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Meet the Apostles: Biblical and Legendary
Accounts

Part One – The Twelve

Written by Robert
Jones

Click
here to see other courses that I've written

Table of Contents

Top
of Page

Introduction

New
Testament Apostolic Lists

Andrew

Bartholomew/Nathanael

James,
Son of Alphaeus

James,
Son of Zebedee

John

Judas
Iscariot

Matthew/Levi

Peter

Philip

Simon
the Zealot

Thaddaeus/Judas
son of James

Thomas

Sources

Meet the Apostles: Biblical and Legendary
Accounts

Part One – The Twelve

Click here to see
Meet the Apostles: Biblical and Legendary Accounts: Part Two – After the
Twelve

Written by Robert
Jones

[email-masked]

Click
here to see other courses that I've written

Acworth, Georgia

Copyright 1999 by Robert C. Jones

This material may be reprinted free of charge for use by
non-profit church groups, as long as the author and copyright information is
retained.  A
teacher's guide and accompanying PowerPoint presentation is available for a
small fee.

I'd love to hear about anyone that uses this material in their
Sunday School classes!

[email-masked]

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW
INTERNATIONAL
VERSION. Copyright  1973,
1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.
Used by
permission of Zondervan Publishing House."

Table of Contents

Top
of Page

Introduction

New
Testament Apostolic Lists

Andrew

Bartholomew/Nathanael

James,
Son of Alphaeus

James,
Son of Zebedee

John

Judas
Iscariot

Matthew/Levi

Peter

Philip

Simon
the Zealot

Thaddaeus/Judas
son of James

Thomas

Sources

Introduction

All Christians are familiar with the fact that there were
twelve original apostles. The names Peter, John, James, “Doubting Thomas”, Judas
Iscariot, etc. are household words. However, many Christians would be
hard-pressed to name all twelve of the original apostles, impeded in part by the
fact that at least two apostles have different names in different New Testament
books.

Also, many Christians would be hard-pressed to separate Church
tradition and legend concerning the apostles from what is actually contained in
the New Testament. (Does the New Testament say that Peter was the first Pope?
Does the New Testament actually even place Peter in Rome?)

This booklet will examine the original twelve apostles from
three points of view (and descending levels of authority):

The New Testament

Church Tradition – Represented herein primarily from two sources. The
first is the Ecclesiastical History written by Church Father Eusebius
around the time of the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. Eusebius was the Bishop of
Caesarea, and is best known for his list of "Accepted", "Rejected/Disputed",
and "Impious/Absurd" New Testament-era books. A second source is the third
century tract "On The Twelve Apostles - Where Each Of Them Preached, And Where
He Met His End", traditionally ascribed to the Church Father Hippolytus
(170-236 A.D.)

Apocryphal – Much of the "Christian Apocrypha" is made up of dubious
"Acts" of the various apostles. While these are considered to be of no
authority, they do capture some legends about the apostles that are still
known today – and they may capture at least some authentic second and third
century traditions about the apostles, such as where they preached.

Interestingly enough, Eusebius in his Church History records
some early traditions about the apostles that also show up in the apocryphal
"Acts"." However, regarding the "Acts" themselves (and about apocryphal
Gospels), Eusebius states:

“…we have felt compelled to give this catalogue in order that
we might be able to know both these works [generally accepted works] and those
that are cited by the heretics under the name of the apostles, including, for
instance, such books as the Gospels of Peter, of Thomas, of Matthias, or of any
others besides them, and the Acts of Andrew and John and the other apostles,
which no one belonging to the succession of ecclesiastical writers has deemed
worthy of mention in his writings. And further, the character of the style is at
variance with apostolic usage, and both the thoughts and the purpose of the
things that are related in them are so completely out of accord with true
orthodoxy that they clearly show themselves to be the fictions of heretics.
Wherefore they are not to be placed even among the rejected writings, but are
all of them to be cast aside as absurd and impious.” (Eusebius, Book 3, Chapter
25)

Part two of this study (still to be written) will concentrate
on apostles named in the New Testament outside of the Gospels, including Paul,
James (the brother of Jesus), Barnabas, Matthias, Andronicus and Junias.

Apostolic Quiz

The New Testament discusses the ministry of Peter in Rome T/F

While Peter took a leadership position in the Early Church, he was not the
head of the church in Jerusalem T/F

Paul was the first apostle to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles T/F

The New Testament describes the final fate of at least three of the
apostles T/F

All four Gospels give lists of the twelve apostles T/F

The “inner circle” of the apostles of Jesus was comprised of Peter, John,
and James, son of Alphaeus T/F

According to the New Testament, none of the apostles were married T/F

Judas Iscariot was the treasurer of the apostles T/F

In the New Testament, only Jesus could raise people from the dead T/F

Tradition holds that the Gospel of Matthew was written by Levi the Tax
Collector

The majority of the apostles were Galilean fishermen T/F

On at least two occasions, Peter preaches to the Sanhedrin T/F

Peter and Paul never met T/F

New Testament Apostolic
Lists

Matt 10:2

Mark 3:16

Luke 6:14

Acts 1:13

Andrew

Andrew

Andrew

Andrew

Bartholomew

Bartholomew

Bartholomew

Bartholomew

James son of Alphaeus

James son of Alphaeus

James son of Alphaeus

James son of Alphaeus

James son of Zebedee

James son of Zebedee

James

James

John

John

John

John

Judas Iscariot

Judas Iscariot

Judas Iscariot

Matthew

Matthew

Matthew

Matthew

Philip

Philip

Philip

Philip

Simon (who is called
Peter)

Simon (to whom he gave the name
Peter)

Simon (whom he named
Peter)

Peter

Simon the Zealot

Simon the Zealot

Simon who was called the
Zealot

Simon the Zealot

Thaddaeus

Thaddaeus

Judas son of James

Judas son of James

Thomas

Thomas

Thomas

Thomas

Andrew

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was a Galilean fisherman.
Originally from Bethsaida (John 1:44), at the time of the ministry of Jesus, he
lived with his brother in a house near the Synagogue in Capernaum (Mark 1:29).
Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist (John 1:35-40).

Matthew records that Jesus recruited Andrew and Peter while
they were fishing in the Sea of Galilee (Matt 4:18-20). In the account in the
Gospel of John (1:35-42), Andrew encounters Jesus first, and then rushes to tell
his brother "We have found the Messiah".

Other appearances by Andrew in the New Testament include:

Andrew was present when Jesus healed the fevered mother-in-law of Peter,
and when Jesus began healing people from the house of Andrew and Peter in
Capernaum (Mark 1:29-34).

Andrew was with Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Olives when Jesus
gave his sermon on the end times (Mark 13:3).

Andrew finds the initial “five small barley loaves and two small fish”
when Jesus feeds the 5,000 (John 6:8-9)

Andrew is present with Jesus when a voice from heaven booms "I have
glorified it, and will glorify it again." (John 12:20-30)

Church Tradition

According to Hippolytus:

“Andrew preached to the Scythians [modern
day Georgia] and Thracians [modern day Bulgaria], and was crucified, suspended
on an olive tree, at Patrae, a town of Achaia [Greece]; and there too he was
buried.”

According to Eusebius (Book 3, Chapter 1), Andrew’s ministry
was in Scythia.

Apocryphal

The 3rd century Acts And Martyrdom Of The Holy
Apostle Andrew describes the ministry and persecution of Andrew at Patrae,
on the northwest coast of Achaia (modern-day Greece). The Acts are purported to
have been written by “both presbyters and deacons of the churches of
Achaia”:

“WHAT we have all, both
presbyters and deacons of the churches of Achaia, beheld with our eyes, we have
written to all the churches established in the name of Christ Jesus, both in the
east and west, north and south...This faith we have learned from the blessed
Andrew, the apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose passion also we, having seen
it set forth before our eyes, have not hesitated to give an account of,
according to the degree of ability we have.”

