The 12 Apostles risked their lives to spread Christianity across...
The Culturist@the_culturist_
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Jan 16, 2025
~3 min read
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The 12 Apostles risked their lives to spread Christianity across the globe.
All but one were murdered for doing so — brutally.
Here's what happened to them, starting with Judas... (thread) 🧵
All but one were murdered for doing so — brutally.
Here's what happened to them, starting with Judas... (thread) 🧵
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Preaching the Gospel was a dangerous business in the first century Roman Empire (and beyond).
Christians were widely persecuted, and most Apostles faced brutal martyrdoms for their teachings...
Christians were widely persecuted, and most Apostles faced brutal martyrdoms for their teachings...
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Judas Iscariot, however, died before the Resurrection.
Consumed by guilt, he returned the 30 pieces of silver received to betray Christ, and hanged himself near Jerusalem.
Consumed by guilt, he returned the 30 pieces of silver received to betray Christ, and hanged himself near Jerusalem.
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First to be martyred was James the Greater, brother of John.
Herod Agrippa was desperate to suppress the growing movement in Judea, and had him beheaded before a crowd in Jerusalem in 44 BC.
Herod Agrippa was desperate to suppress the growing movement in Judea, and had him beheaded before a crowd in Jerusalem in 44 BC.
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Emperor Nero was especially cruel, scapegoating Christians for the fire of 64 AD and branding them enemies of the state.
Mass executions took place at his circus, of which Saint Peter was one...
Mass executions took place at his circus, of which Saint Peter was one...
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Peter bravely took his ministry to center of the globe, Rome — making him a major target for Nero.
Insisting he wasn't worthy of dying like Christ, he had the Romans crucify him upside down.
Insisting he wasn't worthy of dying like Christ, he had the Romans crucify him upside down.
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Peter's legacy lives on as the first Pope, and the majestic altar of St. Peter's Basilica stands just meters from where he was killed.
His bones were only discovered in 1968, right beneath the altar floor where they were most expected...
His bones were only discovered in 1968, right beneath the altar floor where they were most expected...
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Peter's brother Andrew also died on the cross, after travelling through Asia Minor and Greece.
Roman authorities caught up with him in Patras and strung him on an X-shaped cross — now the national flag of Scotland.
Roman authorities caught up with him in Patras and strung him on an X-shaped cross — now the national flag of Scotland.
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Philip, executed in Hierapolis for converting the wife of a proconsul, was also crucified upside down.
As he hung there he continued to preach, as tradition holds, and he wasn't the only one...
As he hung there he continued to preach, as tradition holds, and he wasn't the only one...
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Bartholomew was skinned alive for converting the king of Armenia, but apparently kept preaching to a rapt audience as they peeled off his skin.
But executions got even more brutal than that...
But executions got even more brutal than that...
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Simon the Zealot and Jude traveled together to Persia, where Jude was beaten to death with clubs.
Simon, however, was quite literally sawn in half by the authorities.
Simon, however, was quite literally sawn in half by the authorities.
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Some Apostles traveled even further.
Doubting Thomas preached in India and later became its patron saint, although locals eventually came for him with spears...
Doubting Thomas preached in India and later became its patron saint, although locals eventually came for him with spears...
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And Matthias, who replaced Judas as the 12th Apostle, is thought to have journeyed as far Ethiopia — before local pagans beheaded him.
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Matthew, the redeemed tax collector turned Gospel writer, also got to Ethiopia by many traditions.
Again, he was martyred for his words, hacked to death with swords and spears.
Again, he was martyred for his words, hacked to death with swords and spears.
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Others faced death in Jerusalem. James the Less was called to deny Jesus before a large crowd, from atop the Temple.
Instead, he proclaimed Christ as the saviour — before being thrown from the building and killed by a mob.
Instead, he proclaimed Christ as the saviour — before being thrown from the building and killed by a mob.
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Only John died of natural causes.
It's thought he lived until 100 AD, exiled on the island of Patmos, where the Book of Revelation came to him in a set of startling visions...
It's thought he lived until 100 AD, exiled on the island of Patmos, where the Book of Revelation came to him in a set of startling visions...
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Is all this history?
Although most of it isn't in the scripture, it does come from very ancient church tradition...
Although most of it isn't in the scripture, it does come from very ancient church tradition...
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What is clear: the Christian message terrified the powers that be.
12 great men had the courage to spread it anyway, and in so doing shook the Roman Empire to its core...
12 great men had the courage to spread it anyway, and in so doing shook the Roman Empire to its core...