's equivalent of what today's western societies might call a "blue-collar" worker: one of the "common men" working a "common job."

Finding working people rather than illustrious people, was a deliberate part of Jesus' plan. Rather than recruiting the wealthy, or scholars, or warriors, Jesus went out and found workers. Serving God is first about willingness, not great talent or ability (1 Corinthians 1:25–31). Knowledge, wisdom, and experience are valuable (Proverbs 3:13). Yet talents are worthless unless connected to a willing and submissive heart.