puricarexfiles: - THE DEATH OF THE APOSTLES - The only apostle whose death the Bible records is James. The circumstances of the deaths of the other apostles are related through church tradition. The fact that all of the apostles were willing to die horrible deaths, refusing to renounce their faith in Christ, is tremendous evidence that they had truly witnessed the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Friday, April 28, 2017

- THE DEATH OF THE APOSTLES - The only apostle whose death the Bible records is James. The circumstances of the deaths of the other apostles are related through church tradition. The fact that all of the apostles were willing to die horrible deaths, refusing to renounce their faith in Christ, is tremendous evidence that they had truly witnessed the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

How did each of the apostles die?

Does the Bible record the death of the apostles?
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The only apostle whose death the Bible records is James (Acts 12:2).

King Herod had James “put to death with the sword,” likely a reference to beheading.
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The circumstances of the deaths of the other apostles are related through church tradition, so we should not put too much weight on any of the other accounts.
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The most commonly accepted church tradition in regard to the death of an apostle is that the apostle Peter was crucified upside-down in Rome in fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy (John 21:18).

The following are the most popular “traditions” concerning the deaths of the other apostles:
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Matthew suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, killed by a sword wound.
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John faced martyrdom when he was boiled in a huge basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution in Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered from death.
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John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison island of Patmos. He wrote his prophetic book of Revelation on Patmos.
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The apostle John was later freed and returned to what is now modern-day Turkey. He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully.
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James, the brother of Jesus (not officially an apostle), was the leader of the church in Jerusalem.
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He was thrown from the southeast pinnacle of the temple (over a hundred feet down) when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.
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When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a club. This is thought to be the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the temptation.
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Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed in present-day Turkey and was martyred for his preaching in Armenia, being flayed to death by a whip.
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Andrew was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers, they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony.
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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.”
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He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he died.
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The apostle Thomas was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church there.
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Matthias, the apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded.
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The apostle Paul was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero in Rome in A.D. 67.
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There are traditions regarding the other apostles as well, but none with any reliable historical or traditional support.
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It is not so important how the apostles died.
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What is important is the fact that they were all willing to die for their faith.
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If Jesus had not been resurrected, the disciples would have known it.
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People will not die for something they know to be a lie.
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The fact that all of the apostles were willing to die horrible deaths, refusing to renounce their faith in Christ, is tremendous evidence that they had truly witnessed the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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God never calls us to do something for Him that He does not empower us to do if we are willing to do the work and time. Take the time to get to know God in an intimate way.
.Your purpose on earth is to shine God’s love to a lost and dying world.

Open your ears and your heart to the Lord and be excited about your new future serving Him in spirit and truth.
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God has made it possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your own life.

Serve Him.
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Wait on Him.
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And expect … for He is able to do much much more than you can ask or imagine.
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Settle that sin issue ...

“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins have separated me from You.

I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and live a new life pleasing to You.

Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.

I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.

I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Thank You that according to Your Word, I am now born again.

Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.

Use me for Your glory.

In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.”

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