What happened to the 12 apostles?
Have you ever wondered how the 12 apostles died?
The New Testament tells of the fate of only two of them: Judas, betrayer of Jesus, hanged himself (Matthew 27: 5), and James the son of Zebedee, who was executed by Herod about 44 AD (Acts 12:2)
Into All the World
Reports and legends abound and they are not always reliable, but it is safe to say that the apostles went far and wide as heralds of the message of the risen Christ. They suffered greatly for their faith and in most cases met violent deaths on account of their bold witness.
Peter
Martyred in Rome during the persecution under Emperor Nero. Peter was crucified, upside down at his request, since he did not feel he was worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.
Andrew
Christians in what we know as Russia claim him as the first to bring the gospel to their land. He also preached in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey, and in Greece, where he is said to have been crucified.
Thomas
Was probably most active in the area east of Syria. Tradition has him preaching as far east as India, where the ancient Marthoma Christians revere him as their founder. They claim that he died there when pierced with the spears of four soldiers.
Philip
Possibly had a powerful ministry in Carthage in North Africa and then in Asia Minor, where he converted the wife of a Roman proconsul. In retaliation the proconsul had Philip arrested and cruelly put to death.
Matthew
The tax collector and writer of a Gospel, ministered in Persia and Ethiopia. Some of the oldest reports say he was not martyred, while others say he was stabbed to death in Ethiopia.
Bartholomew
Had widespread missionary travels attributed to him by tradition: to India with Thomas, back to Armenia, and also to Ethiopia and Southern Arabia. There are various accounts of how he met his death as a martyr for the gospel.
James
The son of Alpheus, is one of at least three James referred to in the New Testament. There is some confusion as to which is which, but this James is reckoned to have ministered in Syria. The Jewish historian Josephus reported that he was stoned and then clubbed to death.
Simon the Zealot
So the story goes, ministered in Persia and was killed after refusing to sacrifice to the sun god.
Matthais
Was the apostle chosen to replace Judas (Acts 1: 26). Tradition sends him to Syria with Andrew and to death by burning.
Thaddaeus
According to several stories he was crucified either in Turkey or Greece.
John
He is the only one thought to have died a natural death from old age. He was the leader of the church in the Ephesus area and is said to have taken care of Mary the mother of Jesus in his home. During Emperor Domitian’s persecutionhe was exiled to the island of Patmos. There he is credited with writing the last book of the New Testament – the Revelation.