The Apostles - Part 2
Written by: Delbert Magusara Haim
November 18, 2012
In the near 70AD age, many of the prophets, apostles and gifted men were killed by their own countrymen. They were charged of blasphemy because of their teaching. People had thought that these prophets and apostles who preached about Jesus were lying and the Jesus of Nazareth that came was not the Christ or Messiah. Thus they killed them for they refused the gospel of the kingdom and the gospel concerning Jesus Christ, and whosever found preaching these gospels must put to death under the command of the King Herod. Below are the records of God's chosen men who died before and in the last days of Israel.
1. John the Baptist – Was first who died at the age of 33, during the time of Jesus in AD 28. He was beheaded in the king’s birthday as requested by Herodias, a former wife of the king’s brother (Matt 14:5).
2. Stephen – He was stoned after the ascension of Christ (Acts 7:59)
3. Disciples – Saul of Tarsus was assigned to slaughter disciples of the Lord. Acts 9:1
4. Judas Iscariot – The first apostle who died during the crucifixion of Jesus, he hung himself on a tree. Mat 27:2
5. James (brother of John the apostle) – King Herod personally killed James by his sword because he saw it pleased the Jews (Acts 12:1-3). It was before the Passover in AD 44, 11 years after Jesus died.
6. Andrew – No Biblical death date given. Traditions say; he preached in Scythia, in Greece, in Asia Minor and Thrace and have been crucified at Patrae in Achaia.
7. Philip – No Biblical evidence of his death but according to tradition; he preached in Phrygia, and died at Hierapolis. And in FoxNews July 27, 2011 Tomb of the Apostle Phillip is found in Hierapolis.
8. Bartholomew – No information both in the Bible and in traditions
9. James Alphaeus – No Biblical record of his death. 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.
10. Matthew – No Biblical record but some say; 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.
11. Thomas – No Biblical record of his death but 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.
12. Simon Zelotes – No Biblical record even in traditions.
13. Judas Thaddeus – No Biblical record of his death but 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.
14. Peter – Jesus had spoken by what death Peter should have, he said; “when thou shall be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not” (John 21:18). And the tradition tells he was crucified upside down in AD 67 at Rome.
15. Paul – the Bible only says that he was in prison at Rome because the Jews religion desired him to be put to death. And Paul said in his letter to Timothy that the time of his departure is at hand and he is ready to be offered (2Tim 4:6). According to the tradition, Paul was then beheaded in Rome at the age of 67.
16. John the apostle – he was the last apostle who survived in first century since he was also the youngest of all. There is no record in the Bible how he died but the early historian says; In Rome John was sentenced to be boiled in oil at the Colosseum. However he endured no harm or suffering from the scalding oil. And many years after he just fell into a deep sleep and died at the age of around 90.
The reason that these people exist to die is to give us light and understanding about the kingdom of God and the King Jesus Christ. They made it and everything was fulfilled in accordance to God’s words. Thus, our generations today have no more sacrifices, suffering, and death for the sake of preaching but are living in the lights that shined in every man’s heart. We now live the life after death which the prophets and apostles had experienced terribly in their time.
But many of us today claimed they were chosen preachers of God and forcing themselves to sacrifice their lives by leaving their families forever. I don't know where did they receive such commission but I'm sure it was the commandment of the Lord to His Holy Apostles.
Brothers and sisters don’t be a fool in God’s words. The word of the apostle Paul is enough to let us know the difference of their lifestyle compared to us. Again, as he said; so then death worked in us, but life in you.
We don't need to pretend that we are like them.
We don't need to sacrifice ourselves because they already made it.
We don't need to offer our lives to death because Christ and his disciples did it perfectly for you.
In other words, they did suffer in first century so that you don't have to. We have now the life so rejoice, worship God in your heart, be thankful for everything and live in peace.
November 18, 2012
In the near 70AD age, many of the prophets, apostles and gifted men were killed by their own countrymen. They were charged of blasphemy because of their teaching. People had thought that these prophets and apostles who preached about Jesus were lying and the Jesus of Nazareth that came was not the Christ or Messiah. Thus they killed them for they refused the gospel of the kingdom and the gospel concerning Jesus Christ, and whosever found preaching these gospels must put to death under the command of the King Herod. Below are the records of God's chosen men who died before and in the last days of Israel.
1. John the Baptist – Was first who died at the age of 33, during the time of Jesus in AD 28. He was beheaded in the king’s birthday as requested by Herodias, a former wife of the king’s brother (Matt 14:5).
2. Stephen – He was stoned after the ascension of Christ (Acts 7:59)
3. Disciples – Saul of Tarsus was assigned to slaughter disciples of the Lord. Acts 9:1
4. Judas Iscariot – The first apostle who died during the crucifixion of Jesus, he hung himself on a tree. Mat 27:2
5. James (brother of John the apostle) – King Herod personally killed James by his sword because he saw it pleased the Jews (Acts 12:1-3). It was before the Passover in AD 44, 11 years after Jesus died.
6. Andrew – No Biblical death date given. Traditions say; he preached in Scythia, in Greece, in Asia Minor and Thrace and have been crucified at Patrae in Achaia.
7. Philip – No Biblical evidence of his death but according to tradition; he preached in Phrygia, and died at Hierapolis. And in FoxNews July 27, 2011 Tomb of the Apostle Phillip is found in Hierapolis.
8. Bartholomew – No information both in the Bible and in traditions
9. James Alphaeus – No Biblical record of his death. 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.
10. Matthew – No Biblical record but some say; 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.
11. Thomas – No Biblical record of his death but 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.
12. Simon Zelotes – No Biblical record even in traditions.
13. Judas Thaddeus – No Biblical record of his death but 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.
14. Peter – Jesus had spoken by what death Peter should have, he said; “when thou shall be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not” (John 21:18). And the tradition tells he was crucified upside down in AD 67 at Rome.
15. Paul – the Bible only says that he was in prison at Rome because the Jews religion desired him to be put to death. And Paul said in his letter to Timothy that the time of his departure is at hand and he is ready to be offered (2Tim 4:6). According to the tradition, Paul was then beheaded in Rome at the age of 67.
16. John the apostle – he was the last apostle who survived in first century since he was also the youngest of all. There is no record in the Bible how he died but the early historian says; In Rome John was sentenced to be boiled in oil at the Colosseum. However he endured no harm or suffering from the scalding oil. And many years after he just fell into a deep sleep and died at the age of around 90.
The reason that these people exist to die is to give us light and understanding about the kingdom of God and the King Jesus Christ. They made it and everything was fulfilled in accordance to God’s words. Thus, our generations today have no more sacrifices, suffering, and death for the sake of preaching but are living in the lights that shined in every man’s heart. We now live the life after death which the prophets and apostles had experienced terribly in their time.
- 2 Corinthians 4:12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
But many of us today claimed they were chosen preachers of God and forcing themselves to sacrifice their lives by leaving their families forever. I don't know where did they receive such commission but I'm sure it was the commandment of the Lord to His Holy Apostles.
Brothers and sisters don’t be a fool in God’s words. The word of the apostle Paul is enough to let us know the difference of their lifestyle compared to us. Again, as he said; so then death worked in us, but life in you.
We don't need to pretend that we are like them.
We don't need to sacrifice ourselves because they already made it.
We don't need to offer our lives to death because Christ and his disciples did it perfectly for you.
In other words, they did suffer in first century so that you don't have to. We have now the life so rejoice, worship God in your heart, be thankful for everything and live in peace.