How did the Apostles of Jesus Christ Died?
There are many good reasons to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But the one of the most coherent(for me) is the transformation of his apostles. After the crucifixion and death of Jesus, the apostles were terrified and felt defeated in fact they were all hiding. Why not? Their world fall apart - the Messiah whom they believed can restore their land from the Roman empire was dead. But of course we know the twist of the story for three days after, Jesus fulfilled His promise he came back to life and defeated death. Their first hand experience with resurrected Jesus gave them courage to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth and perseverance in their faith until death.
Do you wonder how Jesus' apostles died? Here's a rundown of the accounts of the death and relics of Jesus' Christ disciples according to historical facts.
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1. JAMES, son of Zebedee
He was executed by Herod Agrippa before the day of Passover around 44 AD or 11 years after the death of Jesu Christ.
See Acts 12:1-2
Buried in Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Galicia, Spain
2. JUDAS ISCARIOT
After betraying Jesus went to hang himself
See Matthew 27:3-5
3. SIMON PETER
Martyred in Rome during the persecutions of Christians under Emperor Nero around 66-67 AD or 33-34 years after the death of Jesu Christ. He was crucified with his head downward as he felt unworthy to be die the same way as Jesus.
4. PAUL
Beheaded same time as Peter died during Neronian persecution in Rome.
5. JOHN
The only apostle generally thought to have died a natural death from old age. During Domitian's persecution in the middle 90's, he was exiled to the island of Patmos. There he is credited with writing the last book of the New Testament -- the Revelation. An early Latin tradition has him escaping unhurt after being cast into boiling oil at Rome.
Buried in the Basilica of St. John in Ephesus, Turkey
6. ANDREW
He went to the "land of the man-eaters," in what is now the Soviet Union, where he first introduced the people about the gospel. He also preached in Asia Minor(modern-day Turkey) and in Greece, where he is said to have been crucified.
Buried in St Andrew's Cathedral, Patras, Greece
7. THOMAS
The 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 through with the spears of four soldiers.
Buried in the Basilica of St. Thomas the Apostle in Ortona, Abruzzo, Italy or in the San Thome Basilica in Madras, India
8. PHILIP
Had a powerful ministry in Carthage in North Africa and then in Asia Minor, where he converted the wife of a Roman proconsul. According to tradition, he preached in Phrygia and died at Hierapolis.
Update: FoxNews July 27, 2011, Tomb of the Apostle Phillip is found in Hierapolis.
Buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Rome or possibly Hierapolis, near Denizli, Turkey
Buried in the Cathedral of St. James in Jerusalem or the Church of the Holy Apostles in Rome
9. MATTHEW
The tax collector and writer of the Gospel of Matthew. There is a reason to believe that he stayed for fifteen years at Jerusalem, after which he went as a missionary to the Persians, Parthians and Medes. There is a legend that he died a martyr in Ethiopia.
Buried in the Salerno Cathedral, Salerno, Italy
10. 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.
Buried in the Basilica of Benevento, Italy, or Basilica of St. Bartholomew on the Island, Rome, Italy
11. JAMES, 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 thrown down from the temple by the scribes and Pharisees; he was then stoned, and his brains dashed out with a fuller’s club.
12. SIMON the Zealot
So the story goes, ministered in Persia and was killed after refusing to sacrifice to the sun god.
Buried in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome under the St. Joseph altar with St. Jude
Buried in the Saint Matthias Benedictine Abbey in Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
13. MATTHAIS
He was the apostle chosen to replace Judas. Tradition sends him to Syria with Andrew and to death
by burning.
14. JUDE (Thaddeus)
According to tradition Jude taught in Armenia, Syria and Persia where he was martyred. Tradition tells us he was buried in Kara Kalisa in what is now Iran.
Buried in St. Peter's Basilica under the St. Joseph altar with St. Simon; two bones (relics) located at National Shrine of St Jude in Chicago, Illinois
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