The Acts goes on to describe a debate between Andrew and the
proconsul Aegeates, who wishes to have the mysteries of Christ revealed to him
without accepting Christ and being baptized. Eventually, Aegeates has Andrew
tortured and hung on a cross:

“And having thus spoken, the blessed Andrew, standing on the
ground, and looking earnestly upon the cross, stripped himself and gave his
clothes to the executioners, having urged the brethren that the executioners
should come and do what had been commanded them; for they were standing at some
distance. And they having come up, lifted him on the cross; and having stretched
his body across with ropes, they only bound his feet, but did not sever his
joints, having received this order from the proconsul: for he wished him to be
in distress while hanging, and in the night-time, as he was suspended, to be
eaten up alive by dogs.”

The end of Andrew is described thusly:

“... he became in the sight of all glad and exulting; for an
exceeding splendor like lightning coming forth out of heaven shone down upon
him, and so encircled him, that in consequence of such brightness mortal eyes
could not look upon him at all. And the dazzling light remained about the space
of half an hour. And when he had thus spoken and glorified the Lord still more,
the light withdrew itself, and he gave up the ghost, and along with the
brightness itself he departed to the Lord in giving Him
thanks.”

In the somewhat more lurid Acts Of Andrew And Matthias In
The City Of The Man-Eaters, Andrew is carried by angels to rescue Matthias,
who has been imprisoned by cannibals. In one paragraph, Andrew is depicted
raising people from the dead, baptizing them, and building a church:

“Then the holy Andrew ordered to be brought up all who had died
in the water. And they were not able to bring them; for there had died a great
multitude both of men, and women, and children, and cattle. Then Andrew prayed,
and they all came to life. And after these things he drew a plan of a church,
and he caused the church to be built. And he baptized them, and gave them the
ordinances of our Lord Jesus Christ, saying to them: Stand by these, in order
that you may know the mysteries of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Bartholomew/Nathanael

While Bartholomew is mentioned in all four lists of apostles in
the New Testament, he is not mentioned in any other context. The name means
simply “son of Talmai”, so he may have had a personal name. This personal name
may have been Nathanael, mentioned several times in the Gospel of John.

If Nathanael is equated with Bartholomew, we have at least a
few characteristics about this enigmatic apostle. In the first chapter of the
Gospel of John (John 1:45-51), Philip goes to find Nathanael (the names Philip
and Bartholomew always follow each other in the Synoptic Gospel lists) and tell
him “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the
prophets also wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." (NIV, John 1:45).
Nathanael makes the famous reply "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?"
(NIV, John 1:46).

Evidently, though, Nathanael has a good heart, as Jesus says
about him "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." (NIV, John
1:47). Nathanael has the distinction of being the first apostle to declare that
Jesus was both the Son of God and the King of Israel. (NIV, John 1:49)

Nathanael is present at the third post-resurrection meeting of
Jesus with the Apostles (John 21:1-14), by the Sea of Galilee. The incident
involves a miraculous catch of fish (John tells us 153), and a fish fry on the
beach involving Jesus and his disciples. In the passage, we are told that
Nathanael is from Cana in Galilee. We may infer that he is a fisherman by
trade.

Church Tradition

According to Hippolytus, Bartholomew preached in India:

“Bartholomew, again, preached to the Indians, to whom he also
gave the Gospel according to Matthew, and was crucified with his head downward,
and was buried in Allanum, a town of the great Armenia [modern day southern
Georgia].”

Eusebius, in his Church History, confirms the ministry of
Bartholomew in India, and adds an eye witness account:

“ABOUT that time,
Pantaenus, a man highly distinguished for his learning, had charge of the school
of the faithful in Alexandria... Pantaenus...is said to have gone to India. It
is reported that among persons there who knew of Christ, he found the Gospel
according to Matthew, which had anticipated his own arrival. For Bartholomew,
one of the apostles, had preached to them, and left with them the writing of
Matthew in the Hebrew language, which they had preserved till that time.” (Book
5, Chapter 10)

Apocryphal

In the Martyrdom Of The Holy And Glorious Apostle
Bartholomew, Bartholomew preaches in India, and becomes actively involved in
casting out demons. One demon describes him as follows (perhaps not a very
reliable source!):

“He has black hair, a shaggy head, a fair skin, large eyes,
beautiful nostrils, his ears hidden by the hair of his head, with a yellow
beard, a few gray hairs, of middle height, and neither tall nor stunted, but
middling, clothed with a white undercloak bordered with purple, and upon his
shoulders a very white cloak; and his clothes have been worn twenty-six years,
but neither are they dirty, nor have they waxed old. Seven times a day he bends
the knee to the Lord, and seven times a night does he pray to God. His voice is
like the sonnet of a strong trumpet; there go along with him angels of God, who
allow him neither to be weary, nor to hunger, nor to thirst; his face, and his
soul, and his heart are always glad and rejoicing; he foresees everything, he
knows and speaks every tongue of every nation.”

In the course of a long sermon on the basic tenets of the
Gospels to King Polymius, (whose daughter was exorcised of a demon by
Bartholomew), the Apostle gives this brief description of his calling:

“And when the Lord had conquered the tyrant [Satan], He sent
His apostles into all the world, that He might redeem His people from the
deception of the devil; and one of these I am, an apostle of
Christ.”

After King Polymius converts to Christianity, his brother King
Astreges is enraged, and orders Bartholomew beheaded:

“Then the king...ordered the holy apostle Bartholomew to be
beaten with rods; and after having been thus scourged, to be beheaded.

And innumerable multitudes came from all the cities, to the
number of twelve thousand, who had believed in him along with the king; and they
took up the remains of the apostle with singing of praise and with all glory,
and they laid them in the royal tomb, and glorified God. And the king Astreges
having heard of this, ordered him to be thrown into the sea; and his remains
were carried into the island of Liparis.”

King Astreges soon dies a horrible death, and his brother
Polymius becomes bishop, and rules for 20 years.

Other Legends

Other legends say that Bartholomew was flayed alive in Armenia.
His remains are said to be, variously, in Rome and in Canterbury Cathedral in
England.

James, Son of
Alphaeus

We have almost no canonical information about James, Son of
Alphaeus, other than that he appears on all four New Testament apostolic lists.
Mark 2:14 identifies that Levi/Matthew the tax collector also had a father named
Alphaeus, so the two may have been brothers or half brothers.

Some scholars have linked the “James the younger” in Mark 15:40
with James, son of Alphaeus. If this identification is true, then James had a
mother named Mary that was present at the crucifixion, and a brother named
Joses.

Church Tradition

Hippolytus identifies that James was stoned to death in
Jerusalem:

“And James the son of Alphaeus, when preaching in Jerusalem,
was stoned to death by the Jews, and was buried there beside the
temple.”

Eusebius doesn’t mention James in his Church History.

James, Son of
Zebedee

James, son of Zebedee and brother of John is mentioned in all
four New Testament apostolic lists. The calling of James (and his brother) is
recorded in Matthew:

(Mat 4:21 NIV) “Going on from there, he saw two other brothers,
James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father
Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them,

(Mat 4:22 NIV) and immediately they left the boat and their
father and followed him.”

Thus, we know that James was a fisherman, and that he worked
with his father. In Luke 5:10, James and John are identified as Peter’s partners
in the fishing business. Mark 1:20 indicates that the Zebedee family had hired
men in the fishing business, perhaps indicating that James and his brother came
from a successful family business. Mathew 27:55-56 identifies that the mother of
James and John was a follower of Jesus, and was present at his crucifixion.

James and his brother (along with Peter) are traditionally
identified as being part of the “inner circle” of the apostles of Jesus, because
they were present at several key events that the other apostles were not. These
events included:

The transfiguration

Matt 17:1, Mark 9:2, Luke
9:29

The raising of the daughter of
Jairus from the dead

Mark 5:35-43, Luke
8:49-56

Present at the mini-apocalypse,
delivered by Jesus on the Mount of Olives

Mark 13:3

With Jesus during his agony in the
Garden of Gethsemane

Mark 14:32-42, Matt
26:36-46

During the description of the raising of the daughter of Jairus
from the dead, the existence of inner circle is clearly outlined:

(Mark 5:37 NIV) “He [Jesus] did not let anyone follow him
except Peter, James and John the brother of James.”

