What happened to the Apostles?

By Ray Konig
Published: October 11, 2007
Revised: November 16, 2025

Most of the original Twelve Apostles of Jesus were martyred, as in executed for their beliefs, according to histories, traditions and legends. Being an Apostle had a high mortality rate.

Most of these deaths occurred after the writing of the New Testament book of Acts had been completed, which means that most of the deaths of the Apostles are not recorded in the Bible. The book of Acts is a journal of the evangelical missions of the Apostles and other disciples. It covers events from about AD 30, when Jesus ascended into heaven, through about AD 62, shortly before Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome.

The book of Acts records the martyrdom of the Apostle named James the son of Zebedee (James the Greater), as well as other important disciples such as James the Just and an evangelist named Stephen. It also firmly establishes that the Apostles and other evangelists were pursued, harassed, arrested, jailed, imprisoned, beaten and flogged for preaching about Jesus.

As for the deaths of the other Apostles, many of them happened after the completion of the book of Acts and are therefore the subject of non-Biblical histories, traditions and legends, which vary greatly in terms of their historical reliability.

These particular histories, traditions and legends are not part of the Bible and they are not sacred. They include some historical writings from 1st through 4th centuries, various “apocryphal” writings from the 4th through 6th centuries, as well as the oft-cited writings called The Golden Legend (13th century) and Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (16th century).

These non-Biblical, non-sacred writings should be viewed with caution and skepticism.

With this background in mind, let’s take a look at each of the Twelve Apostles in the same order in which they are famously depicted in Leonardo Da Vinci's The Last Supper, which was painted in about 1498 (15th century), beginning with Bartholomew. For each Apostle, this article will showcase the best available history, tradition or legend about his death.

1. Bartholomew (Nathanael)

Death: Flayed alive and beheaded in Armenia.

Bartholomew is one of the original Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is mentioned in all four lists of Apostles in the New Testament, in Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:14-19, Luke 6:13-16 and Acts 1:13. Many scholars believe that the name Bartholomew is a surname, as in “son of Tolmai,” and that his personal name is Nathanael (John 1:45-51, John 21:2), meaning the Bartholomew who is mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke is the same person as the Nathanael who is mentioned in the Gospel of John.

The New Testament, which records events from the birth of Jesus through about the year 62 AD, does not record the death of Bartholomew, who apparently died sometime later.

In writings outside of the Bible, it is said that Bartholomew preached in India and later in Armenia:

“Pantaenus was one of these, and 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.” - Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 5.10.3, as translated by Arthur Cushman McGiffert, and as accessed November 8, 2025, at https://topostext.org/work/732.

Eusebius is a 4th Century Christian historian and writer who lived from about AD 260 - 339.

The reports of how Bartholomew died come from other non-sacred, non-Biblical writings, including The Martyrdom of Bartholomew, which is a group of apocryphal texts from as early as the 4th or 5th Century, The Golden Legend (c. 1260), which is attributed to Jacobus de Voragine, a 13th Century writer, and Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (1563), by John Foxe, a 16th Century writer.

These and other non-Biblical texts contain different legends as to how and where Bartholomew died. Among the details that are commonly shared and repeated is that he preached in India and also in Armenia and that he was martyred in Armenia.

Among the apocryphal texts that are identified as The Martyrdom of Bartholomew, one of the more commonly cited traditions is that he preached in an eastern kingdom, which is often associated with Armenia, and that he was executed after he converted a ruler or king named Polymius to Christianity. The king’s brother, Astreges, who also was a ruler or king, was angered that Bartholomew was turning people away from the pagan gods of their fathers and he commanded that Bartholomew be put to death:

“Then the king rent the purple in which he was clothed, and ordered the holy apostle Bartholomew to be beaten with rods; and after having been thus scourged, to be beheaded.” - The Martyrdom of Bartholomew, as accessed November 9, 2025, at NewAdvent.org.

