As of today I’ve published 177 blogs since 12-12-2019. I knew the point would come when I couldn’t remember what I’ve posted. I had to review what I’ve previously done. When I publish something from my files I usually make a notation as to the date published but I don’t see anything on my Apostle files. I want to discuss how the Apostles died. I feel like I’ve blogged about this already but I can’t find it so bear with me as I go over it, possibly for the second time. I just find it fascinating. Here we have twelve disciples of Jesus and their leader had been put on trial, convicted and then crucified on the cross. They are fearful, possibly disillusioned, and they have all scattered out of fear the authorities will kill them too (except John). When Jesus was dying on the cross only John and the women followers of Jesus were there. There was no way these weak-kneed men were going to spread the gospel throughout the world!
Then a funny thing happened. Their Lord Jesus appeared to them after He was crucified, died and was buried. Then they recalled Jesus had said He would be killed and rise from the dead three days later. Everything became clear to them that their Jesus was God. That was reinforced when Jesus was talking in their midst and suddenly started rising from the ground and disappeared into the clouds. If I saw those two things happen with my own eyes I would have done what they did. When the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost the Apostles had all they needed to boldly proclaim the truth to all the world. They had certain knowledge of God , the Scriptures and the power of the Holy Spirit. Nothing else was needed. The fact that every single Apostle willingly suffered and all but one was martyred based on their eyewitness accounts of the glory of God is a powerful testimony in itself for believing in our faith.
I personally got the same feeling about the conversion of the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. You don’t go from being the worst enemy of Christianity to its greatest advocate over the course of three days on your own. It’s not human nature. The only logical answer is Paul came face to face with Jesus just as the Scripture said. At some point, the truth hits everyone who believes and we understand that we are free from the fear and sting of death. We are immortal beings who received our eternal spirits from God at conception. God’s plan is for us to spend that eternity in heaven with Him but it’s our free will choice. If we don’t choose God we’ll wind up spending eternity in hell instead where we’ll be tormented 24/7.
1. Matthew – While preaching in Ethiopia Matthew was run through with a sword.
2. Mark – While not an Apostle, the disciple Mark did preach the gospel. Mark was drug through the streets of Alexandria, Egypt until he was dead.
3. Luke – Luke was also a disciple and not an Apostle. Luke also preached the gospel and was hanged in Greece because of his preaching.
4. Peter – Peter was martyred in Rome by the Emperor Nero. Peter was crucified upside down on an X-shaped cross because he said he wasn’t worthy to die like Jesus.
5. James the lesser – James was a leader of the church in Jerusalem. When he refused to deny his faith James was thrown down from the top of the Temple pinnacle (100 ft.). When James survived the fall his tormentors beat him to death with a club.
6. James the greater – James was beheaded in Jerusalem by the Romans.
7. Bartholemew (Nathaniel) – Bartholemew was martyred in Armenia (present day Turkey) for preaching. He was flayed to death with a whip.
8. Andrew – After being whipped, Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped cross in Patras, Greece.
9. Thomas – Thomas was stabbed to death with a spear while preaching in India.
10. Jude (Thaddeus)- When Jude refused to renounce his faith he was killed with arrows.
11. Matthias – Matthias was stoned and then beheaded.
12. Paul – The Apostle Paul was beheaded in Rome on the order of the Emperor Nero.
13. John – John was the only Apostle to live to old age and die peacefully. John did survive an attempt to boil him alive and he was sentenced to the prison mines on the Island of Patmos. John was later freed and went to Edessa in modern Turkey.
* Judas Iscariot – Judas was one of the original disciples before he Jesus to the authorities for thirty pieces of Silver. Afterward, Judas went and hanged himself.