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Home , Aethiopia, Clopas, James the Less, Mary of Clopas, Simon the Zealot

The Fate of the Apostles What happened to the 12 Disciples and other key leaders of the early church? PETER (aka SIMON or CEPHAS)

• A fisherman from before meeting • Lived in Capernaum • Bold and Brash • Walked on water with Jesus • Denied knowing Jesus 3 times after his arrest • Went on to preach the boldly, winning 3000 converts in a day (Acts 2:40-41) PETER’S DEATH

• Early church tradition says that Peter was crucified in Rome under Emperor Nero around 64 AD • The 2 nd Century apocryphal book Acts of Peter says Peter was crucified upside-down • The altar of the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome is said to be directly over the spot of Peter’s crucifixion Andrew, Brother of Peter • A of who later followed Jesus (John 1:35-42) • Origen wrote that Andrew went on to preach the Gospel in Scythia (Central ) • The Chronicle of Nestor adds that he preached along the Black Sea and as far north as Kiev • By tradition, he established the See of Byzantium, installing Stachys as its first • Crucified in the City of Patras in Greece • Tied to a Latin Cross, but later sources claim it was an X-shaped “St. Andrew’s Cross” Matthew (a/k/a Levi)

• Tax collector from Capernaum in Galilee • After Jesus’ ascension, Matthew preached to the Jews in , then went on to other countries • Early Muslim sources say he preached in “Aethiopia” (at the Southern end of the ) • Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches hold to the tradition that Matthew died a martyr’s death. The circumstances as unclear. • Possibly killed on orders from the King of Thomas (aka Didymus – “the Twin”)

• Known as “Doubting Thomas” for his refusal to believe Jesus rose until he saw it with his own eyes (John 20:24-29) • Credited with sailing to and taking the Gospel there • Purportedly killed on St. Thomas Mount in south India in 72 AD with a spear • There is a trail of St. Thomas stretching from India to Iraq to Italy Philip (spelled the right way)

• According to the Acts of Philip (4 th Century), after Jesus’ ascension, Philip preached in Greece, Syria and Phrygia (now part of Turkey) • One legend says he was crucified upside- down in the City of Hierapolis (Turkey) after converting the proconsul's wife • Another legend says he was beheaded • Archeologists reported discovering his tomb in Hierapolis in July 2011 Bartholomew (aka Nathaniel)

• Called Bartholomew in the Synoptic and Nathaniel in John • Introduced to Jesus by Philip (John 1:43- 51) • According to legends, he was skinned alive with a flaying knife and then beheaded • By legend, he has been linked to India, Armenia and Parthia & Lycaonia (both in Turkey) • James and his brother John were the “Sons of Thunder” (:17) • Only Apostle whose martyrdom is recorded James (Son of in the ) ––– • King Herrod Agrippa of “James the Judea “had James, the brother of John, put to Greater” death with the sword.” (Acts 12:2) • Credited by tradition with spreading the faith to Spain (aka James the Younger or James the Son of )

• Possibly the brother of Matthew, whose father is also named Alphaeus (compare Mark 2:14 & 3:18) • In Catholic tradition, his mother is Mary of , who wept at the foot of the cross (John 19:25) • Tradition holds that he was crucified in Lower , where he was preaching the gospel Jude (aka Thaddaeus)

• Thought by many Catholics to be the “brother of Jesus” mentioned in Matt. 13:55 & :3, as well as the author of the of Jude • Appears to be identified by the name Thaddaeus in Matt. 10:2-4 (which lists the 12 disciples but doesn’t mention Jude) • Fun fact: Tradition holds he was a vegetarian • By tradition, he was killed in around 65 AD by axe along with Simon (aka Simon the Zealot)

• Likely a Zealot before meeting Jesus • Often associated in ministry with Jude • Tradition holds that Simon and Jude were martyred together in Beirut in 65 AD • Muslim tradition says that Simon was sent to preach the faith of God to the outside North Matthias

• In Acts 1, he is chosen to replace Judas • Only disciple not chosen personally by Jesus (but witnessed the Resurrected Jesus) • Planted the faith along the Caspian Sea and in Aethiopia (what is now ) • Matthias was stoned to death in Aethiopia • Some of his remains said to be interred in Padua, Italy John (Son of Zebedee, 1600c. Jacques Bellange, St. by Brother of James) • Believed to be the youngest disciple • Traditionally considered the author of the , 3 of John, and the • Outlived all the other disciples, dying of natural causes at age 93-94 in 100 AD • Often depicted in Medieval art and in the Middle Ages as having feminine or androgynous features • Not one of Jesus’ 12 Disciples • Half-brother of Jesus • Described in 1 Corinthians 15:7 as having seen the Risen Jesus • Early leader of the Jerusalem Church in the Apostolic Age • Traditionally considered the author of the • Martyred in 62 or 69 AD • Tradition holds that he was thrown from the Pinnacle of James the Just (James the the Temple and then stoned Brother of Jesus) or beaten with clubs (Saul of Tarsus)

• Not one of the 12 Disciples • In the mid-30s to the mid-50s AD, Paul founded several churches in Minor and • 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament are traditionally attributed to him • Beheaded in Rome under orders from Emperor Nero some time between 64 and 68 AD “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church” -Turtellian