As for The Golden Legend, it acknowledges that there are different traditions involving the manner of death for Bartholomew and repeats the claimed details that he preached in India and Armenia, that he was flayed, and that he was beheaded:

“There be divers opinions of the manner of his passion. For the blessed Dorotheus saith that he was crucified, and saith also : Bartholomew preached [to men of India, and delivered to them the gospel after Matthew in their proper tongue. He died in Alban, a city of great Armenia, crucified the [head downward. S. Theoderus saith that he was flayed, and it is read in many books that he was beheaded only. And this contrariety may be assoiled in this manner, that some say that he was crucified and was taken down ere he died, and for to have greater torment he was flayed and at the last beheaded.” - The Golden Legend, Volume 5, page 37, as accessed November 9, 2025, at archive.org - Golden Legend.

John Foxe also repeats the claim that Bartholomew was martyred and includes crucifixion as part of his demise:

“[Bartholomew] Preached in several countries, and having translated the gospel of Matthew into the language of India, he propagated it in that country. He was at length cruelly beaten and then crucified by the impatient idolaters.” - John Foxe, Book of Martyrs, as accessed November 10, 2025, at Gutenberg.org. Foxe’s book also is known as “Acts and Monuments.”

Some commentators have suggested that Bartholomew initially was crucified but then removed from the cross, while he was still alive, and then flayed and beheaded.

2. James the son of Alphaeus (James the Younger)

Death: Beaten, stoned and clubbed to death?

James the son of Alphaeus is one of the original Twelve Apostles and is mentioned in all four New Testament lists of the Apostle names, in Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:14-19, Luke 6:13-16 and Acts 1:13. The New Testament does not record any details as to how he died or whether he died as a martyr.

Outside of the Bible, there is a commonly cited martyrdom account involving a man named James the Just, whom some theologians believe is the same person as James the son of Alphaeus.

This martyrdom account is recorded by Eusebius, a 4th century Christian historian who reports that religious leaders, who did not believe in Jesus, threw James the Just off the top of the Temple in Jerusalem and then stoned him to death:

“So they went up and threw down the just man, and said to each other, ‘Let us stone James the Just.’ And they began to stone him, for he was not killed by the fall; but he turned and knelt down and said, ‘I entreat you, Lord God our Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’” - Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 2.23 (quoting Hegesippus, c. A.D. 160-180), as accessed November 10, 2025, from topostext.org.

Key details of this account are corroborated by Josephus, a 1st century Jewish historian:

“Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the sanhedrim of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others, [or, some of his companions]; and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned.” - Josephus, The Antiquities of the Jews, 20.9.1, as translated by William Whiston, as accessed November 10, 2025, at Gutenberg.org

These two accounts from Eusebius and Josephus are speaking of James the Just, who was perhaps a half-brother to Jesus or perhaps a cousin who was raised as a brother.

James the Just was a prominent figure in early Christianity. After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, James the Just became an important leader of Christians in Jerusalem. His martyrdom, if the account recorded by Eusebius is accurate, would have occurred in about AD 62. This James traditionally is viewed as being the author of James, an epistle, or letter, that is part of the New Testament.

But, is James the Just the same person as James the son of Alphaeus? Some theologians believe that he is, others do not. For those who do not, there are three distinct people named James in the New Testament:

1. James the son of Alphaeus, who is one of the original Twelve Apostles (Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:14-19, Luke 6:13-16, Acts 1:13). He is also called James the Younger, James the Less, or James the Lesser, because, as indicated in Mark 15:40, he is younger than another Apostle named James (James the son of Zebedee), who is older.

2. James the son of Zebedee, who also is one of the original Twelve Apostles. This James is sometimes called James the Greater or James the More. This James was beheaded by King Herod Agrippa I in about the year 44 AD (Acts 12:1-12).

3. James the brother (half-brother or cousin raised as a brother) of Jesus (Matthew 13:55, Acts 15:13, Galatians 1:19), also known as James the Just, who served as a leader of the early Christian church in Jerusalem (Acts 12:17, 15:13-21, 21:17-18; Galatians 1:19, 2:9, 2:12). He apparently did not believe in Jesus during the time of Jesus’ public ministry (John 7:5), but became a believer and a leader after the resurrection of Jesus.