The inner circle is also present at a miraculous catch of fish
on the Sea of Galilee (Luke 5:1-11). The brothers were also present when the
resurrected Jesus fried fish for some of the apostles on the shores of the Sea
of Galilee, as described in John 21.

Mark 3:17 identifies that James and his brother had the
nickname “Sons of Thunder”, which may apply to their temper or their
impetuousness. This temper is exhibited in Luke 9:51-56 when James and John are
affronted because a Samaritan village is not interested in hearing Jesus
preach:

(Luke 9:54 NIV) “When the disciples James
and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from
heaven to destroy them?"”

Their impetuousness is demonstrated in Mark 10:35-41, when
James and John ask Jesus “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your
left in your glory.” The other apostles become indignant at this
presumptuousness (Mark 10:41).

Post-Pentecostal

James holds the distinction of being the only apostle in the
New Testament that has his martyrdom recorded in the Scriptures:

(Acts 12:1 NIV) “It was about this time that King Herod
arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them.

(Acts 12:2 NIV) He had James, the brother of John, put to death
with the sword.”

Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, reports that James
supported his ministry to the Gentiles:

(Gal 2:9 NIV) “James, Peter and John, those reputed to be
pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized
the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they
to the Jews.”

This would tend to indicate that James the “pillar” had an
important place in the post-Pentecostal church.

Church Tradition

According to Hippolytus:

“James, his brother, when preaching in Judea, was cut off with
the sword by Herod the tetrarch, and was buried there.”

According to Eusebius, James was beheaded:

“First Stephen was stoned to death by them, and after him
James, the son of Zebedee and the brother of John, was beheaded...” (Book 3,
Chapter 5)

Eusebius also records another tradition regarding the death of
James:

“And concerning this James, Clement, in the seventh book of his
Hypotyposes, relates a story which is worthy of mention; telling it as he
received it from those who had lived before him. He says that the one who led
James to the judgment-seat, when he saw him bearing his testimony, was moved,
and confessed that he was himself also a Christian. They were both therefore, he
says, led away together; and on the way he begged James to forgive him. And he,
after considering a little, said, “Peace be with thee,” and kissed him. And thus
they were both beheaded at the same time.” (Book 2, Chapter
9)

Other Legends

Medieval tradition associates James with a ministry in Spain.
Other Medieval legends claim that his remains were brought to Santiago de
Compostela in northwest Spain. His head is also said to rest in a
12th century Armenian Church in Jerusalem.

John

John, brother of James and son of Zebedee, is named in all four
New Testament apostolic lists. Much of what has already been said about his
brother James is also true for John, which is summarized here:

John was a Galilean fisherman who worked with his father and brother. He
was called by Jesus with his brother James. (Matthew 4:21/22). In Luke 5:10,
John and his brother are identified as Peter’s partners in the fishing
business.

As noted before, John and his brother are traditionally identified as
being part of the “inner circle” of the apostles of Jesus, because they were
present at several key events that the other apostles were not. These events
included:

The transfiguration

Matt 17:1, Mark 9:2, Luke
9:29

The raising of the daughter of
Jairus from the dead

Mark 5:35-43, Luke
8:49-56

Present at the mini-apocalypse,
delivered by Jesus on the Mount of Olives

Mark 13:3

With Jesus during his agony in the
Garden of Gethsemane

Mark 14:32-42, Matt
26:36-46

Also, John and his brother were present when Jesus healed the
fever-ridden mother-in-law of Peter (Mark 1:29-31), and when when Jesus causes a
miraculous catch of fish on the Sea of Galilee (Luke 5:1-11).

In Mark 10, John and James incur the displeasure of the other apostles
when they ask Jesus, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your
left in your glory." (Mark 10:35-39)

Mathew 27:55-56 identifies that the mother of John and James was a
follower of Jesus, and was present at his crucifixion

Mark 3:17 identifies that James and his brother had the nickname “Sons of
Thunder”, which may apply to their temper (see Luke 9:51-56)

John is also mentioned several times apart from his brother in
the Gospels:

John is mildly rebuked by Jesus in Luke 9:49-50 after John complains about
a man “driving out demons in your name"

In Luke 22:7-13, John (along with Peter) is given the important task of
preparing the logistics for the Last Supper

John is not mentioned by name in the Gospel of John. Church
tradition (more on this later) identifies John with the “disciple that Jesus
loved” that is mentioned five times in the Gospel of John:

During the Last Supper, this
disciple is asked by Peter who is going to betray Jesus

John 13:23-26

The disciple is given the
responsibility of taking care of Mary, Mother of Jesus

John 19:26-27

With Peter, the disciple is told
by Mary Magdalene that the tomb is empty

John 20:1-9

The disciple is the first one to
identify Jesus at the miraculous catch of fish after the
resurrection

John 21:1-14

Jesus seems to indicate that this
disciple will outlive Peter

John
21:20-24

Post-Pentecostal

In Acts, John is depicted as a close associate of Peter, and is
involved in the early preaching and healing activities:

Healing a cripple

Acts 3:1-10

Peter and John are jailed by the
Sanhedrin, and released after being admonished to no longer teach about
Jesus

Acts 4:1-22

Peter and John preach in Samaria,
baptizing through the laying on of hands

Acts
8:14-17

Like his brother James, John is referred to as a “pillar” of
the church in Galatians 2:9. Paul notes that he supported the Pauline ministry
to the Gentiles.

Church Tradition

There are many strong church traditions regarding John. As
early as c. 180 A.D., Irenaeus (Bishop of Lyons from 177-202 A.D.) says that
John was the author of the Gospel of John:

“...John, the disciple of the Lord, who also had leaned upon
His breast, did himself publish a Gospel during his residence at Ephesus in
Asia." (Irenaeus, “Against Heresies”, Book 3, Chapter 1)

Eusebius discusses the reason that John wrote his Gospel:

"Matthew and John have left us written memorials, and they,
tradition says, were led to write only under the pressure of necessity...And
when Mark and Luke had already published their Gospels, they say that John, who
had employed all his time in proclaiming the Gospel orally, finally proceeded to
write for the following reason. The three Gospels already mentioned having come
into the hands of all and into his own too, they say that he accepted them and
bore witness to their truthfulness; but that there was lacking in them an
account of the deeds done by Christ at the beginning of his ministry." (Book 3,
Chapter 24)

By tradition, John was also the author of three canonical
letters, and the Apocalypse. Eusebius was pretty sure about John I, less sure
about John II, III, and Revelation:

"But of the writings of John, not only his Gospel, but also the
former of his epistles, has been accepted without dispute both now and in
ancient times. But the other two are disputed. In regard to the Apocalypse, the
opinions of most men are still divided. But at the proper time this question
likewise shall be decided from the testimony of the ancients." (Book 3, Chapter
24)

However, all three epistles, and the Apocalypse, were firmly
entrenched in the New Testament canon by 367 A.D., and have remained there ever
since.

According to Hippolytus, John was banished by Domitian to the
Isle of Patmos, and later died in Ephesus:

“John, again, in Asia, was banished by Domitian
the king to the isle of Patmos, in which also he wrote his Gospel and saw the
apocalyptic vision; and in Trajan’s time he fell asleep at Ephesus, where his
remains were sought for, but could not be found.”

The traditions connecting John with Ephesus and Patmos are well
established. Eusebius records:

“...Asia to John, who, after he had lived some time there, died
at Ephesus.” (Book 3, Chapter 1)

“IT is said that in
this persecution [Domitian] the apostle and evangelist John, who was still
alive, was condemned to dwell on the island of Patmos in consequence of his
testimony to the divine word.” (Book 3, Chapter 17)

Eusebius also records that John outlived Domitian:

“AT that time the
apostle and evangelist John, the one whom Jesus loved, was still living in Asia,
and governing the churches of that region, having returned after the death of
Domitian from his exile on the island... [Irenaeus] in the second book of his
work Against Heresies, writes as follows: ‘And all the elders that associated
with John the disciple of the Lord in Asia bear witness that John delivered it
to them. For he remained among them until the time of Trajan.’” (Book 3, Chapter
23)

The emperor Domitian began his rule in 81 A.D., and died in 96
A.D. This would mean that John would have been in his 80s or 90s when he
died.

