What became of the Twelve Apostles?

Have you ever wondered what became of the Apostles after the first century. All the Bible tells us of them is written in the New Testament. But no New Testament writings, that were considered canonical, were written after the first century. But Christian writers of the first, second and third centuries wrote numerous books about the apostles ministry and fate. Since these works are not inspired, like the New Testament is, there is some times no way of discerning fact from myth. But below is a brief summary of what most Christian historians believe was the continuing work of the apostles until their deaths, gleaned from the aforementioned texts. Please remember that what is written is not necessarily true, but it may well be. Most of the material presented here comes from the book by William Steuwart McBirnie, "The Search for the Twelve Apostles”, Tyndale House Publishers, 1986.

 

	Peter, also known as Simon or Cephas was the brother of Andrew, the son of John. He began his work in Syria, where he founded the church of Antioch and was the Bishop there for seven years from 33 to 40 AD. During this time, he ministered throughout Asia Minor in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia, and Cappadocia. After leaving Syria, Peter went to Rome in about 44 AD and possibly stayed there until 49 AD, until being expelled along with all other Jews by Claudius Caesar. From there he went to Britain where he evangelized for some time until returning to Rome. After witnessing his own wife being put to death under the reign of Nero in 67 AD, Peter was crucified head downwards, upon his request. His apostolic symbol is a cross upside down with crossed keys, which represent his role as the Holder of the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. He is remembered by the Church on June 29.
	Andrew, was the brother of Simon Peter. Originally he was a disciple of John the Baptist (Mark 1:16-18). Andrew brought his brother, Peter, to Jesus (John 1:40). He evangelized mainly in Scythia, but also preached in Macedonia, Greece, and Achia. While in Patros of Achia, the Governor's wife Aepeas' was healed and converted to the Christian faith, and shortly after that the Governor's brother became a Christian. Aepeas was enraged. He arrested Andrew and condemned him to die on the cross. Andrew, feeling unworthy to be crucified on the same-shaped cross as his Master, begged that his be different. So, he was crucified on an X-shaped cross in 69 AD, which is now known as a St. Andrew's cross. His apostolic symbol is a an X shaped cross on which he was crucified. He is remembered by the Church on November 30.
	James, (the elder, or James the Great), was the brother of John and the son of Zebedee and Salome (probably the sister of Mary the mother of Jesus). The New Testament tells us very little about James. His name never appears apart from that of his brother, John. They were an inseparable pair (Mark 1:19-20; Matthew 4:21; Luke 5:1-11). He was a man of courage and forgiveness, a man without jealousy, living in the shadow of John, a man of extraordinary faith. He was the first of the twelve to become a martyr. James is traditionally associated with evangelizing the country of Spain. He then returned to Judea where he ministered until his death. James' death is recorded in the book of Acts as his being beheaded under the persecution of Herod Agrippa I in 44 AD. His apostolic symbol is a scalloped shell, the sign of his pilgrimage by the sea. He is remembered by the Church on July 25.
	John, the brother of James, was another son of Zebedee. John was one of the prominent Apostles. He is mentioned in many places in the New Testament. He was a man of action; he was very ambitious; and a man with an explosive temper and an intolerant heart. His second name was Boanerges, which means son of Thunder. He and his brother, James, came from a more well-to-do family than the rest of the Apostles. Since his father had hired servants in his fishing business (Mark 1:20). He labored among the churches in Asia Minor, especially at Ephesus. John mellowed with time. At the latter part of his life, he had forgotten everything, including his ambition and explosive temper, except his Lord's command of love. He was exiled under the reign of Domitian to the isle of Patmos where he wrote the book of Revelation. After Domitian's death, John was released by Nerva, the next Roman Emperor and returned to Ephesus where he died of old age in about 98 AD. It is said that an attempt was made on his life by giving him a chalice of poison from which God spared him. He is the only Apostle who died of natural causes. A chalice with a snake in it is his symbol. He is remembered by the Church on December 27.
	Philip, preached primarily in Phrygia and then in Scythia. He is also associated with evangelizing the country of France. Philip was a man with a warm heart and a pessimistic head. He was one who would very much like to do something for others, but who did not see how it could be done. Yet, this simple Galilean gave all he had. In return God used him. It is said that he died by hanging. While he was dying, he requested that his body be wrapped not in linen but in papyrus for he was not worthy that even his dead body should be treated as the body of Jesus had been treated. The symbol of Philip is a basket, because of his part in feeding of the five thousand. It is he that stressed the cross as a sign of Christianity and victory. He later returned to Phrygia where he was martyred in the city of Hierapolis by being stoned and then crucified at the age of 87. His apostolic symbol is a basket and a Tau Cross, which reminds us of the miracle of the loaves and the fishes. He is remembered by the Church on May 1.
	Bartholomew, also know as Nathanael, was the son of Tolmai. A number of scholars believe that he was the only disciple who came from royal blood, or noble birth. The New Testament gives us very little information about him. Tradition indicates he was a great searcher of the Scripture, a scholar in the law and the prophets and one of the Church's most adventurous missionaries. He preached the gospel in Phyrgia along with Philip and then went into Armenia after Philip's death. He also is said to have preached in Persia, Parthia, Arabia and as far as India. After preaching in India he returned to Armenia, where in the city of Albanopolis, he was flayed alive and then crucified head downward in 68 AD. His apostolic symbol is the symbol of a knife resting on the Bible recalling his life's work and his death at knife point. He is remembered by the Church on September 21.