So, with the accounts provided by Eusebius and Josephus, we definitely have a martyrdom story for James the Just. But, if one has the view that James the son of Alphaeus and James the Just are two separate people, then neither the account from Eusebius nor Josephus would apply to James the son of Alphaeus.

3. Andrew

Death: Crucified upside down on a cross shaped like an X.

Andrew, who is one of the original Twelve Apostles, is a brother to Peter and was from the Galilean town of Bethsaida (John 1:44). He is the first disciple to have been called by Jesus (John 1:40-42), shortly before Jesus began his public ministry, which, by some estimates, began in late AD 26 and ended in early AD 30. Andrew previously had been a disciple to John the Baptist, who prepared people for the public ministry of Jesus.

Andrew, according to tradition, was martyred in Patras in Achaia (Greece), in about the year AD 60.

The Catholic Encyclopedia offers a comprehensive summary for the accounts involving the martyrdom of Andrew:

“It is generally agreed that he was crucified by order of the Roman Governor, Aegeas or Aegeates, at Patrae in Achaia, and that he was bound, not nailed, to the cross, in order to prolong his sufferings. The cross on which he suffered is commonly held to have been the decussate cross, now known as St. Andrew's, though the evidence for this view seems to be no older than the fourteenth century. His martyrdom took place during the reign of Nero, on 30 November, A.D. 60); and both the Latin and Greek Churches keep 30 November as his feast.” - The Catholic Encyclopedia, as accessed November 11, 2025, at NewAdvent.org.

An early account of Andrew’s martyrdom comes from an apocryphal work called The Acts of Andrew, which might have been written sometime between AD 150-200. For clarity, it was written long after the New Testament had been completed and it is not part of the Bible. It is a non-sacred, non-Biblical work. It claims the following:

“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 Acts of Andrew, as represented in The Twelve Patriarchs, Excerpts and Epistles, The Clementia, Apocrypha, Decretals, Memoirs of Edessa and Syriac Documents, Remains of the First Age, by Philip Schaff, as accessed November 11, 2025, at ccel.org.

4. Judas Iscariot

Death: Judas Iscariot did not die as a martyr; he took his own life after betraying Jesus.

Judas Iscariot did not die a martyr’s death but by his own hands, after betraying Jesus.

During the Last Supper, which took place near the very end of Jesus’ public ministry, Jesus foretold that one of the Twelve Apostles would betray him and he indicated that Judas would be the one (Matthew 26:20-25, John 13:18-30). At that point in time, Judas already was conspiring to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11, Luke 22:1-6, John 13:2). Soon after the Last Supper, Judas carried out the betrayal by leading a group of armed men, who had been hired by religious leaders who opposed Jesus, to a campsite at the Garden of Gethsemane at the Mount of Olives, just outside of Jerusalem.

Many Bible scholars have speculated on why Judas betrayed Jesus. A commonly proposed reason, as explained in Jesus the Prophet, by Ray Konig, is that Judas was disillusioned because Jesus was not the kind of Messiah that many Jews were hoping for, one who would liberate Israel from the oppressive Roman Empire.

Matthew and John, in their Gospels, indicate that Judas was motivated by money. John writes that Judas was a thief who, as keeper of the money bag for the Apostles, would help himself to the money (John 12:6). And Matthew notes that Judas was paid 30 pieces of silver for his agreement to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:15), by giving Jesus’ opponents a time and place to arrest Jesus without risking public interference. Also, two of the Gospels report that Satan had entered into Judas, once when he had conspired to betray Jesus (Luke 22:3), and again when he shared bread with Jesus during the Last Supper (John 13:27).

