The Twelve
The Twelve
WHY 12 APOSTLES
WHO WERE THEY – HOW DID THEY DIE – WHY AND HOW WERE THEY CHOSEN
4 BCE | 70 CE/AD
ACCEPTED DATES OF MY BLOGS
What I find is no surprise – 12 for the 12 Tribes of ISRAEL
Their job was to PREACH to ISRAEL and most importantly JUDGE the 12 TRIBES of ISRAEL at the END OF TIME.
But what we find is that by the late 1st Century, when the GOSPELS are composed, the message is no longer being PREACHED just to ISRAEL, but in many areas, into TURKEY, SYRIA, and EGYPT, the END OF TIME started to look indefinitely delayed.
By choosing his 12 APOSTLES it is clear that JESUS was calling out a NEW PEOPLE for himself, and that the twelve men would be forming the basis of the NEW ISRAEL. Could this be why GOD decided to not intervene with what was to follow? GOD had already chosen his people, the ISRAELITES who were divided by GOD into 12 Tribes – Could JESUS have followed his own ‘thoughts’ and not that of GOD . . . OR
Was the POWER OF GOD at work when these twelve men were called? What is clear is that they did not know the full extent of the task at hand when they were called and accepted to become JESUS’ Disciples. They knew that they had to leave their current jobs and the security of those at home.
What we see is that when JESUS neared the end of his EARTHLY LIFE he explained to them the real-cost of DISCIPLESHIP, when they took up his cross and followed him. In other words, they must be prepared to die for ‘him’.
We see for some that their allegiance to JESUS resulted in them being killed. (not during his time though) Yet what JESUS asked of his disciples was not more than he was willing to do himself. He demonstrated this by freely ‘giving’ his own life on the cross as a sacrifice for HUMANITY. Or was it to protect the SECRETS?, He knew that his brother JAMES would stand a chance for us to KNOW.
NOTE: I need to stop here for a moment, I do not begin to say that these disciples were killed for what JESUS ‘stood for.’ They were brutally killed, after the death of JESUS, when they began to follow SAUL or PAUL, with his ‘new’ religion.
We see that before JESUS ascended into heaven, he instructed them to go and proclaim the good news of the KINGDOM. In addition, he told them that they would be able to teach everything that he had taught them and SPREAD THE SECRETS as given to them for us to KNOW as it pertained to GOD’S LAW. This is my opinion.
The word “apostle” means “the sent ones” – fearlessly preaching the death and resurrection of JESUS and heralding the arrival of a NEW WAY OF LIVING. So, the BIBLE tells us.
As commanded they took the gospel to the ‘END OF THE EARTH’. Life was not easy for them. The ROMAN’S had to end the spread of the SECRETS. HEROD and others were on their tails to destroy as much of what JESUS taught.
WHO WERE THEY? AND HOW DID THEY DIE
The BIBLE only mentions the deaths of two apostles –
JAMES who was put to death by HEROD in 44 CE/AD.
JUDAS ISCARIOT who committed suicide shortly after the CRUCIFIXION
The details of the deaths of three apostles JOHN the beloved – BARTHOLOMEW and SIMON the CANAANITE are not known at all, either by traditional or early Historians –
The deaths of the other seven apostles are known by tradition or the writings of Historians. According to traditions and the BIBLE, eight of the apostles died as MARTYRS and we know that PETER and ANDREW were crucified.
PETER
PETER was a fisherman from CAPERNAUM and was often called SIMON PETER, CEPHAS – from the Aramaic meaning ‘Rock’ │ CAPERNAUM was 189.9 Kms away from JERUSALEM.
→ This far in my research I could not find any information about his travels nor his death
ANDREW
He was PETER’S brother
He first ‘walked’ with JOHN THE BAPTIST
→ No accurate death date given, but what research indicates is that he preached in SCYTHIA, GREECE, ASIA MINOR and THRACE in EUROPE. He is reported to have been crucified at PATRAE in ACHAIA, in GREECE.
