How the Apostles Died

The Bible does not expressly give details about the ways in which the apostles
died. We must rely on early church historians and secular historians as well but
thankfully both seem to be in agreement and both are reliable. Because of this,
we have no reason to disbelieve these accounts as the vast majority of them
agree on the method of the apostles’ deaths.[1] We must understand that they
were first called disciples which are what every believer is called. Jesus later
commissioned them and sent them out to proclaim the gospel. The word apostle
means “one sent” and so we can see that disciples and apostles are not the same
thing. Every apostle was a disciple but not every disciple is an apostle.

Today, anyone who has trusted in Christ is a disciple but the days of apostleship is
over and ended with the conclusion of the New Testament. The church, “having
been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself
being the corner stone” cannot have other apostles any more than it can have
another cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20) because “no one can lay a foundation other
than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corintians 3:11). In order for there
to be other apostles, we would have to tear down the building again and add to
the [Link] is believed that most of the apostles died in the middle or late
1st century. We will now examine the historical evidence of how these men died.
We begin with perhaps the most well-known of Jesus’ apostles, and that would be
Peter.

How the Apostle Peter Died

The knowledge of Peter’s death is widespread among secular and church

historians. He was crucified but he thought himself unworthy of the same type of
death that Jesus suffered and so asked to be hung upside down which was done
in Rome. Jesus saw this coming when He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you
were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when
you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry
you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he
was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” (John
21:18-19). Any time that Jesus said “truly, truly” or “verily, verily” He was putting
great emphasis on a truth and Jesus must have known, with certainty, how Peter
would die and that they “will stretch out your hands” and “carry you where you
do not want to go” clearly implied crucifixion.

How the Apostle Andrew Died

Once again, most historians agree that Andrew was also crucified but he was
crucified on an x-shaped cross in Greece.[1] The fact that he was in Greece may
mean that he was participating in the Great Commission and taking the gospel to
the whole world…at least the known world. This must have meant that he was
tilted to one side or the other and was not crucified vertically or horizontally. It is
believed that while he hung on that cross and was dying, he called to the crowds
and taught them about Jesus Christ and how they might be saved, thus he was
sharing the gospel up until the very time of his death on the x-shaped cross…
being loyal to the very end.

How the Apostle Matthew Died

Matthew, like most of the apostles late in their lives, became a missionary and
was arrested in Ethiopia. It was there that he was staked or impaled to the earth
by spears and then beheaded. Not much beyond this is known since Matthew was
in such a remote place in Africa and went where few historian or Christians
ventured to go.

How the Apostle Bartholomew or Nathaniel Died

Bartholomew is also known as Nathaniel and there is scarce little known about
how he died but it appears that since he was martyred in Armenia, he too must
have been involved in the Great Commission and taking the good news into that
part of the world. Apparently, he became a missionary to Asia Minor. Sadly, most
agree that he was basically flayed to death by whip, where he was literally torn to
shreds. How agonizing that must have been.

How the Apostle Thomas Died

Again, not very much is known about the method of Thomas’ execution but that
maybe due to the fact that he was a missionary in India and was establishing a
church there when he was stabbed with a spear and died from the wound. There
are so few historical facts that are available beyond this account that we cannot
add much to this and do so with absolute certainty.

How the Apostle Philip Died

According to most historians, Philip’s death was exceedingly cruel.[1] He was

impaled by iron hooks in his ankles and hung upside down to die. Precious little
else is known about the process but it is enough to know how he died.

How the Apostle James (son of Zebedee) Died

The apostle James is not the same James as Jesus brother so we need to establish
that fact. James was far from any reliable historical writers or church historians
but it is thought that he was beheaded by King Herod near Palestine and not far
from where he was a local missionary to the Jews in Judea.