The Gospel of John also notes that Jesus knew the true nature of Judas before the betrayal:

70 Jesus answered them, “Didn’t I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 Now he spoke of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for it was he who would betray him, being one of the twelve. (John 6:70-71, WEB)

The betrayal led to the arrest of Jesus, which led to the trials, convictions, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, as described in each of the four Gospels of the New Testament.

Shortly after the betrayal, Judas hanged himself (Matthew 27:1-5, Acts 1:18).

5. Peter

Death: Crucified upside down in Rome in about AD 64.

The four Gospels, which describe the public ministry of Jesus, indicate that Peter was the spokesman and leader of the Twelve Apostles. He was among the very first disciples of Jesus.

Much of his ministry after the ascension of Jesus is described in the New Testament book of Acts. He is said to have been martyred shortly after the book of Acts, which was written by Luke, was completed. It is traditionally believed that Peter was crucified upside down in Rome, in about the year AD 64, during the reign of Nero, who greatly oppressed Christians.

The earliest known mention of Peter’s death comes from Clement of Rome, an early Christian who served as the bishop of Rome during the end of the 1st century. Clement affirms that Peter died a martyr’s death:

“Through envy and jealousy, the greatest and most righteous pillars [of the Church] have been persecuted and put to death. Let us set before our eyes the illustrious apostles. Peter, through unrighteous envy, endured not one or two, but numerous labours and when he had at length suffered martyrdom, departed to the place of glory due to him.” - Clement of Rome, The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, Chapter V.

This epistle from Clement is not part of the Bible. It is non-sacred, non-Biblical text.

It is believed that when Peter was informed that he would be executed through crucifixion, Peter requested that he be crucified upside down, out of respect and humility, because he felt unworthy of being crucified in the same manner as Jesus.

More details about his death are provided by Eusebius:

“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.” - Eusebius of Caesarea (writing c. AD 325) in his Ecclesiastical History 3.1.2, (quoting the earlier theologian Origen, c. AD 185-254), as accessed November 11, 2025, at NewAdvent.org.

About 34 years before Peter was executed, Jesus accurately foretold the manner in which Peter would die, indicating that he would reach an old age and then be crucified, that others would forcibly take him and “stretch out” his hands:

18 Most certainly I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. When he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.” (John 21:15-19, WEB)

Peter’s given name in Hebrew and Aramaic is Simon bar Jonah. He was called “rock” by Jesus, in Matthew 16:18 and John 1:42, which translates as “Peter” in the Greek language, and as “Cephas” in Aramaic. That is why Peter is sometimes referred to as Simon, Peter, Simon Peter, and as Cephas. During the 1st century, the languages of Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek were used in Israel.

6. John

Death: Died of old age in Ephesus, after exile on Patmos.

There is a tradition that John died of old age and that he might have been the only Apostle to have done so. John contributed heavily to the New Testament. He wrote the Gospel of John, the epistles of John, which are called 1 John, 2 John and 3 John, as well as the book of Revelation, which is the final book of the New Testament.

Because the New Testament was completed while John was still alive, it (obviously) does not record his death. It does, however, give us details about John late in his life:

I John, your brother and partner with you in the oppression, Kingdom, and perseverance in Christ Jesus, was on the isle that is called Patmos because of God’s Word and the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 1:9, WEB)

This passage traditionally is understood as meaning that John was forced into exile, during the reign of Domitian (AD 81-96), because he was preaching about Jesus. During the 1st through 3rd centuries, Christianity was not a legally recognized religion within the Roman Empire. And Domitian was among the many rulers of the Roman Empire who persecuted Christians. Patmos, which is off the coast of modern-day Turkey, was used by Roman authorities as a place to banish people who were deemed, however fairly or unfairly, as a threat to the public order.

