and for good reason, as well. It is unclear how he met his end as a martyr for the faith, and there are conflicting tales. In Acts 1:2-3, we find Him giving the apostles final instructions. was an apostolic band of followers. Jesus told them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.. Andrew traveled to the Soviet Union, which is now known as Russia. According to a third story, Charlemagne had a dream shortly before he died in the 9th century in which he saw a star-lit road leading from France and Spain to the as yet undiscovered tomb of St. James. Although only two of the four EvangelistsMatthew and Johnwere among the original Apostles, Mark and Luke are considered apostolic because of the importance of their work in writing the New Testament Gospels. Copyright 2023 WisdomAnswer | All rights reserved. It has been claimed by Christians in that country that he was the first person who delivered the Gospel message to their country. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Andrew was the brother of Peter. As an apostle one year after Christs ascension, Paul began his ministry in Jerusalem and traveled as far as Illyricum (Croatia), Italy, and Spain, teaching the Gospel for a total of 35 years. His missionary efforts in India, as the doubting apostle, have made him well-known around the world. In the New Testament, only two of them are certain to die: Judas, who betrayed Jesus and afterwards hung himself, and Jamesthe son of Zebedee, who was murdered by Herod about 44 AD after he refused to repent of his actions (seeActs 12:2). Can banks make loans out of their required reserves? World Religions edited by Geoffrey Parrinder (Facts on File Publications, New York); Encyclopedia of the Worlds Religions edited by R.C. According to the Jewish historian Josephus, James was stoned and then clubbed to death as a result of his religious convictions. The young Saulwho would soon become Paul in his celebrated conversion on the road to Damascus observed Stephen's execution, minding the cloaks of those who stoned him. In John 20:25, Thomas expresses his initial skepticism about Christs resurrection. Jesus Central jesuscentral.com ; Catholic Encyclopedia: Jesus Christ newadvent.org, When he was alive, Jesus was often accompanied by 70 or so followers, with the core group being his 12 disciples: Describing why the assertion that Jesus had 12 disciples was a myth, Reza Aslan wrote in the Washington Post, This myth is based on a misunderstanding of the three categories of Jesuss followers. The Greek word for fish, ichthus, was used to create an acrostic, which is Iesous Christos Theou Uios Soter, which literally translates as Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior in English. Others disagree. As a result, it was well known among all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, inasmuch as that field is known in their own language as Aceldama, which translates as the field of blood. Its possible that the hanging hypothesis is more common in the Latter-day Saint faith, but who knows. They healed people of physical and psychological illness, perhaps utilising the reputation of their remarkable leader to gain the acceptance and belief of converts. Because of his beliefs, even though John the Baptist was the only apostle who did not suffer martyrdom, the Roman Emperor Domitian, or maybe Nero, banished him to the island of Patmos. Apostles and Disciples The Twelve Apostles were the disciples of Jesus sent out after Christs Why, then, did they flee and act so frightened when He was arrested? for preaching and converting on the orders of Herod Agrippa and was thought to have been buried in Jerusalem. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been authorized by the copyright owner. By choosing one such tax collector, Matthew, as part of his close following, Jesus may have brought together a volatile combination of forces. After the crucifixion of Jesus, His disciples shook up by His death and the miracles that followed tried to continue His work as much as they could. Christian Classics Ethereal Library www.ccel.org ; Early Christianity: Elaine Pagels website elaine-pagels.com ; Traditionally, it is considered that Peter was the one who initially arrived to Antioch and founded a community there. With his reputation as the disciple who succeeded Judas Iscariot, Paul who is credited with writing more than half of the books of the New Testament finally earned his place as one of the most important apostles in Christian history. Five-year-old James, Son of Zebedee, a local missionary in Judea who was murdered or decapitated in Judea He was the son of Zebedee and brother to John; he was from Capernaum; he was referred to by Jesus as one of the sons of thunder; he was slain by Herod the tetrarch while preaching in Judea and was buried in the city of Capernaum. The brothers James and John, also known as the 'sons of thunder', appear, according to the biblical account, to have had short, even violent, tempers. They immediately abandoned their nets and followed Him. