The Fourteen Apostles And How They Died
Posted: Friday, December 26, 2008
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
Perchance some of you are not aware there were fourteen apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, I'll briefly explain. The Bible records that Jesus personally chose twelve men to become his Apostles and they were told they would be given the keys to His kingdom and whatsoever they should bind on earth would be bound in heaven, and whatsoever they should loose on earth should be loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:13-19).
The only other apostle's death recorded in the Holy Scriptures is that of James, the brother of John and cousin to the Lord Jesus. When Herod Agrippa was named King, he desired to ingratiate himself to the Jews in hopes of keeping peace and so, he initiated a terrible persecution upon the Christians who were already facing severe persecution from the Jews.(example: the evangelist Stephen had been stoned to death by them earlier.(Acts 7:54-60) Agrippa beheaded James because he would not renounce his faith. (Acts 12:1-2)
(1) Judas and (2) James (are the only two apostles whose deaths are scripturally recorded for us. However, there are historic secular writings which give an account of all of them. We acknowledge that these accounts were not written by inspired men and therefore may contain inaccuracies. There are more than one source for most of them and some considered very reliable. We will list them with the understanding that they are subject to question.
(3) Philip preached diligently in upper Asia, was arrested, scourged, thrown into prison and crucified, for his faith, and A.D. 54
(4) Matthew is reported to have labored in Parthia and Ethiopia where he was killed with an halberd (a weapon with a long shaft and a rounded axe-like blade plus a pointed spear on the end) in A. D. 60.
(5) James the less, was reportedly selected to have the responsibility of the church in Jerusalem. "At the age of ninety-four he was beaten and stoned by the Jews; and finally had his brains dashed out with a fuller's club." (Foxe's Book of Martyrs)
(6) Matthias reportedly was stoned and beheaded in Jerusalem.
(7) Peter was arrested and sentenced to be crucified by the evil Emperor Nero. Legend says Peter requested to be crucified upside down as he was not worthy to be crucified as his Lord Jesus Christ, and they complied with that request.
(8) Bartholomew reportedly spread the gospel in India and was killed there being cruelly beaten and then crucified.
(9) Thomas preached in Parthia and India. He was killed there by being thrust through with a spear.
(10) John, the apostle that Jesus loved, reportedly founded congregations of the church in Smyrna, Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and Thyatira. He also suffered persecution and we know from scripture he was exiled on the Isle of Patmus. Legend has it that he was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil but was miraculously saved from injury and afterward was exiled to Patmus by Domitian. He is the only apostle who was spared a violent death. He is reported to have died of natural causes when very old.
(11) Andrew was a brother to Peter, preached the gospel in several Asian nations. When he came to Edessa he was crucified on an X cross with two legs in the ground, a symbol of which has become known as Andrew's cross.
(12) Judas "Jude" Thaddaeus a brother to James, was also crucified at Edessa.
(13) Simon Zelotes, known earlier as a "Zealot" preached in Mauritania, Africa, and Britain. He was crucified in Britain.
(14) Paul the apostle chosen "out of season" by Jesus Himself. Jesus appeared to him on the Damascus road to give him His plans for his ministry. He carried the gospel to Asia Minor, Greece, Cyprus and even to Rome where he was imprisoned and eventually beheaded.
All of these men, with the exception of Judas Iscariot, were men of intelligence, integrity and steadfastness. There is no stronger evidence that Jesus was truly the Son of God, than these men as shown by their devotion to Him and their willingness to die rather than denounce Him.
Judas Iscariot was chosen purposely by Jesus with God's acquiescence, both of whom could know Judas' heart and that he would, of his own volition, betray Jesus in order to fulfill the plan He was sent to accomplish. Even Judas, having been with Jesus all the time, knew that He was a righteous person and truly the Son of God, repented that he had betrayed Him.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Interesting facts. I actually live in Paphos, Cyprus where the Pillar of St. Paul is and we baptized our two sons.Thanks for reading and commenting Cleo.
Yes, you are right that some became disciples and apostles after Jesus's death. After Jesus' ascencion, it is said that he had appeared to hundreds of disciples.Are there any secular writings that account for Jesus' life prior to his ministry and after the age of twelve? You know, the lost years? I have heard that Jesus himself was a Pharisee. Or atleast he must have been schooled and ordained. Why else would they refer to him as "rabbi?" This, even the Pharisee's and the Saducee's referred to him as such.Good points Jennifer.
R. StanleyHi Jennifer, I appreciate your comments. I may just attempt to research an article on the youth of Jesus. I can tell you for a fact though, there is not a whole lot on it that can be accepted as fact. Almost all are apocryphal and some are nothing more than fiction. I'm kindly behind in my proposed articles but I'll try hard.Odd that there should be no records at all..Nothing. All we have is him in the temple at age 12..his parents find him..his first profession as to who he is..and then only that he was obediant to his parents. Are our only records of the Pharisees at the time through the Bible? I suppose, or someone would have mention. Any historical evidence of Jesus' life would be a very valuable find. I doubt it could be supressed. He was obviously well schooled, much more than your average poor carpenter from Nazereth. But no record of his actual Rabbinical schooling. If we had any at all, the Persians might have something from the destruction of the Roman Empire. I would imagine that anything genuine might be found in the channels underground. You'd probably have to look into the Knight's Templer.
Shalom,I'd like to see a second part here that would include other early Church Fathers such as Polycarp and others from the Book of Martyrs.It's important that we know how these men of G-d perished as it will force us to reconsider the illusion that if we follow G-d's will or plan that we will never suffer any harm. Believers are being persecuted here in India every day, they are well aware that just because they are Saved that doesn’t mean they will not suffer any harm.Too many Christians in the West believe in Jesus as a Protecting, Santa Clause type figure. A Savior who will not let anything harm them and give them anything they ask for.A deeper study into the torture and horrific deaths of Believing men and women (Peter’s wife is said to be the first woman martyr with Peter cheering her on to her death) in history may cause some to rethink their commitment.Rabbi StanleyYes, I agree with you that people don't realize that Jesus or God are not hovering over us to keep us from stubbing our toe. There were thousands martyrs from the first century even to time of the reformation movement and beyond. Some who settled America were escaping persecution. I guarantee, a true Christian will suffer persecution. It may not be anything like what has happend in the past but it will at least, be ridicule and criticism, which we face every day. God sends His rain upon the just and the unjust, and so do we suffer illnesses and anything else that His nature provides. If a Christian steps off a rock cliff, he will splatter at the bottom just like the vilest sinner would. Thanks for commenting. I may just write another concerning the vast amount and horrible persecutions of the past.I don't know if people really believe that. The do believe that if we endure till the end that we will be redeemed, and we are told not to look at the things that we see, but to the unseen.I think that from the moment one becomes Christian, our eyes are opened to all that is so wrong in the world. Criticism hurts us, confuses us, and God hurts when we hurt. And we hurt when anyone criticizes our beliefs because we are protective. People suffer persecution yes, but it could not be endured if the study and the Word did not also give us great joy.
"Judas and James are the only two apostles whose deaths are scripturally recorded for us. However, there are historic secular writings which give an account of all of them."Could you please list these historic secular writings?I have been researching this subject and have been unable to find very much that gives any kind of account of the apostles at all other than church tradition written long after the fact.Thanks, take care.Yes, the Foxes Book of Martys which I mention has a complete listing and much much more interesting information. Just put - Foxes Book of Martyrs - into a Google search engine window. The entire book is available online. I believe traditon is the only versions we have. Which means just word of mouth, or a yarn made up.There may be others but I am not familiar with them.
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