Eusebius (4th century) records a tradition that John later left Patmos and went to Ephesus, which also is in modern-day Turkey:

“For when, after the tyrant’s death [Domitian’s assassination in AD 96], 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.” - Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 3.23.6, as accessed November 11, 2025, at NewAdvent.org

And Eusebius relates a tradition from Polycrates that John died in Ephesus during the reign of Trajan, who presided over the Roman Empire from AD 98 to 117:

“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 fell asleep at Ephesus.” - Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 5.24.2-3 (quoting Polycrates of Ephesus, c. AD 190), as accessed November 11, 2025, at NewAdvent.org

This passage is saying that John died in Ephesus but it is not giving details about the manner of death. The fact that the manner of death is not noted here is a possible indication that John died of natural causes. The phrase “fell asleep” is used by Jesus in the New Testament, and by early Christian writers outside of the Bible, to note that death is temporary. Believers will be resurrected to eternal life in the Kingdom of God, which also is known as the Kingdom of Heaven.

John was the son of a man named Zebedee and a brother to James the son of Zebedee. The two brothers are among the original Twelve Apostles of Jesus (Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:14-19, Luke 6:13-16, Acts 1:13). John, his brother James, and Peter comprised an inner circle of Apostles to Jesus. These are the three Apostles who were with Jesus when he restored life to Jairus’ daughter (Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5:21-43, Luke 8:40-56), and during the transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36).

Many scholars speculate that John was very young, perhaps a teenager, when he became an Apostle. He might have been in his 80s when Trajan became emperor.

7. Thomas

Death: Speared to death in India.

Thomas, who is one of the original Twelve Apostles, is best known for initially doubting that Jesus had been resurrected and then confessing that Jesus is the Messiah.

During the turbulent time in which Jesus was arrested, put on trial and executed, the Apostles and other disciples hid in a locked room in a house in Jerusalem. After Jesus was resurrected, Jesus miraculously appeared in the locked room to some of his Apostles and other disciples (John 20:19-21), but Thomas was not present. When Thomas later was informed that Jesus was alive again, he replied that he would not believe it unless he saw for himself. About a week later, Thomas got his wish as Jesus appeared a second time in the locked room:

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 After eight days again his disciples were inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”

28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:24-28, WEB)

With this event, Thomas was able to see for himself that Jesus was alive again, and that Jesus had the wounds that showed that he had been executed through Roman crucifixion.

This was an opportunity for Thomas to see for himself that the man whom the disciples had seen earlier truly was Jesus, and that Jesus truly had been put to death and resurrected. In verse 28, Thomas confesses that Jesus is the Messiah and that he is God incarnate, by saying “My Lord and my God!”

Thomas’ death is not recorded in the New Testament. In writings outside of the Bible, it is said that he preached in India and was martyred there. One source for this tradition is the apocryphal Acts of Thomas, which might have been written sometime around AD 200 - 500.

This text claims that Thomas traveled to India, preached, and converted many people. A king, whose name is given as Misdaeus, is said to have been alarmed because people were converting to Christianity, including his wife and child, and so he ordered that four soldiers track down and slay Thomas. The four soldiers then set upon their task:

“And when he had thus prayed he said unto the soldiers: Come hither and accomplish the commandments of him that sent you. And the four came and pierced him with their spears, and he fell down and died.” - The Acts of Thomas, from The Apocryphal New Testament, as translated by M.R. James, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1924, as accessed November 11, 2025, at EarlyChristianWritings.com.

The 16th century writer, John Foxe, summarizes a martyrdom tradition for Thomas as:

“Called Didymus, preached the gospel in Parthia and India, where exciting the rage of the pagan priests, he was martyred by being thrust through with a spear.” - John Foxe, Book of Martyrs, as accessed November 10, 2025, at Gutenberg.org. Foxe’s book also is known as Acts and Monuments.

There also is a long history of local traditions within India that maintain that Thomas did indeed preach in India, that he was martyred there, and that he established several churches that are still in existence today. Here are some examples:

• Palayur Mar Thoma Major Archiepiscopal Church, also known as St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, in the Thrissur district, is said to have been founded by Thomas in AD 52.

• Thiruvithamcode Arappally, also known as St. Mary’s Church, is said to have been founded by Thomas in AD 63. It is one of the oldest extant Christian church structures. It is located in Thiruvithamcode in Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu.

