I thought it would be helpful to look at what happened to major figures in the New Testament after the resurrection of Christ. The lives of these men teach us truth is something to cling to share and die for, faith is a lifelong pursuit. They show the truth of the gospel in that few people will gladly give their lives for a lie; certainly not all.
We don’t have verified history for many of these lives: just church tradition. I’m not ignoring the work the women did. There is just very little recorded about them.
Tens of thousands of people came to know Christ through the direct ministry of these men, millions through their inspired writings.
This will appear in two parts. Part II next week.
Peter: Peter traveled around Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine, and Rome where at age 70 he was crucified upside down after first watching his wife crucified. During the entire ordeal, he constantly encouraged her to remember Christ. Peter chose to be crucified upside down. He didn’t believe himself worthy to die as his Lord had.
Andrew: Andrew seemed to prefer sharing the gospel in individual conversations rather than preaching to large crowds. The governor of Patrae, Greece believed Andrew’s healing and conversion of the governor’s wife brought an alienation of affection. He condemned Andrew to the cross, but commanded no nails be used so Andrew would die of exposure and exhaustion. A crowd gathered around Andrew’s cross day and night as he told of his glorious Lord until his death. He is credited with at least 2,000 converts to Christ in his lifetime.
James the son of Zebedee: Also known as “James the Greater.” According to Acts 12:1-3, James was killed (probably beheaded) by Herod Agrippa very early in the life of the early church.
John the son of Zebedee: John is said to have lived a full life and was perhaps the only one of the 12 to die a natural death. Jesus asked him to watch over His mother (John 19:26-27) which he did. John ministered throughout Palestine and Asia Minor. Tertullian and Jerome tell us that John was thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil in Rome but survived. He died reminding his flock to love one another. He was nearly 100.
Philip: A number of early church fathers and historians believe Philip the apostle and Philip the deacon to be the same individual. Eusebius, Tertullian, and Polycarp are among them. Philip was an evangelist and ministered in Palestine, North Africa, and Asia Minor. He was martyred as was Peter: crucified upside down.
Bartholomew: Bartholomew spread the gospel through Palestine, Armenia, Asia Minor, and Central India. The local governor in India liked Bartholomew, but the king did not. He was skinned alive and crucified praying for his executioners and preaching to the crowds which gathered. The church he started in India lasted several centuries.
Thomas: Though called, “Doubting Thomas,” Thomas had one of the most active ministries of the 12. He left Palestine early and spent many years ministering in Osroene, a nation just north of Palestine and became a national hero there. He returned to Jerusalem briefly before setting sail for India where he planted several churches. Most of these are still there today, and the people call themselves “St. Thomas Christians.” Thomas was martyred by local Hindus who were threatened by the new religion and thought it might replace Hinduism. He died thanking God for all His mercies.
Believers Armed and Dangerous 