Jesus’ death on the cross, as described in the New
Testament, has become one of the most famous
events. But what happened to the 12 disciples who
were his closest followers? Not as much information
has survived about their fates, but here is what’s
available from various sources, including the New
Testament itself, apocryphal texts, early Christian
historians, legends and lore.
1.• Simon, AKA Peter: Simon-Peter, who was appointed by Jesus the leader of the new sect, is viewed by Roman
Catholics as the first pope, was eventually martyred in Rome during the reign of the emperor Nero.
As the story goes, Peter asked to be crucified upside
down, so that his death would not be the equal of
Jesus and the Romans supposedly obliged.
2. • Andrew: According to 15th Century religious historian
Dorman Newman, Andrew—the brother of Peter—went
to Patras in western Greece in 69 AD, where the Roman
proconsul Aegeates debated religion with him.
Aegeates tried to convince Andrew to forsake
Christianity, so that he would not have to torture and
execute him. But when that didn’t work, apparently he
decided to give Andrew the full treatment. Andrew was scourged,
and then tied rather than nailed to a cross, so that he would suffer for a longer time before dying.
Andrew lived for two days, during which he preached to
passersby.
3. • James (son of Zebedee, AKA James the Greater):
Acts 12:1-19 says that James was killed with a sword. The newly-appointed governor of Judea, Herod Agrippa, decided to ingratiate himself with the
Romans by persecuting leaders of the new sect.
After James was arrested and led to place of execution, his unnamed accuser was
moved by his courage.
He not only repented and converted on the spot, but asked to be
executed alongside James. The Roman executioners obliged, and both men were beheaded
simultaneously.
4. *Simon the Canaanite AKA the Zealot: Simon preached in Mauritania on the west coast of
Africa, and then went to England, where[b] he was crucified in 74 AD.
5.• John: John was the only one of the original disciplesnot to die a violent death. Instead, he
passed away peacefully in Patmos in his old age, sometime around 100 AD.
6.• Philip: Philip, the first of Jesus’ disciples, became a missionary in Asia. Eventually, he
traveled to the Egyptian city of Heliopolis, where he was scourged, thrown into prison, and
crucified in 54 AD.
7. • Bartholomew: Bartholomew supposedly preached in several countries, including India,
where he translated the Gospel of Matthew for believers. In one account, “impatient idolaters”
beat Bartholomew and then crucified him, while in another, he was skinned alive
and then beheaded.
8.• Thomas: Apparently Thomas preached the gospel in Greece and India, where he angered
local religious authorities, who martyred him by running him through with a spear.
9. • Matthew: According to legend, the former tax
collector turned missionary was martyred in Ethiopia, where he was supposedly stabbed in the
back by an swordsman sent by King Hertacus, after he criticized the king’s morals.
10. • James (son of Alphaeus, AKA James the Less):
According to Foxe, James, who was elected by his fellow believers to head the churches of Jerusalem,
was one of the longest-lived apostles, perhaps exceeded only by John. At the age of 94, he was
beaten and stoned by persecutors, and then killed him by hitting him in the head with a club.
11.• Thaddaeus, AKA Lebbaeus, Judas or Jude: According to several stories, he was crucified at
Edessa (the name of cities in both Turkey and Greece) in 72 AD.
12. • Judas Iscariot: According to Matthew 27:3-6, the treacherous apostle quickly felt remorse
over his betrayal of Jesus and went to the Temple to recant.
When the high priests ignored his plea, he threw downthe 30 pieces of silver that he had been paid,
and went off and hanged himself. But Acts 1:15-20, gives a
different and even grislier version of Judas’ demise. He says that Judas used the blood money to
purchase a
piece of land and then fell headlong from a high place there, so that “he burst asunder in the midst,
and all his bowels gushed out.” Jerusalem residents subsequently named the place Aceldama,
which means “the field of blood.”
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