• Santhome, also known as the San Thome Basilica or Saint Thomas Basilica, stands at the site of the traditional tomb of Thomas. The existing structure is late, but the tradition of the Thomas’ martyrdom there is ancient. It is in Mylapore, in Chennai city (formerly Madras).

• Parangimalai, also known as St. Thomas Mount, is a shrine that marks the spot traditionally associated with Thomas’ martyrdom. It is in the Chennai district of Tamil Nadu.

8. James son of Zebedee

Death: Executed by sword in Jerusalem in about AD 44.

The martyrdom of James son of Zebedee is recorded in the New Testament of the Bible, in Acts 12:1-2. He was executed, with a sword, on the command of King Herod Agrippa I, in the year 44 AD:

1 Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly. 2 He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. 3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread. (Acts 12:1-3, WEB)

For clarity, the reference to King Herod in verse 1 is King Herod Agrippa I, who governed much of Israel on behalf of the Roman Empire, from AD 41-44. His kingdom is commonly referred to as Judea and it included Israel’s regions of Judah (south), Samaria (central), Galilee (north) and Perea (east).

Agrippa was of Idumean, Samaritan and Arab descent. He was not a Jew from the Israelite Tribe of Judah, and he was not otherwise an Israelite. His grandfather, Herod the Great, who reigned from about 37-4 BC, became the first foreigner to rule as a king enthroned in Jerusalem over the Jews in Israel. Herod the Great died a few years after Jesus was born.

Agrippa, like his grandfather, presented himself as a Judaist and sought to win the favor of Israel’s religious leaders, many of whom had opposed Jesus during his public ministry and continued to oppose the Christian movement. To that end, Agrippa persecuted the Christians to appease the Judaists who rejected Jesus as the Messiah, as reflected in Acts 12:3.

The word Jews in Acts 12:3 is not referring to people by ethnicity or heritage in the way that it would today for modern English speakers. Instead, it is being used to refer to religious affiliation, specifically the Judaists who rejected Jesus as the Messiah who was promised by the prophets of the Old Testament.

Eusebius records a tradition that James the son of Zebedee was not alone when he was martyred. In the account that Eusebius records, James was joined by the one of men in Agrippa’s employ, perhaps a soldier, who led James to the site of his execution:

“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 you, and kissed him. And thus they were both beheaded at the same time.” - Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 2.9.2-3, as accessed November 12, 2025, at NewAdvent.org

The person named Clement, who is being referenced here by Eusebius, is Clement of Alexander (about AD 150-215), a Christian theologian who was based in Alexandria in Egypt. He is a different person that Clement of Rome (about AD 30-99), who also is known as Pope Clement I.

James the son of Zebedee is a brother to the Apostle John. He, like John and Peter, was in the inner circle of Apostles to Jesus.

9. Philip

Death: Crucified upside down in Hierapolis, perhaps in AD 54.

Philip was one of the original Twelve Apostles and was from Bethsaida, along with the apostles Peter and Andrew (John 12:21). As it so happens, we have traditions or legends for each of these three Apostles that they were crucified upside down.

The earliest known tradition involving Philip’s death depicts him as having died (“fell asleep”) in Hierapolis, which is in modern-day Turkey, but does not give details about the manner of death:

“Among these are Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who fell asleep in Hierapolis;” - Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 5.24.2 (quoting Polycrates of Ephesus, who wrote his account in about AD 190-200), as accessed November 12, 2025, at NewAdvent.org.

The apocryphal work called The Acts of Philip, which is not sacred and is not part of the Bible, provides the detail that his death involved martyrdom and that he was crucified upside down:

“And when the multitude had come up, having looked upon Philip hanging head downwards, they lamented with a great lamentation at the lawless action which they had done.” - The apocryphal Acts of Philip, which might have been composed during the 4th century.