JAMES
JAMES, was the son of ZEBEDEE and was also from the city of CAPERNAUM
He was called JAMES the GREAT
→ JAMES the son of ZEBEDEE, was put to death by HEROD AGRIPPA I, shortly before the day of the Passover, in the year 44 CE/AD.
JOHN
He was JAMES’ brother and also the son of ZEBEDEE
JESUS called the two brother BOANERGES, which means SONS OF THUNDER
→ This far in my research I could not find any information about his travels nor his death
PHILIP
He was from BETHSAIDA which is actually CAPERNAUM a town on the coast of GALILEE
He is believed to have PREACHED in GREECE, SYRIA, and PHRYGIA in TURKEY along with JAMES the LESSER, JESUS’ brother.
→ According to research, PHILIP preached in PHRYGIA and died at HIERAPOLIS. His grave is said to be in HIERAPOLIS in TURKEY
BARTHOLOMEW
Not much about him is known other than his surname. His name could have been NATHANAEL – Two ancient testimonies exist about the mission of SAINT BARTHOLOMEW in INDIA near the BOMBAY region on the KONKAN coast. This region which may have been known as the ancient city KALYAN, where SAINT BARTHOLOMEW is said to have been and where their missionary activities took place. Along with his fellow apostle JUDE “THADDEUS”, BARTHOLOMEW is reputed to have brought ‘Christianity’ to ARMENIA.
→ How he landed up in SICILY on the ISLAND of LIPARI is not known – but he died a horrible death by being beheaded and skinned – I can hardly believe that.
MATTHEW
MATTHEW the son of ALPHAEUS, brother of JAMES the LESS, could have been the name the ROMANS gave him, as he was a Tax Collector within the city of CAPERNAUM. Tax Collectors were known for lying about how much people owed and the difference they pocketed for themselves. Hence why Tax Collectors were known as sinners, as reported in MATTHEW 9:12 when JESUS lumps MATTHEW in with the sinners.
We are told that MATTHEW himself wrote the GOSPEL OF MATTHEW. Why would he write ‘bad’ about himself, but then he was extremely economical about the truths.
He knew more about JESUS Ministry, than PETER, JAMES, and JOHN. Would he then write his GOSPEL with ‘errors’ or more ‘bending the truth’? It remains a puzzle for me.
→ What we know is that he lived for many years as an Apostle. He was the author of the GOSPEL of MATTHEW, which was written at least twenty years after the death of JESUS. We understand that he stayed on in JERUSALEM for about fifteen more years after the crucifixion. He then travelled as a MISSIONARY to the PERSIANS, PARTHIANS, and MEDES.
There is a legend that he might have been martyred in ETHIOPIA. But which ETHIOPIA could it be?
THOMAS
THOMAS, means ‘twin’ in ARAMAIC. His nickname was ‘doubting Thomas,’ because he doubted JESUS’ resurrection when he was first told of it. He confessed his faith “My LORD and My GOD” on seeing JESUS’ crucifixion wounds.
He was also known as DIDYMOS, which means ‘twice,’ possibly with reference to the fact that he was a twin.
GOSPEL OF THOMAS begins: “These are the secret sayings that the living JESUS spoke to DIDYMOS, Judas Thomas, recorded.”
How, could THOMAS have been in possession of the SECRETS. We find him in PARTHIA around 40 CE/AD.
Could he have been with MATTHEW?
He was buried in EDESSA in TURKEY. Some records indicate that he also might have been to KERALA IN INDIA, as he is regarded as PATRON SAINT of INDIA.
He is commemorated by the LATIN CHURCH on 21st December and in the GREEK CHURCH on the 6th October and for some reason the NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH on the 1st July.
JAMES
My research, he was the brother of MATTHEW. JAMES was also born in GALILEE within the city of CAPERNAUM, he died in JERUSALEM in 62 CE/AD. What is confusing is that there were 3 James’s during that period, JAMES son of ALPHAEUS – JAMES the LESSER and JAMES the GREATER.
What I often found is that no reference was given to any one in particular. So, I will not speculate and only report what can be cross referenced. Research indicates that he could have been married to MARY OF CLOPAS, the sister of MARY, JESUS’ mother.