St. John’s Monastery on Patmos – Photo by
Jan & Ted Lauer – Scanned by Garfield Cousins

Eusebius also records the words of Clement of Alexandria
regarding the preaching and establishment of churches in Asia by John:

“For when, after the tyrant’s death, he returned from the isle
of Patmos to Ephesus, he went away upon their invitation to the neighboring
territories of the Gentiles, to appoint bishops in some places, in other places
to set in order whole churches, elsewhere to choose to the ministry some one of
those that were pointed out by the Spirit...” (Book 3, Chapter
23)

Eusebius also records a tradition regarding the death of
John:

“The time, of John’s death has also been given in a general
way, but his burial place is indicated by an epistle of Polycrates (who was
bishop of the parish of Ephesus), addressed to Victor, bishop of Rome. In this
epistle he mentions him together with the apostle Philip and his daughters in
the following words: “For in Asia also great lights have fallen asleep, which
shall rise again on the last day, at the coming of the Lord, when he shall come
with glory from heaven and shall seek out all the saints. Among these
are...John, who was both a witness and a teacher, who reclined upon the bosom of
the Lord, and being a priest wore the sacerdotal plate. He also sleeps at
Ephesus.”

Finally, Eusebius records a tradition from Appollonius that
John raised a man from the dead:

“He [Apollonius]...relates that a dead man had, through the
Divine power, been raised by John himself in Ephesus.” (Book 5, Chapter
19)

Apocryphal

In the Acts Of The Holy Apostle And Evangelist John The
Theologian, John is seized on order of Domitian and brought before him. John
drinks poison to prove that Jesus and the Holy Spirit protect him. Then a
condemned prisoner is made to drink the poison to prove that it is lethal. The
prisoner dies, and John promptly raises him from the dead. John is eventually
banished to Patmos:

“Domitian, astonished at all the wonders, sent him away to an
island, appointing for him a set time.

And straightway John sailed to Patmos, where also he was deemed
worthy to see the revelation of the end. And when Domitian was dead, Nerva
succeeded to the kingdom, and recalled all who had been banished; and having
kept the kingdom for a year, he made Trajan his successor in the kingdom. And
when he was king over the Romans, John went to Ephesus, and regulated all the
teaching of the church, holding many conferences, and reminding them of what the
Lord had said to them, and what duty he had assigned to each. And when he was
old and changed, he ordered Polycarp to be bishop over the
church.”

In this account, there is some doubt cast as to whether John
really died:

“And gazing towards heaven, he glorified God; and having sealed
himself altogether, he stood and said to us, Peace and grace be with you,
brethren! and sent the brethren away. And when they went on the morrow they did
not find him, but his sandals, and a fountain welling up. And after that they
remembered what had been said to Peter by the Lord about him: For what does it
concern thee if I should wish him to remain until I come? And they glorified God
for the miracle that had happened. And having thus believed, they retired
praising and blessing the benignant God; because to Him is due glory now and
ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.”

Judas Iscariot

Judas Iscariot is the most reviled figure in the New Testament
- Jesus actually refers to him as a devil in John 6:70-71. He betrayed Jesus to
the Sanhedrin for 30 pieces of silver.

Judas was the son of Simon Iscariot (John 6:71). “Iscariot” is
variously interpreted as meaning “dagger-man” (i.e. that Judas was a Zealot), or
“man of Kerioth", a town near Hebron. If the latter is correct, then Judas was
the only non-Galilean among the twelve – an outsider from the beginning.

Judas is mentioned in the three Synoptic Gospel lists of the
apostles. He is, of course, omitted from the list in Acts.

The betrayal

The betrayal by Judas is mentioned starkly in Matthew:

(Mat 26:14 NIV) “Then one of the Twelve--the one called Judas
Iscariot--went to the chief priests

(Mat 26:15 NIV) and asked, "What are you willing to give me if
I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.

(Mat 26:16 NIV) From then on Judas watched for an opportunity
to hand him over.”

Luke 22:3 records that Satan entered Judas before he made his
deal with the chief priests.

The Last Supper – the traitor identified

In Matthew 26:20-25, Jesus discusses the fact that he will be
betrayed by one of the twelve, and that “It would be better for him if he had
not been born." When Judas asks "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "Yes, it
is you.”

John 13:27 identifies that Satan entered into Judas at
the Last Supper.

The role of Judas in the capture of Jesus

The actual capture of Jesus is variously described in the
Gospels:

“Judas said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’
and kissed him.”

Matthew 26:46-50

“With him was a crowd armed with
swords and clubs”

Mark 14:43-46

“Judas, are you betraying the Son
of Man with a kiss?”

Luke 22:47-48

“And Judas the traitor was
standing there with them.”

John
18:1-5

Character of Judas

The Gospel of John is especially harsh in its characterization
of Judas. In the following passage (which also tells us that Judas was the
treasurer of the apostles), Judas is referred to as a thief:

(John 12:6 NIV) “He did not say this because he cared about the
poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help
himself to what was put into it.”

Matthew 27:34 records that Judas felt remorse after turning
Jesus over to his enemies (“‘I have sinned,’ he said, ‘for I have betrayed
innocent blood.’”)

Death of Judas

The New Testament offers two versions (not necessarily
contradictory) of the death of Judas. Matthew 27:5 records that Judas committed
suicide by hanging. Acts gives a somewhat more graphic description of the death
of Judas:

(Acts 1:18 NIV) “(With the reward he got for his wickedness,
Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his
intestines spilled out.

(Acts 1:19 NIV) Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they
called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of
Blood.)”

Judas and predestination

The life and death of Judas Iscariot is often used as an
example of predestination. Both Jesus (John 13:18) and Peter (Acts 1:15-20)
speak of the traitorous actions of Judas as being in fulfillment of the
Scriptures (Psalms 41:9), and Peter says that his end was also foretold by the
prophets (Psalms 69:25, 109:8).

Matthew/Levi

Matthew appears in all four apostolic lists in the New
Testament. Mark and Luke also refer to him as “Levi”. Mark 2:14 identifies
Matthew (Levi) as the “son of Alphaeus”, so Matthew may have been related to
James, son of Alphaeus (brother or half-brother).

Matthew was a tax collector (Matt 9:9) – a singularly unpopular
occupation in 1st century Palestine! All three synoptic Gospels
report that Jesus attended a dinner at the house of Matthew. The version in Luke
5:27-32 identifies that the dinner was held in honor of Jesus by Matthew – “Then
Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house...”

Luke 5:28 tells us that Levi “left everything” to follow
Jesus.

Church Tradition

While
the Gospel of Matthew bears no author attribution in the text, very early church
tradition identifies the Gospel with Matthew. Bishop Papias of Hierapolis, as
early as c. 110 A.D., stated:

“Matthew put together the oracles [of the Lord] in the Hebrew
language, and each one interpreted them as best he could." (Eusebius, Book 3,
Chapter 39)

According to Hippolytus:

“And Matthew wrote the Gospel in the Hebrew tongue, and
published it at Jerusalem, and fell asleep at Hierees, a town of Parthia.”
[Parthia is near modern day Tehran]

Apocryphal

In the apocryphal “Acts And Martyrdom Of St. Matthew The
Apostle”, Jesus (appearing in the form of a child) sends Matthew to “Myrna, the
city of the man-eaters”. After casting out demons from the wife, son, and
daughter-in-law of the King Fulvanus, the king becomes jealous because they want
to spend all of their time with Matthew. The King several times tries to burn
Matthew to death, but Matthew is protected by Jesus. In time, the fire used to
try to burn Matthew burns up most of the King’s kingdom. Matthew eventually
dies, and ascends to heaven:

“...we all saw Matthew rising up, as it were, from the bed, and
going into heaven, led by the hand by a beautiful boy; and twelve men in shining
garments came to meet him, having never-fading and golden crowns on their head;
and we saw how that child crowned Matthew, so as to be like them, and in a flash
of lightning they went away to heaven.”