	Thomas, is also called Didymus meaning "twin". Thomas was his Hebrew name and Didymus was his Greek name. Matthew, Mark and Luke tell us nothing about Thomas except his name. However, John defines him more clearly in his Gospel. Thomas appeared in the raising of Lazarus (John 11:2-16), in the Upper Room (John 14:1-6) where he wanted to know how to know the way where Jesus was going. In John 20:25, we see him saying unless he sees the nail prints in Jesus' hand and the gash of the spear in His side he will not believe. That's why Thomas became known as Doubting Thomas. He is chiefly associated with founding the church in Babylon. He also preached in Parthia, Persia, and India. He suffered martyrdom near Madras, India by being pierced through with a lance in about 60 AD. His apostolic symbol is a lance and a carpenter's square. He is remembered by the Church on December 21.
	Matthew, is also known as Levi, the son of Alphaeus (or Cleophas) and Mary, and he is also the brother of James (the less). Mary was possibly the cousin of Mary the mother of Jesus. Matthew worked in and around Judea for about 15 years and then went out to minister among the Gentiles. He evangelized in the areas of Persia, Parthia, and in Ethiopia where he was beheaded in about 90 AD. There are numerous traditions of Matthew ministering to kings and other high government officials, more so than any other apostle. This was undoubtedly due to he himself being a bureaucrat, enabling him to understand how to reach such individuals. His apostolic symbol is a moneybag since he was a tax collector. He is remembered by the Church on September 21.
	James (the less), was the brother of Matthew. Very little is known of him, in part because of the confusion between the many different James' in the New Testament. Strong tradition associates him with evangelizing Syria and Egypt where he was crucified. One interesting tradition says that James, being the cousin of Jesus, bore a remarkable resemblance to Him and this may explain the necessity of the betrayal kiss by Judas in the garden. Tradition tells us that he also died as a martyr and his body was sawed in pieces. His apostolic symbol is a saw. He is remembered by the Church on May 1.
	Jude, or Judas, also called Thaddaeus and Lebbaeus, was the son of James. Jerome called Jude "Trinomious" which means "a man with three names." In Mark 3:18 he is called Thaddaeus. In Matthew 10;3 he is called Lebbaeus. His surname was Thaddeus. In Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13 he is called Judas the brother of James. Judas Thaddeus also was called Judas the Zealot. Strong tradition identifies Jude's father with James (the Elder), which would make Jude the grandson of Zebedee. Jude preached in Syria, Armenia and Persia where he was martyred by a javelin or with arrows in 50 AD. His apostolic symbol is a ship because he was a missionary thought to be a fisherman. He is known as the patron saint of hopeless cases, because his Epistle stresses that the faithful should persevere in the face of harsh difficult circumstances. He is remembered by the Church on October 28.
	Simon, was known as the Canaanite, or the Zealot. Being a Zealot made Simon one of the fanatical Nationalists, a man devoted to the Law, a man with bitter hatred for anyone who dared to compromise with Rome. Yet, Simon clearly emerged as a man of faith. He abandoned all his hatred for the faith that he showed toward his Master and the love that he was willing to share with the rest of the disciples and especially Matthew, the Roman tax collector. Simon preached the gospel in Egypt, N.W. Africa, Mauretinia, and Britain. Joseph of Arimathea accompanied him to Britain. From Britain he returned to Palestine and ministered together with Jude in Syria, Mesopotamia and Persia, where he was martyred along with Jude, by being sawed into. His apostolic symbol is a fish, which reminds us once being a fisherman he became a fisher of men. He is remembered by the Church on October 28.
	Judas Iscariot, the traitor, was the son of Simon who lived in Kerioth of Judah. He betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver and afterwards hanged himself (Matthew 26:14,16). Judas, the man who became the traitor, is the supreme enigma of the New Testament because it is so hard to see how anyone who was so close to Jesus, who saw so many miracles and heard so much of the Master's teaching could ever betray him into the hands of his enemies. His name appears in three lists of the 12 Apostles (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:19; Luke 6:19). It is said that Judas came from Judah near Jericho. He was a Judean and the rest of the disciples were Galileans. He was the treasurer of the band and among the outspoken leaders. It is said that Judas was a violent Jewish Nationalist who had followed Jesus in hope that through Him his nationalistic flame and dreams might be realized. No one can deny that Judas was a covetous man and at times he used his position as treasurer of the band to pilfer from the common purse. There is no certain reason as to why Judas betrayed his master; but it is not his betrayal that put Jesus on the cross-it was our sins. His apostolic symbol is pieces of silver, due to his betrayal of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
	Matthias, this disciple remains a figure of mystery. Not one of the Twelve, he was later chosen to take the place of Judas. He is never mentioned again in the New Testament after he was chosen. The following is a summation of all the traditions about Matthias. As one of the earliest followers of Jesus, Matthias was prominent among the Seventy. He had apparently accompanied the Twelve Apostles on numerous occasions and very possibly may have been at first a disciple of John the Baptist. Strong tradition suggests that he ministered among the regions of Armenia. His symbol is the lance. It is an old tradition that Saint Matthias was martyred in southern Asia with such a weapon.

Darron McGee, 1989