Archaeologists in 2011 discovered a tomb that is believed to be that of Philip, as reported by various news organizations, including The Jerusalem Post:

“A team of Italian archaeologists has announced the discovery of what they believe to be the tomb of Philip, one of Jesus’ 12 apostles, at the ancient Asia Minor city of Hierapolis in Turkey’s Aegean province of Denizli, and are planning to excavate the unopened grave soon. The discovery of the grave of the New Testament saint, who came to Hierapolis - known today as Pamukkale - nearly 2,000 years ago to spread the Gospel and was crucified upside down by the Romans, will attract immense attention around the world, said excavator Francesco D'Andria, director of the Institute of Archaeological Heritage, Monuments and Sites at Italy's National Research Council in Lecce.” - Apostle Philips tomb found in Turkey, which was published by The Jerusalem Post on August 11, 2011.

The martyrdom of Philip is summarized by John Foxe, during the 16th century, as:

“[Philip] Was born at Bethsaida, in Galilee, and was the first called by the name of ‘Disciple.’ He laboured diligently in Upper Asia, and suffered martyrdom at Heliopolis, in Phrygia. He was scourged, thrown into prison, and afterwards crucified, [in] A.D. 54.” - John Foxe, Book of Martyrs, as accessed November 10, 2025, at Gutenberg.org.

10. Matthew

Death: Perhaps speared to death in Nadabah (Ethiopia), in AD 60.

Matthew, who is one of the original Twelve Apostles, is also known as Levi. He was a tax collector by trade and is the author of the Gospel of Matthew, which is one of the New Testament’s four Gospels.

We do not have any ancient traditions for Matthew as to how he died, as we do for many of the other Apostles. And the medieval period, also known as the Middle Ages, which spans roughly from about AD 500 to about 1,500, offers many conflicting legends for Matthew.

Eusebius and Jerome, both of whom were Christian historians from the 4th century, affirm that Matthew preached in Ethiopia but offer no details as to the manner of his death or whether he died as a martyr.

One of the more commonly cited legends of a martyrdom for Matthew was recorded by John Foxe during the 16th century:

[Matthew] Whose occupation was that of a toll-gatherer, was born at Nazareth. He wrote his gospel in Hebrew, which was afterwards translated into Greek by James the Less. The scene of his labors was Parthia, and Ethiopia, in which latter country he suffered martyrdom, being slain with a halberd in the city of Nadabah, A.D. 60.” - John Foxe, Book of Martyrs, as accessed November 10, 2025, at Gutenberg.org. Foxe’s book also is known as Acts and Monuments.

11. Thaddaeus (Judas the son of James)

Death: Legend claims he was martyred with Simon the Zealot in Persia.

The Apostle named Thaddaeus is widely understood to be the same person as the Apostle named Judas the son of James, and we do not have a reliable tradition that involves his death. It is possible that he died peacefully.

A commonly held view is that Thaddaeus is a nickname for Judas the son of James. This is because the lists of names for the Apostles in Matthew 10:2-4 and Mark 3:14-19 include the name Thaddaeus but omit the name Judas the son of James, while the lists in Luke 6:13-16 and Acts 1:13 omit the name Thaddaeus but include the name Judas the son of James.

And, while on the topic of Apostle names, the Gospel of John, in John 14:22, mentions a “Judas (not Iscariot),” to distinguish this person from the Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. With this in mind, it is possible that the use of the nickname Thaddaeus, which is believed to mean “hearted,” or “warm-hearted,” or “courageous,” might have been used by Matthew and Mark to prevent any confusion with Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.

Also, while on the topic of names for Thaddaeus, the names Jude and Judas are the same in Greek, and some English translators will use the name Jude, as a way to prevent any confusion with Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. So, for the rest of the section about Thaddaeus, please keep in mind that Jude and Judas are 100 percent interchangeable.

With Thaddaeus, we appear to have more names than reliable traditions as to what happened to him after the writing of the New Testament book of Acts, which describes the evangelical missions of the Apostles and other disciples beginning in about AD 30, when Jesus ascended into heaven, and ending in about AD 62, when Paul was arrested and taken to Rome.