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Its mausoleum may be found in the cathedral of the city of Salerno, Italy. Peter, however, believing himself unworthy of being crucified in the same manner as his Savior, begged to be crucified upside down, on an inverted crucifixion, which he was granted. This post is also accessible in Arabic (Arabic version) (Hindi). Even though it is a contentious issue, some academics believe that Matthew wrote the earliest Gospel of the New Testament. What did the Twelve Apostles do after Jesus died? The names of Jesus apostles have risen to the top of the list of the most popular male given names in the Western world. Perhaps they hoped Jesus At least three different Jameses are mentioned in the New Testament, all of whom are descended from Alpheus and named James. BibleAskTeam is dedicated to His service. The faith's first martyr, according to the Bible, was St. Stephen, a young Christian leader who enraged a Jewish community by suggesting that Christ would return and destroy the Temple of Jerusalem. When He returned to the Apostles after the Resurrection, He continued to teach and instruct them. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. James (one of Jesus brothers, also called James the Less) was thrown from a pinnacle of the Temple, and then beaten to death with a club. When Constantine became the first Christian Emperor of Rome, he thought that Peter was buried on the Vatican Hill, and bones discovered in a 1939 archaeological dig may provide evidence to substantiate this view. Thaddeus (one of Jesus brothers, also called Jude) was shot to death with arrows. As a martyr for the gospel, he met his end in a variety of ways, according to various sources. According to Matthew 27:3-5. But, if anything, their presence accentuates the aloneness of Jesus. They have traveled on foot, on horseback, in carriages and in donkey carts. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. The Roman historian Tacitus wrote: "An immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired." Zaehner (Barnes & Noble Books, 1959); King James Version of the Bible, gutenberg.org; New International Version (NIV) of The Bible, biblegateway.com; Egeria's Description of the Liturgical Year in Jerusalem users.ox.ac.uk ; Complete Works of Josephus at Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL), translated by William Whiston, ccel.org , Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org, Frontline, PBS, Encyclopedia of the World Cultures edited by David Levinson (G.K. Hall & Company, New York, 1994); National Geographic, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Times of London, The New Yorker, Time, Newsweek, Reuters, AP, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Comptons Encyclopedia and various books and other publications. According to an early Latin story, he managed to escape unharmed after being thrown into boiling oil in Rome. He died in Jerusalem in 44 AD, although his grave is nowhere to be found in the vicinity of this place. What did Jesus commission his disciples to do after his Local: 704-401-2432 Andrew Todhunter wrote in National Geographic: In the early days, Columba Stewart, a Benedictine monk and historian at Saint John's Abbey in Minnesota, told me, "the organizational structure, the great institution of the churchsignified for Roman Catholics today by the Vatican and its complex hierarchysimply wasn't there. Two missionaries, Andrew and Paul, were killed or crucified at the town of Achaia in modern-day Georgia/Bulgaria (an region next to the Black Sea and near Turkey) (Greece) He was a Galilean fisherman who was also Peters brother. By Billy Graham I knew in my head that some of them had been slain very violently, but I was still taken aback by some of the specifics of their deaths. The phenomena was reported by King Alfonso II of Asturias to the Pope, who endorsed the finding of St. James body as an inventio (the discovery of a tomb or relic after a miraculous revelation) which is similar to an apparition (miraculous vision) like the ones that took place at Lourdes and Ftima. We really have some biblical literature to support this claim, which comes from Acts chapter 12 verses 1-2: Around that time, Herod the king extended his hands in an attempt to annoy particular members of the church. Did they actually create disciples of all countries as they claimed to have done? Judas of Galilee was guerilla leader who, Josephus said, was "a very clever rabbi" who "aspired to royalty." Traditions have grown up around them, the most well known of which is the Apostles Creed, a short profession of faith said to have used by the Apostle, which began to be used in the Roman Church in the 3rd century. However, according to Christian tradition, the other apostles continued to spread the gospel after Christs death, albeit with a lack of the unity and strength that they had during Christs physical life. Many pilgrims claim the shell was first used by Charlemagne's armies but scholar it may have originated with a pre-Christian Venus cult of sexual gymnast who used to hold orgies at Stonehedge-like standing stone temples. The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) say that the Last Supper was the Passover meal and that Jesus was crucified after the Passover meal.. On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Where do you want us to make preparations for When Andrew and Peter joined up they were disciples of John the Baptist. Mary Magdalene is known as the apostle to the Apostles for her role of announcing the resurrection to them. Matthew, a tax collector who also happened to be the author of the Gospel of Matthew, served in Persia and Ethiopia. He is credited with extensive missionary journeys, including trips to India with Thomas, back to Armenia, as well as Ethiopia and Southern Arabia, according to legend. Of course, he had near