php56 on mac os sierra with the apache2 server included with the OS

instructions

# install php56
$ brew tap homebrew/homebrew-php
$ brew install php56 --with-httpd
$ brew unlink httpd

# enabling sites folder
$ mkdir ~/Sites
# adding a ${USERNAME}.conf in /etc/apache2/users/
$ cd /etc/apache2/users
$ sudo nano username.conf

# add the following and replace username with your own username
  <Directory "/Users/username/Sites/">
    AllowOverride All
    Options Indexes MultiViews FollowSymLinks
    Require all granted
  </Directory>

# configuring httpd.conf
$ sudo nano /etc/apache2/httpd.conf

# uncomment these modules
LoadModule authz_core_module libexec/apache2/mod_authz_core.so
LoadModule authz_host_module libexec/apache2/mod_authz_host.so
LoadModule userdir_module libexec/apache2/mod_userdir.so
LoadModule include_module libexec/apache2/mod_include.so
LoadModule rewrite_module libexec/apache2/mod_rewrite.so

# uncomment this line
Include /private/etc/apache2/extra/httpd-userdir.conf

# comment out these modules
LoadModule php7_module libexec/apache2/libphp7.so

# add the php5module
LoadModule php5_module /usr/local/opt/php56/libexec/apache2/libphp5.so

# Override .htaccess and allow URL Rewrites
AllowOverride All

# add this please
ServerName localhost
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php

# save and exit

$ sudo nano /etc/apache2/extra/httpd-userdir.conf
# uncomment 
Include /private/etc/apache2/users/*.conf