Eventually the king converts to Christianity, and becomes
Bishop of his land. The Acts end with the following:

“And Saint Matthew finished his course in the country of the
man-eaters, in the city of Myrna, on the sixteenth of the month of November, our
Lord Jesus Christ reigning, to whom be glory and strength, now and ever, and to
ages of ages. Amen.”

Other traditions record his martyrdom in Ethiopia and in
Persia.

An apocryphal Gospel is also attributed to Matthew, that
purports to tell about the “birth of the Virgin Mary, and the nativity and
infancy of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

Peter

Simon Peter, along with his brother Andrew, was a Galilean
fisherman. According to Luke 5:3, he owned a boat. Peter and his brother were
originally from the town of Bethsaida (John 1:44), but were living in Capernaum
at the time of the ministry of Jesus. It appears that Jesus sometimes used the
house of Simon and Andrew as a base of operations in Capernaum (Mark 1:32-34,
Luke 4:40-43).

Simon Peter is mentioned in all four apostolic lists in the New
Testament. John 1:42 identifies that Jesus gave Simon the name “Cephas”, or
Peter (which means “rock”).

Peter was the son of Jonah (Matt 16:17). He was married - 1 Cor
9:5 records that Peter took his wife on some of his missionary journeys. Peter’s
mother-in-law was healed by Jesus of a fever (Mark 1:29-31, Luke 4:38-39).

Calling of Peter

According to the account in Matthew, Andrew and Peter were the
first apostles selected by Jesus who tells them in Mat 4:19 “Come, follow me and
I will make you fishers of men.” (Also, Mark 1:16-17) In Luke 5:1-11, the
calling of Peter is associated with a miraculous catch of fish, which causes a
frightened Peter to say “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

A somewhat different account in John 1:41-42, depicts that
Simon is brought to Jesus by his brother Andrew. John 1 also indicates that
Peter may have been a follower of John the Baptist (John 1:35-40).

Peter is given an especially important role in the Gospel of
Matthew when he is the first one of the apostles to proclaim that Jesus is the
messiah and the Son of God:

(Mat 16:15 NIV) “"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you
say I am?"

(Mat 16:16 NIV) Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the
Son of the living God."

(Mat 16:17 NIV) Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of
Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in
heaven.”

The "inner circle"

Peter was part of the “inner circle” of the apostles of Jesus,
along with the brothers James and John. They were involved in several key events
that the other apostles weren’t privy to:

The transfiguration

Matt 17:1, Mark 9:2, Luke
9:29

The raising of the daughter of
Jairus from the dead

Mark 5:35-43, Luke
8:49-56

Present at the mini-apocalypse,
delivered by Jesus on the Mount of Olives

Mark 13:3

With Jesus during his agony in the
Garden of Gethsemane

Mark 14:32-42, Matt
26:36-46

Along with John, Peter is asked by
Jesus to make preparations for the Last Supper

Luke
22:8-13

Character and characteristics

Peter is especially endearing as an “everyman”, demonstrating
his innate practicality when, during the transfiguration, he seems more focused
on building some sort of condominiums for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, than on the
significance of the two prophets appearing with Jesus:

(Luke 9:33 NIV) “As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to
him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one
for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was
saying.)”

Peter is often depicted as having dialogues with the Savior. In
these dialogues, Peter is portrayed variously as being impetuous, practical,
inquiring, enthusiastic, and sometimes even a little slow. On several occasions,
Jesus rebukes him.

The Temple Tax

Matt 17:24-27

"I tell you, not seven times, but
seventy-seven times.”

Matt 18:21-22

“The fig tree you cursed has
withered!"

Mark 11:20-25

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You
have the words of eternal life.”

John 6:67-70

"Are you still so dull?"

Matthew 15:15-16

Peter asked, "Lord, are you
telling this parable to us, or to everyone?"

Luke 12:35-48

"No," said Peter, "you shall never
wash my feet."

John 13:6-9

As soon as Simon Peter heard him
say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had
taken it off) and jumped into the water.

John 21:7

“Out of my sight,
Satan!”

Matthew 16:21-23, Mark
8:32-33

“You did not give me any water for
my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears...”

Luke 7:40-47

"Put your sword away! Shall I not
drink the cup the Father has given me?"

John
18:10-11

Prior to Pentecost, Peter is portrayed as a man that wants to
have faith, but cannot always maintain it. Matthew 14:25-33 is an example, with
Peter believing he can walk on water, but then losing faith because of the
strong wind. In Matthew 26:33-35, after Jesus has announced that he will be
betrayed, Peter claims “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."
Jesus knows better, though, and replies “...before the rooster crows, you will
disown me three times." (Also, Mark 14:29-31, Luke 22:33-34). Of course, Peter
goes on to disown the Lord three times (once given away by his Galilean accent)
(Matt 26:69-75; see also Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:54-62, John 18:15-27)

Post-resurrection

Peter appears in several key scenes after the resurrection. In
Mark 16:1-8, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome are told by a
young man dressed in white to “tell his disciples and Peter” that Jesus will see
them in Galilee. Some people interpret this to mean that, after disowning Christ
three times, Peter is temporarily not considered to be one of the Apostles. In
John 21:15-17, Peter is prompted by Jesus to tell him that he loves him three
times.

In Luke 24:12 and John 20:1-9, Peter is depicted as viewing the
empty tomb. A mysterious reference in Luke 24:34 and 1 Cor 15:5 identifies that
Peter was the first apostle to whom the risen Lord appeared. However, there is
no other New Testament record of this event.

Along with several other apostles, Simon is present at the
miraculous post-resurrection fish catch/fry, depicted in John 21:1-14.

Death of Peter prefigured

Later Church tradition (see section below) says that Peter met
his death by crucifixion under Nero. An eerie set of passages at the end of the
Gospel of John seems to prefigure his death (John lived long after Peter, and
very likely would have known the details of his death):

(John 13:36 NIV) “Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you
going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will
follow later."

(John 21:18 NIV) I tell you the truth, when you were younger
you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will
stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you
do not want to go."

(John 21:19 NIV) Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death
by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow
me!"”

Post-ascension

After the ascension of Christ, Peter immediately assumes a
leadership role - it is Peter that drives the selection of a replacement apostle
for Judas, in Acts 1:15-26. This leadership role is seemingly prefigured by
Christ in Luke 22:32:

(Luke 22:32 NIV) “But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your
faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your
brothers.”

Post-Pentecostal

After Pentecost, Peter, the simple Galilean fisherman, is
transformed into a great preacher, healer, and fearless advocate for Jesus
Christ. In fact, Peter is accorded the honor of being the first person to preach
a sermon in the new church – a sermon that garners 3,000 new converts! (Acts
2:14-41). Peter’s activities in the Primitive Church are summarized below:

In Acts 3, Peter heals a cripple near the Temple in Jerusalem, and again
preaches a sermon at Solomon's Colonnade, which gathers at least 2,000 more
converts (Acts 4:4)

Peter and John are put in prison by the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:1-22). Peter,
filled with the Holy Spirit, uses the occasion to preach the Gospel of Christ
to the rulers of the Sanhedrin. One of the most important verses in all of
Acts begins to explain why people gave credence to the early Christians:

(Acts 4:13 NIV) “When they saw the courage of Peter and John
and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and
they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

In Acts 5:1-11, Peter is the focus of the event which leads to the death
of a husband and wife who lied about a contribution to the young church

In Acts 5:15-16, people bring their sick to be healed by Peter and the
other apostles

In Acts 5:25-42, the apostles are arrested and brought before the
Sanhedrin. Peter, the simple fisherman, once again uses the opportunity to
lecture the learned Sanhedrin. After being flogged, the apostles are freed.

In Acts 8:14-25, Peter and John are sent to Samaria to baptize by the
laying on of hands. Peter then has a run-in with Simon Magus (Simon the
Magician). Later church and apocryphal traditions indicate that the two will
meet again in the future.