him the soldiers who crucified him and the thieves who died alongside him. Of all the Apostles, Thomas represents most profoundly the missionary zeal associated with the rise of Christianitythe drive to travel to the ends of the known world to preach a new creed. |~| This constitutes 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. He is attributed for authoring the last book of the New Testament, the Book of Revelation, in that location. They were also filled with fear for their own future. He wrote about James death in his book Hippolytus, which dates from the second and third centuries: And James the son of Alphaeus, while preaching in Jerusalem, was stoned to death by the Jews and buried there alongside thetemple, according to Hippolytus. One is that James was never executed in Jerusalem and died in Spain. Following his triumphant return to the coliseum, the whole coliseum was converted to Christianity. He was the spiritual head of the Church in the Ephesus region, and it is stated that he took care of Mary, the mother of Jesus, in his own house during her visit. In Caesarea, Peter, one of Jesus apostles, baptized Cornelius who was a centurion and a gentile. Navarre and La Rioja. On the first Despite popular belief, only two apostles are mentioned in the New Testament: Judas, who betrayed Jesus before going outside and hanging himself, and James the son of Zebedee, who was murdered by Herod in 44 AD. His preaching is said to have taken him as far east as India, where the ancient Marthoma Christians venerate him as their founder, according to tradition. WebWhat did Jesus do after the crucifixion? That Christianity grew, after such a brief inception, into the world religion we know to today is testimony to the power of the message Jesus preached. Rather of nailing him on a cross, Andrew was scourged and fastened to the stake instead, in order to prolong his agony before death. The Acts of the Apostles describes the arrival of Holy Spirit at a meeting of the disciples: Suddenly there came from heaven a sound as if it where a violent windand there appeared to them tongues as of fire, these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. The Holy Spirit gave the disciples the ability to speak a number of different languages, allowing them to spread the words of God and Jesus, and thus ushering in the Christian era. After Jesuss death, the disciples became the Apostles (a Greek word that means ones sent forth) and Judas King Herod sought to appease the Jews by assassinating him (Acts 12:3). However, the following is what National Geographic has to say about it: Andreas, the brother of Peter, traveled to Patras in western Greece in 69 AD, where he engaged in a religious argument with the Roman proconsul Aegeates, according to the religious historian Dorman Newman of the 15th century. What did the disciples do after Jesus died? According to Irenaeus (about 180 AD), Peter and Paul started the Church at Rome (Italy geography traveling west and slightly north from Israel, you hit the Mediterannean Sea, then Greece and Italy), which is where they were buried: While Peter and Paul were teaching in Rome and creating the foundations of the Church, Matthew also distributed a written Gospel to the Hebrews, which was written in their own dialect. They were instrumental in spreading his teachings and the Christian religion after his death. Saint Helena is claimed to have carried some of his relics to Rome, where they now rest. Questions or comments, e-mail ajhays98@yahoo.com, World Religions - The Gospels, Saints and Important Figures in Christianity, bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity, oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/arth212/Early_Christian_art. It is claimed on one Christian website that Matthew become a missionary and was jailed in Ethiopia. It was at this location that he was staked or impaled to the ground with spears before being beheaded. This event appears to mark Peters transformation from a fiery follower to a powerful leader who, according to the Acts of the Apostles, displays miraculous signs and preaches with fervor. Carrying banners with the scallop shell symbol, Charlemagne's armies marched to Spain threw the Muslims out of Castile and Len, Galicia. We take it then for granted that four women are mentioned as being present at the crucifixion of the Lord. Jesus recognized them as siblings. In case you havent had the opportunity to learn more about these individuals and the master they served, I would strongly advise you to do so now. Some stories merely state that he was martyred, while others claim that he was skinned alive and killed by a group of thugs. The Twelve Apostles were the disciples of Jesus sent out after Christ's Crucifixion to spread word of the newborn faith. Peter, James the Elder and John are regarded as the Apostle inner circle. They had hoped He would overcome the power of the Roman government and establish a new kingdom, and now their hopes of this vanished. Both were martyred in Rome in the year 66 AD, during Emperor Neros persecution of Christians. While there are several myths and legends to choose from, it is impossible to be confident about any one of them. The dispersion of the Apostles is the name given to this historical occurrence. In roughly 66 AD, during the Christian persecution under Emperor Nero, both Peter and Paul were killed in Rome, where they were buried together. According to the Apostolic Voice and the