→ JAMES son of ALPHAEUS, died about five years after JESUS, as mentioned in the BIBLE. He died by being thrown down from the TEMPLE by the scribes and PHARISEES: He was then stoned, and his brains dashed out with a fuller’s club.
SIMON
SIMON the ZEALOT, died in PERSIA in the town of EDESSA, in TURKEY
He also preached in EGYPT and is believed to had spent time in BRITAIN
SIMON, JUDAS THADDEUS, and JAMES were brothers – SIMON was a little boy when he was bitten by a snake on the hand. JESUS came along and sorted the bite out. That is when JESUS asked him to join him. Where were his parents, and how could he join JESUS as a young child – I COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE YEAR OF HIS BIRTH, but he died in 65 CE/AD (some say he lived and died in the year 107 CE/AD, but I could not confirm this later date)
→ SIMON known as PETER died 34 Years after the crucifixion in the year approximate 65 CE/AD. Research indicates that SIMON and PAUL were the founders of the CHURCH in ROME. They died together in that City – they were martyred in the NERONIAN PERSECUTION, by crucifixion – SIMON called PETER, said that he could not be crucified in the same position as JESUS and asked to be hung upside down.
THADDEUS (JUDE)
He was often called JUDAS THADDEUS and it is reported that he was a vegetarian.
ARMENIA APOSTOLIC CHURCH honours THADDEUS along with BATHOLOMEW as their PATRON SAINTS.
He was married at CANA – the “Wedding at CANA” where JESUS turned water into wine.
He was born in the city of PANEAS in GALILEE as a Jew. The city was later renamed by the ROMANS to CAESAREA PHILIPPI.
THADDEUS spoke both the GREEK and ARAMAIC languages of JESUS, like most of the Apostles did.
He died in BEIRUT in the ROMAN PROVINCE of SYRIA, after suffering martyrdom in 65 CE along with SIMON the ZEALOT
→ According to research, JUDE taught in ARMENIA, SYRIA, and PERSIA where he was martyred. Research indicates that he was buried in KARA KALISA in what is now IRAN. He was ‘preserved’ in ARMENIA and later along with SIMON the ZEALOT laid to rest within ST PETER’S BASILICA in ROME.
JUDAS ISCARIOT
→ Shortly after the death of JESUS, JUDAS killed himself. According to the BIBLE he hanged himself at ACELDAMA, on the southern slope of the valley of HINNON, near JERUSALEM. He fell down a precipice and was dashed to pieces.
WERE ANY OF JESUS’ DISCIPLES MARRIED
What we know is that most of JESUS’ Disciples were married
MATTHEW writes about PETER’s mother-in-law
PAUL (not a disciple) who wrote CORINTHIANS 9:5, refers to the Disciples being married. He says he has a right to marry a believing woman because PETER, JESUS’ brother, and others had married.
PAUL, did write about the benefits of being single when working for the LORD CORINTHIANS 7:32-35. He further says, “I wish that all were as I myself am, unmarried. “He continues “. . it is better to marry than to burn with passion” We found some research which indicate that PAUL did marry and that his wife was killed.
Research found that SIMON, was married and had three children. More I could not find.
This far in our research, we could only find that five of them were married. PETER, PAUL, SIMON, JAMES, and JUDE.
DENISE
My second paragraph of this BLOG, says that these TWELVE, preached not just in ISRAEL, but all over the ‘world,’ SYRIA, TURKEY, EGYPT, GREECE, also INDIA and many more countries. What we need to focus on, is that these ‘travels’ took place after the death of JESUS, not during his life time of preaching, a task they were asked to carry out as his DISCIPLES. It is clear that they seem to have lost the ‘plot’ after JESUS died. They did not turn to his brother as instructed and we see that they ‘paid the price’ for going rogue on what they were taught by JESUS, the saving of the ISRAELITES as chosen by GOD.
However, what a large family, wish I had half as many family members, to keep me company. But that was not possibly my planned journey on EARTH, so my family are made up only three of us then a Grandson. I TRUST GOD.
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