In Acts 9:32-43, Peter raises a woman named Tabitha from the dead

In Acts 10, Peter receives a vision, convincing him that the message of
Christ is for Gentiles, too. In Acts 10:44-48, the ministry to the Gentiles
blossoms.

In Acts 11:1-18, Peter successfully defends the baptizing of Gentiles to
the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem

In Acts 12:1-9, Peter is arrested by King Herod Agrippa I, grandson of the
Herod the Great, and thrown in prison. An angel rescues Peter, perhaps because
“the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”

In Acts 15:5-12, Peter plays a key role in convincing the Council of
Jerusalem that Gentile converts should be allowed into the young church
without restriction - “We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus
that we are saved, just as they are."

Peter may have preached in Corinth (1 Cor 1:12)

Relationship of Peter with Paul

The New Testament records that Peter and Paul, the two greatest
apostles of the Early Church, did have some interaction with each other.
Galatians 1:18, for example, records that Paul stayed with Peter in Jerusalem
for a period of 15 days. Peter supports Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles at the
Jerusalem Council in Acts 15. This is further supported in Galatians 2:7-10,
when Peter (a “pillar”) is depicted as being an “apostle to the Jews”, and
supporting Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles.

There were some disagreements between the two. In Galatians,
2:11-14 Paul describes an argument that he had with Peter in Antioch. In 2 Peter
3:15-16, Peter describes that Paul’s letters are “hard to understand”, but
ascribes to them the same authority as the Jewish Scriptures:

(2 Pet 3:15 NIV) “Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means
salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God
gave him.

(2 Pet 3:16 NIV) He writes the same way in all his letters,
speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard
to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other
Scriptures, to their own destruction.”

Keys to the Kingdom

The most controversial passages (in modern terms) in the New
Testament regarding Peter are those describing Peter as the “rock” upon which
Jesus will build his Church, and assigning him the “keys to the kingdom”. The
passages in question are below:

(Mat 16:18 NIV) “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this
rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

(Mat 16:19 NIV) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of
heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you
loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

These verses have been traditionally interpreted by the Roman
Catholic Church as indicating that the Christian Church has received its
authority from the legacy of Peter. The Roman Church also points to passages
such as John 21:16, where Jesus says to Peter "Take care of my sheep", as
further justification that Peter is the founder of the Christian Church.

Protestants have traditionally interpreted the “rock” and
“keys” passages to indicate that the faith of Peter is the “rock upon
which I will build my church”, and that faith is the “keys to the
kingdom.” Protestants often view that Paul, not Peter, is the founder of the
Christian Church as we know it today.

Church tradition (see below) also records that Peter was the
first Bishop of Rome, and that all Catholic popes are spiritual descendents from
Peter.

Mitigating against this Catholic view of
Peter-as-the-first-Pope is the fact that nowhere in the Scriptures does it say
that Peter preached in Rome. The closest is a cryptic remark at the end of 1
Peter:

(1 Pet 5:13 NIV) “She who is in Babylon, chosen together with
you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.”

Also of interest is the fact that the head of the early
Jerusalem Church was James, brother of Jesus, not Peter, as noted in this
passage from Eusebius:

“But Clement in the sixth book of his Hypotyposes writes thus:
“For they say that Peter and James and John after the ascension of our Savior,
as if also preferred by our Lord, strove not after honor, but chose James the
Just bishop of Jerusalem.”” (Book 2, Chapter 1)

Church Tradition

Eusebius, quoting Papias of Hierapolis (c. 110 A.D.), records a
tradition that the Gospel of Mark preserved the Gospel as preached by Peter:

"Mark having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down
accurately whatsoever he remembered…he accompanied Peter..." (Book 3, Chapter
39)

Irenaeus (c. 180 A.D.) records a similar tradition, and
mentions that Peter and Paul founded the Church in Rome:

"Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in
their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching at Rome, and laying the
foundations of the Church. After their departure, Mark, the disciple and
interpreter of Peter, did also hand down to us in writing what had been preached
by Peter..." (Irenaeus, “Against Heresies”, Book 3, Chapter 1)

Two letters in the New Testament are ascribed to Peter. 1 Peter
has always been universally accepted as the writing of Peter, with some doubt
cast on 2 Peter by some. Eusebius gives his opinion about Peter I and II:

“ONE epistle of Peter, that called the first, is acknowledged
as genuine. And this the ancient elders used freely in their own writings as an
undisputed work. But we have learned that his extant second Epistle does not
belong to the canon; yet, as it has appeared profitable to many, it has been
used with the other Scriptures.” (Book 3, Chapter 3)

Eusebius also records the tradition that Peter preached in
Rome, and fought against the heresy of Simon Magus the Magician (generally
considered to be the founder of Gnosticism):

“For immediately, during the reign of Claudius, the all-good
and gracious Providence, which watches over all things, led Peter, that
strongest and greatest of the apostles, and the one who on account of his virtue
was the speaker for all the others, to Rome against this great corrupter of
life. He like a noble commander of God, clad in divine armor, carried the costly
merchandise of the light of the understanding from the East to those who dwelt
in the West, proclaiming the light itself, and the word which brings salvation
to souls, and preaching the kingdom of heaven.” (Book 2, Chapter
14)

Eusebius records that Peter was put to death under Nero in
Rome:

“It is, therefore, recorded that Paul was beheaded in Rome
itself, and that Peter likewise was crucified under Nero. This account of Peter
and Paul is substantiated by the fact that their names are preserved in the
cemeteries of that place even to the present day. It is confirmed likewise by
Caius, a member of the Church, who arose under Zephyrinus, bishop of Rome. He,
in a published disputation with Proclus, the leader of the Phrygian heresy,
speaks as follows concerning the places where the sacred corpses of the
aforesaid apostles are laid: “But I can show the trophies of the apostles. For
if you will go to the Vatican or to the Ostian way, you will find the trophies
of those who laid the foundations of this church.” And that they both suffered
martyrdom at the same time is stated by Dionysius, bishop of Corinth, in his
epistle to the Romans, in the following words: “You have thus by such an
admonition bound together the planting of Peter and of Paul at Rome and Corinth.
For both of them planted and likewise taught us in our Corinth. And they taught
together in like manner in Italy, and suffered martyrdom at the same time.” I
have quoted these things in order that the truth of the history might be still
more confirmed.” (Book 2, Chapter 25)

Eusebius also records where Peter preached:

“Peter appears to have preached in Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia,
Cappadocia, and Asia to the Jews of the dispersion. And at last, having come to
Rome, he was crucified head-downwards; for he had requested that he might suffer
in this way.” (Book 3, Chapter 1) [Note: Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia, and
Cappadocia are all located in modern northern Turkey]

According to Hippolytus, Peter was crucified by Nero in
Rome:

“Peter preached the Gospel in Pontus, and Galatia, and
Cappadocia, and Betania, and Italy, and Asia, and was afterwards crucified by
Nero in Rome with his head downward, as he had himself desired to suffer in that
manner.”

Eusebius records a tradition from Clement of Alexandria
regarding the martyrdom of the wife of Peter:

“They say, accordingly, that when the blessed Peter saw his own
wife led out to die, he rejoiced because of her summons and her return home, and
called to her very encouragingly and comfortingly, addressing her by name, and
saying, ‘Oh thou, remember the Lord.’ Such was the marriage of the blessed, and
their perfect disposition toward those dearest to them.” (Book 3, Chapter
30)

Church tradition records that Peter was buried in Rome on
Vatican Hill, near the gardens of Nero. The first memorial over the grave was
placed there in 160 A.D. A huge basilica was place there by Constantine in the
4th century. A series of excavations instituted by Pope Paul XII in
1940-51, and 1953-7 seems to have verified that the spire of the present St.
Peter’s Church in Rome is located about 300 feet above the underground grave of
Peter.