Christian novel A Voice in the Wind, written by Francine Rivers, this information comes from two sources (a very good read). They were, in other words, the chief missionaries of the Jesus movement. I was intrigued. Had perhaps the most impact on Syrias eastern borderlands. Philip was hanged against a pillar at Heropolis (Abyssinia). Text Sources: Internet Ancient History Sourcebook: Christian Origins sourcebooks.fordham.edu After the crucifixion of Jesus, His disciples shook up by His death and the miracles that followed tried to continue His work as much as they could. In time the terms "apostle" and "apostolic" were applied to others who spread the word. Because of the stigma associated with the name Judas, he may have adopted the name Thaddaeus (warm-hearted). Simon is said to have died as a martyr, along with his companions. According to the fourth theory, as James was preaching on a wall, Jewish religious officials plotted to toss him off of it. Obtain some inspiration by reading 15 Bible Verses Every Christian Should Know By Heart, which you may download and share with friends and family. Indeed, another idea says that Bartholomews skin was ripped to bits as a result of a harsh lashing. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They were sent off, probably in small groups, to preach and to perform, on a smaller scale, many of the miraculous things Jesus did. |::| They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion, and that he was alive; accordingly he was perhaps the Messiah, concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders. 2023 BGEA Later the chapel was ensconced inside a huge cathedral that was built up over the centuries. Simon bar Jonah (Simon bar Jonah): With the assistance of the Holy Spirit, the rock on which Christ formed His Church brought together 120 confused and disillusioned disciples of Jesus and within days had built a Church with a membership of more than 5,000 people. It is recorded that he brought the wife of a proconsul to the Lord. Unique Circular Format see more in less space. In the year 65 AD, he was martyred in Beirut, Lebanon, where he was born. Travelling from village to village in Galilee and beyond to Jerusalem, they may have encountered bandits on solitary mountain tracks. Some of his relics are believed to be housed in Saint Peters Basilica in Rome, although this has not been confirmed. He was joined by Peter, Andrew, James the Greater, James the Lesser, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thaddaeus, Simonand Matthias, who replaced the former disciple and alleged traitor, Judas Iscariot. We all know that Jesus Christ was crucified, but what happened to his disciples? 12 disciples plus Matthias (as a substitute for Judas) and Paul equals 14 disciples. After two days, Andrew was able to preach to pedestrians since he had stayed alive. He was mercilessly tortured and then crucified by the eager idolaters, according to Foxes Book of Martyrs, who believes that he died in India. And thats the end of it. The title Apostle has also been given to Barnabas, Pauls traveling companion, Luke, the author of one of the Gospels. Only two apostles are mentioned by name in the New Testament Judas Iscariot and James the son of Zebedee and their deaths are not recorded in the Old Testament. They may have started out as a modest group of everyday fisherman, local officials and artisans, but they went on to become the driving force, keeping alive a small religious movement which flowered into a world religion. When it comes to Andrew after Pentecost, the Bible remains deafeningly silent, save for the fact that the majority of the apostles stayed in Jerusalem until around AD 42, during Herod Agrippas persecution of the Christians. Peter was nailed to a cross. Matthew, one of the four evangelists, is most known for his Gospel, which he wrote. [Source: L. Michael White, Professor of Classics and Director of the Religious Studies Program University of Texas at Austin, Frontline, PBS, April 1998 ]. According to the book of Acts, It was around this time that KingHerodarrested several who belonged to thechurch, intending to persecute them. He was killed. For whatever reason, the Lord has chosen to keep certain truths secret and others must be trusted only on the basis of faith. He told them, The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. Matthew/Levi missionary to Parthia (Iran); died of old age. Eventually, he was stoned to death by the Jewish authorities in the year 62, after having lived there for several decades. Around the year 70, this papyrus relates the story of Andrew being hung from an olive tree in Patrae, Achaia. He stood at the foot of the Cross when Jesus committed the care of his mother Mary to him. After Jesus crucifixion the disciples were left rudderless and disorientated but his appearance to them and the intensely motivating events of Pentecost rallied their spirits. Additionally, in the sixteenth century, Justus Lipsius wrote that he had his limbs sawed in half. According to legend, Philip served as a prominent missionary at Carthage, North Africa, and subsequently in Asia Minor, where he was credited with converting the widow of a Roman proconsul. How Old Was Peter When Jesus Called Him, How Long Did It Take For Jesus To Resurrect , What Ever Happened to the Disciples? There were missionary efforts in major centers, first in Jerusalem, then Antioch, then Rome, but certainly no sense of a headquarters. Such material is made available in an effort to advance understanding of country or topic discussed in the article. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve. All of Jesus's disciples were males and Jews. They were sent off, probably in small groups, to preach and to perform, on a smaller scale, many of the miraculous things Jesus did. Non-biblical writings and traditions generally indicate that Jesus was crucified on an upside-down crucifixion in Rome between 64 and 67 A.D., according to the most recent evidence. The majority of what we know about the deaths of the other apostles comes from ancient Christian literature and church tradition, neither of which can be verified. During his time in Rome, he assisted in the formation of the Christian community before being killed in the Circus of Nero in 64 AD. John is the only apostle who is believed to have died of natural causes due to old age. Missionary to Parthia (Iran), Matthew/Levi, who died of old age in Parthia (Iran). Sources on what happened to Jesus followers include the following: Source1: Hippolytus of Rome (d. 236 AD) date of birth and death uncertain. Scholars generally agree that he was assassinated in Jerusalem in the year 44AD. Four were fishermen, including Peter, James and John, and one, Matthew, was a toll collector. WebYes, on several occasions Jesus taught His disciples what would happen to Him as His ministry drew to its close. At least, not from the standpoint of the typical individual, at any rate. Then there is Mary of Magdala who did not abandon Jesus but remained with him through his death. Paul, another apostle of Jesus, also stayed in Caesarea for a while. In John we see two pairs, the unnamed women, the mother of the Lord and her sister; and the two women who are named, Mary of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. This was the big bang moment for Christianity, with the Apostles blasting out of Jerusalem and scattering across the known world." Your email address will not be published. Following his death, his body was transported to Spain, where it is presently ensconced in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Scholars think that Saint James the Less was the author of the Epistle of St. James, which may be found in the Bible. Matthew (also called Levi, a tax collector) Matthew was crucified in Alexandria. According to tradition, Matthais accompanied Andrew to Syria, where he was put to death by burning. It was a difficult existence. The Apostles spread Christianity from Jerusalem to Damascus, to Antioch, to Asia Minor, to Greece, and finally to Rome. The Acts of the Apostles describes the arrival of Holy Spirit at a meeting of the disciples after Jesuss Death and Resurrection: Suddenly there came from heaven a sound as if it where a violent windand there appeared to them tongues as of fire, these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. The Holy Spirit gave the disciples the ability to speak a number of different languages, allowing them to spread the words of God and Jesus, and thus ushering in the Christian era. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise (Mark 9:31). Jesus wanted to As a result, the proconsul assassinated him in retaliation. Thomas: Almost all of Doubting Thomas ministry took place outside of the borders of the Roman Empire, which was a rarity at the time. WebJohn records that another disciple also followed Jesus, and being in some way known to the high priest, was responsible for gaining admission to the courtyard ( Jn 18:15-6 ). They all preached, and many of them started to work with their own disciples. Except for the fact that he was crucified in the year 80 AD, little is known about his exploits. However, more reputable sources suggest that James remained in Jerusalem and was stoned to death by an enraged mob in the year 62. Went to the country of the man-eaters, which is now in the Soviet Union, to collect information. The Acts of Philipdocument has a detailed description of his death as a martyr. 12. Apostles and Disciples The Twelve Apostles were the disciples of Jesus sent out after Christs Crucifixion to spread word of the newborn faith. Paul was beaten throughout his life while he preached Christianity, and he was eventually killed by the Roman Emperor Nero in the year 67 A.D. One version claims that he was hanged until he died, while another claims that he was crucified during his mission in Egypt. In this moment, Peter seems to transition from a hot-tempered disciple to a leader who -- in the After Jesuss death, the disciples became the Apostles (a Greek word that means ones sent forth) and Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus, was replaced by Matthias. As well as Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey, and Greece, where he is claimed to have been crucified, he preached across the world. In response to his defiance, he was hurled from the spire of his temple. Matthew, Mark, and Luke), who is widely assumed to be Nathaniel (albeit he is only named by John), while the other Judas (Jude), the son of James, was most likely the one called Thaddeus, there is a snag in the story (cf. Despite the fact that nothing is known about Bartholomews death, Christians believe that he remained loyal to the very end, when he was crucified. Professor L. Michael White told PBS: We don't know precisely what happened to either Peter or Paul. They were instrumental in spreading his teachings and the Christian religion after his death.