How the Apostle Jude Died

The apostle Jude, who wrote the next to the last book in the New Testament by
the same name went all the way to Persia and it was there that he was crucified
by the Magi. It is unlikely that the Magi mentioned in the New Testament who
were searching for the child King, Jesus, and the ones who crucified Jude were
one and the same. There were many Magi in Persia and sothe chances that it
would be the same ones who sought Jesus were the same ones who crucified
Jude is highly unlikely. Apparently Jude was in Persia on a missionary trip.
How the Apostle Matthias Died

Matthias was the apostle that was selected to replace Judas who hung himself.
Acts 1:20-26 reveals how this was done, and some scholars say it may have
fulfilled a prophecy in Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8. Regardless of whether the
prophecy was about Matthias, he was apparently stoned and then beheaded late
in the 1st century.

How the Apostle John Died

This is the disciple whom Jesus loved and was the only one that died a natural
death…that is by old age and not martyred. However he was imprisoned on the
island of Patmos where he wrote the Book of Revelation. He was later freed and
went to Turkey, perhaps on a mission to establish churches there. This is the
apostle that is mentioned in John 21:20-23, “Then Peter, turning around, saw the
disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the
supper, and said, ‘Lord, who is the one who betrays You?’ Peter, seeing him , said
to Jesus, ‘But Lord, what about this man?’ Jesus said to him , ‘If I will that he
remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.’ Then this saying went out
among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him
that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to
you?”

How the Apostle James the Less Died

This is the most inconspicuous of all the apostles and he is called James the Less
to distinguish him from the other apostle named James and the James who was
Jesus half-brother. James the Less was martyred in a fashion similar to James, the
half-brother of Jesus, who was thrown from the pinnacle of the temple and then
beaten to death.

How the Apostle Simon Died

The apostle Simon is not Simon Peter (Andrew’s brother) but Simon the Zealot.
Once again, very little is known about him inside or outside of the Bible. All that is
known about his death is that he was also was crucified.

Judas the Betrayer

It is not fair to call Judas Iscariot an apostle since he was never truly converted or
commissioned by Jesus. It may not even be accurate to call him a disciple because
he truly did not follow Christ Who said that “whoever would be my disciple must
follow after me” (Matthew 16:24). Even so, I thought he should be mentioned.
The Bible says that he betrayed Jesus and then being consumed with worldly guilt
went out to hang himself (Matthew 27:3-8).

How James, the Brother of Jesus Died

I realize that the brother of Jesus, James, was not an apostle but he was one of
the early church leaders and the account of his death is horrific. He died early in
the church history while the New Testament was still being compiled. He was
believed to have been thrown some 100 feet off a wall. This was done to him
after he repeatedly refused to deny his faith in Jesus. After the fall, he was
somehow still alive and when they discovered this, his enemies circled him and
beat him to death with clubs.

The Apostle Paul

I included Paul among the apostles since he was perhaps the greatest apostle and
evangelist the world has ever known and most certainly deserves to be included
among the apostles. Second Timothy was the last letter ever written by Paul and
in it he knew that the time of his death drew near as he wrote to Timothy “For I
am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure
is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all
who have longed for his appearing.” You can hear the passion and love of Paul in
his last words to Timothy. He wrote from prison, knowing that his execution was
near. Probably Christ Himself must have told him and he was preparing Timothy
to take over for him. Listen to the heartbreaking last words of Paul as he awaited
his execution in 2 Timothy 4:16-18: “At my first defense, no one came to my
support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them . But the
Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message
might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered
from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will
bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom . To him be glory for ever and ever.
Amen.” How heartbreaking. Paul was abandoned by everyone as his execution
neared…all that is except His cherished Lord. Paul was not ashamed how he lived
his life as his death neared. Most historians, both secular and church, say that he
was beheaded. His last thoughts must have been of His beloved Lord knowing
that since He rescued him from eternal death by saving him, He would rescue him
after his physical death and would be with the Lord forever.

Conclusion

the deaths of the Apostles increase the certainty level of the historicity of the
resurrection to a level that is beyond excuse for disbelief. People do not die for
their own lies, half-truths, or fabrications. If the Apostles truly died proclaiming to
have seen Christ dead then alive and ascend into heaven, Christ is who He said He
was, God incarnate who came to take away the sins of the world.