Apocryphal

The Acts Of The Holy Apostles Peter And Paul discusses
the ministry of Peter in Rome, where he converts the wife (Libia) of Nero to
Christianity(!) The bulk of the apocryphal Acts describes the battle in Rome
between Peter (and Paul) and Simon the Magician. The battle eventually plays out
in front of Nero, and all three (Peter, Paul, Simon) end up dying. The death and
burial of Peter is described thus:

“Then both Peter and Paul were led away from the presence of
Nero. And Paul was beheaded on the Ostesian road. And Peter, having come to the
cross, said: Since my Lord Jesus Christ, who came down from the heaven upon the
earth, was raised upon the cross upright, and He has deigned to call to heaven
me, who am of the earth, my cross ought to be fixed head downmost, so as to
direct my feet towards heaven; for I am not worthy to be crucified like my Lord.
Then, having reversed the cross, they nailed his feet up.

And the consummation of the holy glorious Apostles Peter and
Paul was on the 29th of the month of June —“

A number of apocryphal writings are ascribed to Peter,
including a Gospel, an Apocalypse, an Acts (of Peter and Paul), etc. Eusebius
gives his opinion of these works:

“The so-called Acts of Peter, however, and the Gospel which
bears his name, and the Preaching and the Apocalypse, as they are called, we
know have not been universally accepted, because no ecclesiastical writer,
ancient or modern, has made use of testimonies drawn from them.” (Book 3,
Chapter 3)

The second century Gospel of Peter describes the period of time
after the death of Jesus, adding details to the story of Joseph of Arimathea,
and the women at the tomb. Intriguingly, “Mary of Magdala” is described as a
“disciple of the Lord”.

The second century “Revelation of Peter” contains detailed
descriptions of heaven and hell. It has some stylistic similarities to 2
Peter.

Philip

Philip appears in all four lists of apostles in the New
Testament, apparently linked with Bartholomew in the synoptic versions. This
identification is enhanced in the Gospel of John. In John 1:43, Jesus finds
Philip and tells him “Follow me”. Philip (who is identified as being from
Bethsaida in John 1:44) goes and tells his friend Nathanael (generally viewed as
being Bartholomew, as in “Nathanael, son of Tolmai”):

(John 1:45 NIV) “Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have
found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also
wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."”

It is possible that Philip acted in the role of quartermaster
or provisioner for Jesus and the apostles, for when Jesus is about to perform
his miracle of feeding the 5,000, he says:

(John 6:5 NIV) “When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd
coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people
to eat?"

(John 6:6 NIV) He asked this only to test him, for he already
had in mind what he was going to do.”

(John 6:7 NIV) Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would
not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"”

Philip also appears in John when a group of Greeks ask him to
meet Jesus. After collecting Andrew, the two inform Jesus that he has visitors.
(John 12:20-22)

At the Last Supper, in John 14:6-9, Philip asks Jesus to “show
us the Father”, and Jesus replies “Anyone who has seen me has seen the
Father.”

Church Tradition

According to Hippolytus, Philip preached and was executed in
what today is eastern Turkey:

“Philip preached in Phrygia, and was crucified in Hierapolis
with his head downward in the time of Domitian, and was buried
there.”

According to Eusebius (quoting Clement of Alexandria) Philip
was married, and had daughters:

“For Peter and Philip begat children; and Philip also gave his
daughters in marriage...” (Book 3, Chapter 30)

Eusebius, quoting Polycrates, discusses the death of Philip and
his daughters:

“For in Asia also great lights have fallen asleep, which shall
rise again on the last day, at the coming of the Lord, when he shall come with
glory from heaven and shall seek out all the saints. Among these are Philip, one
of the twelve apostles, who sleeps in Hierapolis, and his two aged virgin
daughters, and another daughter who lived in the Holy Spirit and now rests
at Ephesus...” (Book 3, Chapter 31)

Referencing Papias, Eusebius records a tradition that one of
Philip’s daughters rose from the dead (it is unclear in the text as to whether
Philip did the raising):

“That Philip the apostle dwelt at Hierapolis with his daughters
has been already stated. But it must be noted here that Papias, their
contemporary, says that he heard a wonderful tale from the daughters of Philip.
For he relates that in his time one rose from the dead. “ (Book 3, Chapter
39)

It should be noted, though, that there seems to be at least
some confusion in the works of the ancients regarding the daughters of Philip
the Apostle, and Philip the Deacon (Acts 6:5, Acts 21:8-9).

Apocryphal

The apocryphal Acts Of The Journeyings Of Philip The
Apostle has Philip preaching in the “cities and regions of Lydia and Asia".
After converting the wife of the Roman proconsul, Philip is captured by the
irate husband and hung upside down:

“And he ordered Philip to be hanged, and his ankles to be
pierced, and to bring also iron hooks, and his heels also to be driven through,
and to be hanged head downwards, opposite the temple on a certain
tree...”

An angry Philip places a curse on his captors, and 7,000 men
(including the proconsul) are swept into an abyss. Jesus appears and reprimands
Philip for rendering evil for evil. Philip’s punishment is that he will not be
able to enter paradise for 40 days after he dies. After Philip “gives up the
ghost”:

“...the plant of the vine sprouted up where the blood of the
holy Philip had dropped...And they built the church in that
place...”

In the second part of the same Acts, Philip preaches in Athens
in front of 300 philosophers, and eventually ends up in a battle with the Jewish
High Priest Ananias (from Jerusalem). Although Philip performs many miracles,
Ananias refuses to believe in Christ. Philip buries him, in stages, up to his
knees, navel, and neck – and finally consigns him to the Abyss (Hades). The Acts
end with:

“And Philip abode in Athens two years; and having founded a
church, appointed a bishop and a presbyter, and so went away to Parthia
[probably near modern day Tehran], preaching Christ. To whom be glory for ever.
Amen.”

Simon the Zealot

Simon the Zealot is mentioned in all four lists of apostles in
the New Testament – and no other information is given about him whatsoever.
Traditionally, Simon is thought to have been a member of the Jewish Zealot
party, a group of nationalists that eventually revolted (disastrously) against
the Romans in 66 A.D. However, the name could also be translated “the zealous
one”.

Church Tradition

According to Hippolytus, Simon the Zealot was the second Bishop
of Jerusalem:

“Simon the Zealot, the son of Clopas, who is also called Jude,
became bishop of Jerusalem after James the Just, and fell asleep and was buried
there at the age of 120 years.”

Eusebius identifies that “Symeon, the son of Clopas,” was the
second Bishop of Jerusalem, but he does not specifically connect this figure
with Simon the Zealot.

The apocryphal Passion of Simon and Jude places Simon in
Persia.

Thaddaeus/Judas son of
James

Matthew and Mark refer to an apostle named Thaddaeus in their
apostolic list. Luke (in both lists) refers to a “Judas, son of James”.
Generally, scholars feel these are one and the same. Some manuscripts mention
yet a third name – Lebbaeus, as shown in this verse from the King James
Version:

(Mat 10:3 KJV) “Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew
the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was
Thaddaeus…” (emphasis added)

Thaddaeus/Judas possibly shows up in John, asking the following
question:

(John 14:22 NIV) “Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But,
Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"

(John 14:23 NIV) Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will
obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our
home with him.””

Some scholars identify Thaddaeus/Judas as the author of Jude,
but most scholars view the author of Jude as being the brother of Jesus and
James (the Just).

Church Tradition

Hippolytus records:

“Jude, who is also called Lebbaeus, preached to the people of
Edessa, and to all Mesopotamia, and fell asleep at Berytus, and was buried
there.”

Eusebius reports the contents of a Syriac manuscript that
reports that Thaddaeus was sent by Thomas to Edessa, to heal and preach:

“After the ascension of Jesus, Judas, who was also called
Thomas, sent to him Thaddeus, an apostle, one of the Seventy. When he was come
he lodged with Tobias, the son of Tobias. When the report of him got abroad, it
was told Abgarus that an apostle of Jesus was come, as he had written him.
Thaddeus began then in the power of God to heal every disease and
infirmity...The same Thaddeus cured also many other inhabitants of the city, and
did wonders and marvelous works, and preached the word of God.” (Book 1, Chapter
13)

Apocryphal

The apocryphal Acts Of The Holy Apostle Thaddaeus - One Of
The Twelve tells us that Thaddaeus was from the city of Edessa, and was a
follower of John the Baptist:

“LEBBAEUS, who also is
Thaddaeus, was of the city of Edessa — and it is the metropolis of Osroene, in
the interior of the Armenosyrians — an Hebrew by race, accomplished and most
learned in the divine writings. He came to Jerusalem to worship in the days of
John the Baptist; and having heard his preaching and seen his angelic life, he
was baptized, and his name was called Thaddaeus. And having seen the appearing
of Christ, and His teaching, and His wonderful works, he followed Him, and
became His disciple; and He chose him as one of the twelve, the tenth apostle
according to the Evangelists Matthew and Mark.”