Outside of the Bible, the oldest known reliable traditions for Thaddaeus do not say that he died as a martyr. Eusebius, for example, places Thaddaeus in Edessa, but does not mention any death for him, in Ecclesiastical History 1.13.

John Foxe, however, during the 16th century, recorded a tradition that an Apostle known both as Jude and Thaddaeus was crucified in Edessa, which is in modern-day Turkey, in AD 72:

“[Jude] The brother of James, was commonly called Thaddeus. He was crucified at Edessa, A. D. 72.” - John Foxe, Book of Martyrs, as accessed November 10, 2025, at Gutenberg.org.

The problem with the information that Foxe is relating here is that it identifies Thaddaeus as Jude “the brother of James.” It is possible that this information is conflating two different people, or otherwise confusing one person with another. Nowhere in the New Testament is Thaddaeus ever mentioned as being a brother to anyone named James. And, a natural reading of the underlying Greek text for Luke 6:13-16 and Acts 1:13 points to Jude being the son of a man named James, not the brother of a man named James.

There is, however, a Jude or a Judas, depending on which name is being used as an English translation, who is a brother to a man named James in the New Testament, and that would be the Jude who was either a half-brother or cousin to Jesus, as mentioned in Mark 6:3. And so, it is possible that the tradition or legend that Jude was crucified in Edessa actually points to the Jude who was a relative of Jesus. This Jude was not one of the original Twelve Apostles.

While we do not have any traditions or legends from 1st through 4th centuries for the death or martyrdom of Thaddaeus, we do have a few medieval legends, however unreliable they might be. They include the Pseudo-Abdias and The Golden Legend.

The Pseudo-Abdias is the name given to a non-Biblical and non-sacred Latin collection of apostolic legends composed around the 6th century. It claims that Thaddaeus and Simon the Zealot were preaching together in Persia when they were killed by a mob that had been riled up by pagan priests.

The Golden Legend, which was written in the 13th century, adds more detail, claiming that the angry mob killed Thaddaeus and Simon the Zealot with clubs and swords. It also specifies a region, Suanir, which is interpreted as being a region in Persia.

Not to give any endorsement to these legends, it is interesting that these legends have Thaddaeus and Simon the Zealot paired together. If you look at the painting of the Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci, he has them paired together at the far right side of the table. And the lists of Apostle names in Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:14-19, Luke 6:13-16 and Acts 1:13 have them paired together.

12. Simon the Zealot

Death: Legend claims he was martyred with Thaddaeus in Persia.

Simon the Zealot is the Apostle who is paired with Thaddeus, also known as Judas the son of James, in each of the lists of Apostle names in Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:14-19, Luke 6:13-16 and Acts 1:13. And, he is paired with Thaddaeus in death, as well, according to a legendary account that appears to have been developed more than 500 years after the time of the Gospels.

The Pseudo-Abdias, which might have been composed as early as the 6th century, claims that Simon and Zealot and Thaddaeus were preaching together in Persia when they were killed by a mob that had been incited by pagan priests.

The Golden Legend, which was written in the 13th century, adds more detail to the story, claiming that the angry mob killed them with clubs and swords and that they were in Suanir, which is interpreted as being a region in Persia.

Unlike Thaddaeus, we have additional legends for Simon the Zealot, including that he was crucified:

“[Simon] Surnamed Zelotes, preached the gospel in Mauritania, Africa, and even in Britain, which latter country he was crucified, A. D. 74.” - John Foxe, Book of Martyrs, as accessed November 10, 2025, at Gutenberg.org.

The legends referenced above are not known to have any origins or corroboration from the 1st to 4th centuries. These are late legends that should be taken with a healthy overdose of skepticism.

Copyright © 2007, 2025 Ray Konig

This article is contributed by Ray Konig, the author of Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the Prophet, Jesus the Miracle Worker, and 100 Fulfilled Bible Prophecies.

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