How did the 12 apostles
die?
Summary: The Bible only mentions
the deaths of two apostles, James who was put to death
by Harold Agrippa
I in 44 AD and Judas Iscariot who committed suicide shortly after the death
of Christ. The details of the deaths of three of the
apostles (John, the Beloved, Bartholomew and Simon the Canaanite) are not
known at all, either by tradition or early historians. The deaths of the
other seven apostles are known by tradition or the writings of early Christian
historians. According to traditions and the Bible, those eight Apostles
died as Martyrs. At least two of the Apostles, Peter and Andrew were
crucified.
Simon surnamed Peter died
33-34 years after the death of Christ. According to Smith’s Bible
Dictionary there is satisfactory evidence that he and Paul were the founders
of the church at Rome, and died in that city. The time and manner of the
apostle’s martyrdom are less certain. According to the early writers, he
died at or about the same time with Paul, and in the Neronian persecution,
A.D. 67,68. All agree that he was crucified. Origen says that Peter felt
himself to be unworthy to be put to death in the same manner as his Master,
and was therefore, at his own request, crucified with his head downward.
James the son of Zebedee:
He was put to death by Herod Agrippa I shortly before the day of
the Passover, in the year 44 or about 11 years after the death of Christ.
From Acts 12: 1-2.
John: No death date given by early
writers. Death date is by conjecture only and is variously assigned
as being between 89 AD to 120 AD
Andrew: No accurate death
date given. A variety of traditions say he preached in Scythia, in Greece,
in Asia Minor and Thrace. He is reported to have been crucified at
Patrae in Achaia.
Philip: Again, the Bible does
not say when he died nor do we have accurate information. According
to tradition he preached in Phrygia, and died at Hierapolis.
Bartholomew: There is no information
concerning his death, not even by tradition
Matthew: He must have lived many
years as an apostle, since he was the author of the Gospel of Matthew which
was written at least twenty years after the death of Christ. There is reason
to believe that he stayed for fifteen years at Jerusalem, after which he
went as missionary to the Persians, Parthians and Medes. There is a legend
that he died a martyr in Ethiopia
Thomas: The earlier traditions,
as believed in the fourth century, say he preached in Parthia or Persia,
and was finally buried at Edessa. The later traditions carry him farther
east. His martyrdom whether in Persia or India, is said to
have been by a lance, and is commemorated by the Latin Church on December
21 the Greek Church on October 6, and by the Indians on July 1.
James Alpheus also known as Thaddeus
: We know he lived at least five years after the death of Christ because
of mentions in the Bible. According to tradition, James son of Alpheus
was thrown down from the temple by the scribes and Pharisees; he was then
stoned, and his brains dashed out with a fuller’s club.
Simon the Canaanite – No information
either in the Bible or by tradition.
Judas Iscariot: Shortly after the
death of Christ Judas killed himself. According to the Bible he hanged
himself, (Matthew 27:5) at Aceldama, on the southern slope of the valley
of Hinnom, near Jerusalem, and in the act he fell down a precipice and
was dashed into pieces.
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