In the Acts, the Governor of Edessa, Abgarus, contracts an
incurable disease. He sends a letter to Jesus (!), asking for help. In the
course of the reply, Jesus promises to send Thaddaeus to Edessa. The passage is
interesting, because it seems to foreshadow the Shroud of Turin:

“And Ananias [a courier], having gone and given the letter, was
carefully looking at Christ, but was unable to fix Him in his mind. And He knew
as knowing the heart, and asked to wash Himself; and a towel was given Him; and
when He had washed Himself, He wiped His face with it. And His image having been
imprinted upon the linen, He gave it to Ananias, saying: Give this, and take
back this message, to him that sent thee: Peace to thee and thy city! For
because of this I am come, to suffer for the world, and to rise again, and to
raise up the forefathers. And after I have been taken up into the heavens I
shall send thee my disciple Thaddaeus, who shall enlighten thee, and guide thee
into all the truth, both thee and thy city.”

Thaddaeus eventually baptizes Abgarus, and establishes churches
in Edessa and throughout Syria. Finally, the Acts report that Thaddaeus died in
Berytus in Phoencia:

“And Thaddaeus along with Abgarus destroyed idol-temples and
built churches; ordained as bishop one of his disciples, and presbyters, and
deacons, and gave them the rule of the psalmody and the holy liturgy. And having
left them, he went to the city of Amis, great metropolis of the Mesechaldeans
and Syrians, that is, of Mesopotamia-Syria, beside the river Tigris.

Having therefore remained with them for five years, he built a
church; and having appointed as bishop one of his disciples, and presbyters, and
deacons, and prayed for them, he went away, going round the cities of Syria, and
teaching, and healing all the sick; whence he brought many cities and countries
to Christ through His teaching. Teaching, therefore, and evangelizing along with
the disciples, and healing the sick, he went to Berytus, a city of Phoenicia by
the sea; and there, having taught and enlightened many, he fell asleep on the
twenty-first of the month of August. And the disciples having come together,
buried him with great honor; and many sick were healed, and they gave glory to
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever.
Amen.”

This Acts may have slightly more credibility than some others,
as many of the story elements are quoted by Eusebius in his Church History
(Abgarus writing to Jesus, Jesus writing back (!), Thaddaeus journeying to
Edessa to heal, etc.)

Thomas

Thomas appears in all four New Testament lists of Apostles. In
the Gospel of John, Thomas’s name is listed as “Thomas (called Didymus)”.
Didymus is Greek for “twin” or “double”. Because the name Thomas is
linked with Matthew in the three apostolic lists in the Synoptic Gospels (see,
for example, Matt 10:3), some scholars have postulated that Thomas and Matthew
were twin brothers.

Thomas appears several times in interesting roles in the Gospel
of John. In the 11th chapter of John, Thomas makes the following
curious statement when Jesus suggests that the disciples visit the dead
Lazarus:

(John 11:16 NIV) “Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest
of the disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’”

Thomas also has the distinction of asking the question that
prompts one of the most famous answers in the Bible:

(John 14:5 NIV) “Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know
where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

(John 14:6 NIV) Jesus answered, "I am the way
and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me.””

However, Thomas is most famous for his doubting that Jesus
had resurrected from the dead, earning the sobriquet “Doubting Thomas”. The
incident is described in John 20:24-29, and quotes Thomas as saying “Unless I
see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put
my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

Finally, Thomas is present on the Sea of Galilea when Jesus
causes a miraculous catch of fish, and prepares breakfast for the apostles on
the beach.

Church Tradition

Hippolytus records that Thomas was an active missionary,
and that he met his fate in India:

“And Thomas preached to the Parthians, Medes, Persians,
Hyrcanians, Bactrians, and Margians, and was thrust through in the four members
of his body with a pine spear at Calamene, the city of India, and was buried
there.”

Eusebius in his Church History records that Thomas sent other
disciples out on missionary journeys:

“Thomas, one of the twelve apostles, under divine impulse sent
Thaddeus, who was also numbered among the seventy disciples of Christ, to
Edessa, as a preacher and evangelist of the teaching of Christ.” (Book 1,
Chapter 13)

Eusebius records that Thomas preached in Parthia (near
modern-day Tehran):

“Parthia, according to tradition, was allotted to Thomas as his
field of labor...” (Book 3, Chapter 1)

Apocryphal

In the Acts Of The Holy Apostle Thomas, a reluctant
Thomas is assigned missionary duty in India:

“AT that time we the
apostles were all in Jerusalem...and we portioned out the regions of the world,
in order that each one of us might go into the region that fell to him, and to
the nation to which the Lord sent him. By lot, then, India fell to Judas Thomas,
also called Didymus. And he did not wish to go, saying that he was not able to
go on account of the weakness of the flesh; and how can I, being an Hebrew man,
go among the Indians to proclaim the truth? And while he was thus reasoning and
speaking, the Savior appeared to him through the night, and said to him: Fear
not, Thomas; go away to India, and proclaim the word; for my grace shall be with
thee.”

In the same apocryphal acts, Jesus appears as the brother of
Thomas:

“And he saw the Lord Jesus talking with the bride, and having
the appearance of Judas Thomas, who shortly before had blessed them, and gone
out from them; and he says to him: Didst thou not go out before them all? And
how art thou found here? And the Lord said to him: I am not Judas, who also is
Thomas; I am his brother.”

“...I know that thou art the twin-brother of
Christ...”

Some people believe that this tradition is preserved in Da
Vinci’s Last Supper – note the apostle on the far left who looks very
much like Jesus.

After an active career as a preacher and healer, Thomas is put
to death by order of a King Misdeus, on the charge of heresy. In this account,
Thomas is executed by spear:

“And when he had prayed, he said to the soldiers: Come and
finish the work of him that sent you. And the four struck him at once, and
killed him. And all the brethren wept, and wrapped him up in beautiful shawls,
and many linen cloths, and laid him in the tomb in which of old the kings used
to be buried.”

Later, King Misdeus believes that the bones of the apostle may
be able to heal his daughter, who is possessed by a demon. When he goes to the
tomb “he did not find the bones (for one of the brethren had taken them, and
carried them into the regions of the West).”

Two Gospels have appeared in the name of Thomas. One is an
infancy Gospel, purporting to discuss the “great things which our Lord Jesus
Christ did in His childhood”. The second is a Gnostic Gospel, purporting to tell
“the secret sayings that the living Jesus spoke and Didymus Judas Thomas
recorded.” (Miller, p. 305)

Sources

Title

Author

Publisher

Date

Holy Bible - New International
Version

Zondervan Publishing
House

1973

Lives of the Saints

Rev. Alban Butler

Gallery Books

1990

Oxford Companion to the
Bible

Bruce Metzger & Michael
Coogan

Oxford University Press

1993

The Ante-Nicene Fathers Volume
5

Edited by A. Roberts and J
Donaldson

Ages Software

1997

The Ante-Nicene Fathers Volume
8

Edited by A. Roberts and J
Donaldson

Ages Software

1997

The Ante-Nicene Fathers Volume
1

Edited by A. Roberts and J
Donaldson

Ages Software

1997

The Complete Gospels

Robert J. Miller, Editor

Polebridge

1992

The Nicene And Post-Nicene Fathers
Second Series, Vol. 1

Philip Schaff, editor

Ages Software

1996, 1997

Who’s Who in the
Bible

Joan Conway & Ronald
Brownrigg

Bonanza Books

1972

Thanks to Barbara Burch for her proofreading
assistance.