This week I would like to share how the Apostles died. When we follow Christ, there’s always a price to pay. It may cost you friends, family, a promotion, imprisonment and even death in some parts of the world. Jesus called the apostles to service, and it cost them dearly. This is how the apostles is thought to have died.
1. Matthew. Suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, killed by a sword wound.
2. Mark. Died in Alexandria, Egypt, after being dragged by Horses through the streets until he was dead.
3. Luke. Was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous Preaching to the lost.
4. John. Faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge Basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution In Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered From death. John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison Island of Patmos. He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos. The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve As Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey. He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully
5. Peter. He was crucified upside down on an x shaped cross. According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die In the same way that Jesus Christ had died.
6. James. The leader of the church in Jerusalem, was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a fuller’s club. FYI – This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during His Temptation.
7. James the Son of Zebedee was a fisherman by trade when Jesus Called him to a lifetime of ministry.
As a strong leader of the church, James was beheaded at Jerusalem. The Roman officer who guarded James watched amazed as James defended his faith at his trial.
Later, the officer Walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.
8. Bartholomew. Also known as Nathaniel. He Was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed for our Lord in present day Turkey. Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.
9. Andrew. He Was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony.
His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words, “I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it”. He continued to preach to his tormentors For two days until he expired.
10. Thomas. He Was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church in the Subcontinent.
11. Jude. He Was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.
12. Matthias. The apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot. He was stoned and then beheaded.
13. Paul. He Was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment, which allowed him to write his many epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire. These letters, which taught many of the foundational Doctrines of Christianity, form a large portion of the New Testament.
Perhaps this is a reminder to us that our sufferings here are indeed minor to compare to the intense persecution and cold cruelty faced by the apostles and disciples during their times. Matthew 10:22 Jesus said, “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” (NKJV)
Here’s some questions we need to ask ourselves.
1. Why Do we feel sleepy in Prayer, but stay awake through a 3-hour movie?
2. Why are we so bored when we look at the Holy Bible. But find it easy to read other books?
3. Why is it so easy to ignore a message about God… Yet we forward the nasty ones?
4. Why are churches getting smaller, but bars and clubs are expanding.
5. Why is it so easy to worship a celebrity, but very difficult to engage with God?
God’s word tells us in Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.” Basically, this is saying… anything you put before God becomes your god or your idol. God wants to be first in our life. He doesn’t play second fiddle to anyone or anything.
So, here’s my question to you… Do you have any gods or idols you put before the living God? They say there’s two things that is for sure in this life… Death and taxes. In the book of Hebrews 9:27 says this, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.“
When we stand in front of God to be judge on the way we spend our life on earth, What excuse will you use for not putting God first? We need to make God the most important thing in our life. The only way that is going to happen, is with a personal relationship with God.
So how is your relationship? Maybe you have never had a relationship with God or maybe it’s not as good as it should be. Please take the time right now to get a personal relationship with Him. Tomorrow may be too late.
Please… if you don’t know Christ or have fallen away, please pray… Tell God you believe His Son Jesus paid for your sins on the cross and then raised Him from the dead. Tell God you are sorry and want to start Living for Him. He will forgive your sins and mistakes and give you Everlasting Life with Him… and place His Spirit deep within your heart. In 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” and in Romans 10:9 tells us. ”that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;“
If you would like for me to pray with you, please email me at Bob.L@magnificentPromises.com.
May God Bless and Keep!
Bob
I thank you for reading my blog. I do not claim to be any expert or affiliated with any religious organization. All I can say is that I’m affiliated with my Lord Jesus Christ. This is one man’s opinion and observation. My hope is I stirred up some thoughts for you to think about. There is one place that we can find all the answers to life. That road map is Commonly known as the Bible. If you want the answers to life all you have to do is read. If you would like me to pray with you or want to send a comment, please email me at Bob.L@magnificentpromises.com
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
