It’s commonly believed that all of Jesus’ disciples, except John, were martyred… that is, killed for following Jesus. Unfortunately, these events aren’t as clear as we’d like them to be. Some seem to be well-attested in history while others rely on traditions, both oral and written. This alphabetical list has the best information I can find, for now. I’ll update the page as new information comes to light.
Keep in mind that some of these traditions come LONG after the events, so the development of legends definitely comes into play here.
Matthew was martyred in Ethiopia, reportedly killed by a sword wound.
Matthew likely died a natural death. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs records that Matthew’s missionary work included Ethiopia, where tradition says that King Hirtacus killed him with a halberd in AD 60. Other traditions make it unclear whether he was burned, stoned, or beheaded. His remains were interred in St. Matthew Cathedral, Messina, Sicily.
Mark died in Alexandria, Egypt, after being dragged through the streets by horses until he died.
Luke was hanged in Greece as a result of his preaching.
John faced martyrdom when he was boiled in a large basin of boiling oil in Rome but was miraculously delivered. He was then exiled to the prison island of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. He was later freed and served as Bishop of Edessa before dying peacefully in old age, the only apostle believed to have died a natural death.
Died of natural causes, probably in Ephesus, around AD 100. Tertullian wrote that prior to his exile by the Romans, John was brought into a coliseum, immersed in boiling oil, and emerged unharmed. This, it was claimed, lead to the conversion of the entire coliseum to Christianity. John was later exiled to the island of Patmos. His remains were thought to be interred in St. John Basilica near Ephesus, Turkey.
Peter was crucified upside down in Rome at his own request, feeling unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus.
Crucifixion. Simon Peter was crucified by Roman emperor Nero in AD 64. Tradition says he requested to be crucified upside-down, as he didn’t consider himself worthy of being killed in the same manner as Jesus. His death was foreshadowed in John 21:
“Very truly I tell you, 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.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.
The phrase “stretch out your hands” appears to be a reference to crucifixion. Eusebius quoted Origen as having written the following: 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. Peter’s remains were buried in Rome, and the Church of St. Peter was built above to commemorate him.
James, the son of Alphaeus (also known as James the Less), was stoned and then clubbed to death in Jerusalem.
The manner of James’ death is indeterminate. Hippolytus (AD 170 – AD 235) wrote that James faced violent opposition from the Jewish community while preaching in Jerusalem, was stoned to death, and was buried near the temple in Jerusalem. His remains are believed to have been interred in St. James Church, Compostela, Spain.
James, the son of Zebedee (the brother of John) was beheaded by Herod Agrippa I.
Martyred. Acts 12 tells us that King Herod arrested members of the early church, intending to persecute them. James was executed by the sword in Jerusalem, at Herod’s command, around AD 44. It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. His remains were interred in the Holy Apostles Basilica in Rome, Italy.
Bartholomew (also known as Nathanael) was martyred in Armenia, where he was flayed to death with a whip.
The manner of Bartholomew’s death is indeterminate. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs says that Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, was beaten and crucified in India. Another tradition says that he was either beheaded or flayed alive in Armenia. His remains are thought to have been interred in St. Bartholomew Church, Rome, Italy.
Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped cross (St. Andrew’s cross) in Patras, Greece. He was severely whipped before being tied to the cross with cords to prolong his agony and continued preaching until his death.
Likely martyred. Accounts of Andrew’s death are a bit sketchy. He is said to have been martyred by crucifixion at the city of Patrae, in Achaia (Greece), in AD 60. The 6th-century apocryphal work Acts of Andrew describes him as bound, rather than nailed, to a cross. A later tradition says his cross was shaped like an X, which became known as Saint Andrew’s Cross. His remains were interred in Constantinople, then moved to the Cathedral of Amalfi, Italy.
Thomas was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary journeys.
Likely martyred. Known as Didymus (“the twin”), Thomas was killed with spears in Chennai, formerly known as Madras, India in AD 72. His remains were interred in St. Thomas Cathedral, Mylapore, India, with some relics being taken to Edessa (Turkey).
Thaddaeus (also known as Jude or Judas, son of James) was killed with arrows for refusing to deny his faith.
The manner of Jude’s death is indeterminate. Also known as Thaddeus, tradition tells us that Jude was killed, along with Simon the Zealot, with an axe in Beirut, Lebanon around AD 65. His remains were moved from Lebanon in AD 1665 and interred in St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican.
Simon the Zealot was crucified, reportedly in Persia, after refusing to sacrifice to the sun god.
The manner of Simon’s death is indeterminate. Here’s a list of the different traditions of Simon’s death:
- Simon was crucified in what is now England in AD 61.
- Simon and Jude were killed in what is now Lebanon in AD 65.
- Simon was crucified in Samaria.
- Simon was sawn in half in Persia.
- Simon died peacefully in Edessa.
- Simon was stabbed with a sword.
- Simon was martyred in Iberia.
- His remains are buried at the Altar of Crucifixion, Vatican.
Simon’s remains are said to have been interred in Nicopsia (Georgia), transferred to Anakopia (Georgia), and are believed to be at the Vatican… though some say the location of his remains are now unknown.
Matthias, chosen to replace Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded.
The manner of Matthias’ death is indeterminate. Matthias replaced Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus and then committed suicide. One tradition says that he was stoned to death in what is now modern Georgia, and was buried there. Another says he was stoned to death in Jerusalem, then beheaded. Hippolytus of Rome wrote that Matthias died of old age in Jerusalem. His remains are believed to have been interred in St. Mathias Abbey, Trier, Germany.
Paul (though not one of the original twelve, often included in discussions) was beheaded by Emperor Nero in Rome around 67 AD after a period of imprisonment.
Judas Escariot
Suicide. Matthew 27 and Acts 1 tell us about Judas’ death. After betraying Jesus, the money he was given was used to buy a field. Matthew say that he hanged himself, while Acts tells us that he ‘fell headlong’ and his body burst open. Attempts to harmonize the two accounts suggest that after he hanged himself, the rope broke and his body fell to the ground.
Philip
Philip likely died a natural death. One tradition says that Philip was crucified upside-down, along with Bartholomew. Another tradition says that he was beheaded. Both traditions maintain that he was killed in Hierapolis, in what is modern Turkey. His remains were interred in the Church of the Dodici, Rome, Italy.
