How did the twelve apostles / disciples of Jesus die?
The Names Of The Twelve Apostles
(Mathew 10:2-4) These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Mathew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve disciples were followers of Jesus who were sent out to be witnesses for Him.
Only the deaths of Judas Iscariot and James son of Zebedee are written about in the New Testament. It is important to remember the other accounts of how the apostles died are based on tradition and Church historians.
How The Twelve Apostles Died
1. Judas Iscariot – (Mathew 27:3-5) When Judas , who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said,” for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us? they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
2. James Son Of Zebedee – (Acts 12:1-2) It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.
3. Simon Peter – (John 21:18-19) Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.
Church tradition says Peter was crucified upside down in Rome sometime between A.D. 64 and 68. It is said that he did not feel worthy to die the same way Jesus did so he requested to be crucified with his head downward. Peter’s death fulfilled the prophecy of Jesus in (John 21).
4. Andrew – Tradition says the brother of Peter was whipped and then tied to an X-shaped cross instead of being nailed. As he suffered while hanging for two days, he preached to the very ones who put him on the cross as well as to those passing by.
5. Philip – Philip was said to have been tortured and crucified upside down in the city of Hierapolis.
6. Bartholomew – There are a few different traditions as to how Bartholomew was killed with the most popular being he was skinned alive.
7. Thomas – Doubting Thomas was stabbed to death with a spear.
8. Mathew – There are different accounts of how the tax collector died but most are in agreement that he was killed in Ethiopia.
9. James son of Alphaeus – Also known as James the Less, the majority of traditional accounts say he was clubbed to death.
10. Thaddaeus – Thaddaeus was also known as Jude. He was martyred in Persia.
11. Simon The Zealot – Tradition has Simon being crucified between 67 and 74 AD. Another tradition says the zealous one died as a martyr by being sawed in half.
12. John – Described as the disciple who Jesus loved, John was the only apostle to die a natural death. He lived to be an old man even after tradition says he was thrown into boiling oil.
The Apostles Went From Scared To Fearless
These twelve disciples went from being a group of scared individuals who scattered when Jesus was apprehended and crucified, to men who were greatly persecuted, tortured, and willing to die for their faith in Christ. It has often been said this is the greatest evidence there is that Jesus truly did rise from the grave. How else can you explain men that became fearless.
The apostles witnessed the cruel death of Jesus. If they knew Jesus did not rise again they would not have been willing to suffer the things they did. Instead we find men who could not be stopped from preaching the Gospel. Their reason, they saw the risen Savior with their very own eyes.
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