January 15 - The Twelve Disciples

January 15 – The Twelve Disciples

There’s no way that I can manage to do this whole thing chronologically – there’s just too much information. I’ll do my best to stick closely to a timeline, but I can guarantee nothing. Especially when I run across another resource that seems helpful.

At some future date, I will break down the lives of the Twelve Disciples in a much more precise manner, but as we start tracking the expansion of Christianity, there are some traditional ideas of where these men traveled as they took Christ’s gospel to the world.

Simon Peter was actively seen in the book of Acts and there are traditions that say he visited both Britain and present-day Germany. He is believed to have been crucified upside down in Rome during Nero’s persecution of the Christians between 64-68 AD.

Andrew supposedly preached in Scythia, Asia Minor and Greece and was crucified at Patras in Achaia, which is a province of Greece.

James, the son of Zebedee was executed by Herod Agrippa 1 who died in 44 AD.

John, followed up Philip’s work in Samaria, was exiled as an elderly man to Patmos, probably was a Bishop at Ephesus where he died around 100 AD.

Philip is said to have been crucified in Hierapolis in Asia Minor (present-day southern Turkey).

Information regarding Matthew is a bit convoluted. Various traditions have him in Ethiopia, Parthia, Persia and Macedonia.

Thomas supposedly preached in Babylon. There is strong tradition that tells of him being in India and eventually being martyred there after founding churches.

Bartholomew accompanied Philip to Hierapolis and tradition says he was martyred after ministering in Armenia.

James, son of Alphaeus possibly ministered in Syria.

Thaddeus more than likely ministered in Edessa, a province of Greece.

Simon the Zealot has been associated with Persia, Egypt, Carthage and Britain.

Each of these men left Jerusalem and took Jesus’ gospel to the world. Some were martyred for their faith. But, few of them became well known. The only important thing to them was telling the stories that Jesus told to them, bringing hope to a world that needed to know a Savior.

Information taken from:
Walton, R.C. (1986). Chronological and Background Charts of Church History. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.