The Bible does not give exhaustive details about the deaths of all the apostles. However, it does record the martyrdom of some of the apostles, while early church history and tradition fill in the blanks on the remaining apostles. Here is a look at what we can know from Scripture and other historical sources about how the original Twelve disciples of Jesus, minus Judas Iscariot, met their end.
James, Son of Zebedee
James was one of the Twelve chosen by Jesus. He was the brother of John and, along with John and Peter, formed the inner circle of Jesus’s disciples. James was the first of the Twelve to be martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ. Acts 12:1-2 tells us that Herod Agrippa I killed James with the sword sometime around A.D. 44.
About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword (Acts 12:1-2 ESV).
Philip
Not much is known from Scripture about the martyrdom of Philip, who was among the first disciples called by Jesus in Galilee (John 1:43-44). However, most traditions hold that Philip preached the gospel in Phrygia, in Asia Minor, and was martyred by being hung upside down from a pillar and then stoned to death in the city of Hierapolis.
Matthew
Matthew, also known as Levi, was a tax collector who left everything behind when Jesus called him to be a disciple (Matthew 9:9-13). Early church tradition holds that he preached for many years in Judea before going to foreign lands. The ancient historian Eusebius said that Matthew preached to Jewish people in their own language in Ethiopia and Parthia, and was martyred in Parthia. However, the manner of his death is uncertain.
James, Son of Alphaeus
James son of Alphaeus is referred to as “James the Less” in Mark 15:40. He is likely called this to differentiate him from James son of Zebedee. Little is known from Scripture about this James, except for a list of the Twelve disciples in the Gospels and the Book of Acts. An apocryphal writing known as The Acts of Philip claims he preached around Galilee and Jewish Arabia before being crucified in Egypt. However, this report is dubious.
Thaddaeus
Thaddaeus, also known as Judas or Jude, the son or brother of James (Luke 6:16, Acts 1:13), has often been confused with Judas Iscariot. Beyond being listed among the Twelve, the only other reference to him is in John 14:22. Church tradition holds that he was an effective preacher of the gospel, who traveled and spread the faith to many lands, including Beirut and Edessa. He was reportedly martyred in modern-day Iraq or Iran.
Simon the Zealot
Simon the Zealot, one of the little-known disciples, is mentioned by name in the Gospels and Acts as one of the Twelve (Matthew 10:4, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, Acts 1:13). As a former Zealot, he would have been intensely committed to the Mosaic Law. According to church tradition, he preached in Egypt and then joined the apostle Jude in Persia, where they were martyred together by being sawn in half.
Peter
More details are given in Scripture about the life and death of Peter than the other apostles, though some key details are lacking. We know that Jesus predicted Peter would die a martyr’s death (John 21:18-19) and early church tradition strongly attests that Peter was crucified upside down in Rome during the reign of Nero in the A.D. 60s. But the exact date and year are unknown.
Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” (John 21:18-19 ESV)
Andrew
Andrew, the brother of Peter, is known as one of the first disciples of Jesus, initially following John the Baptist before meeting Jesus (John 1:35-40). Church tradition strongly attests that Andrew went on to preach the gospel around the Black Sea and in Greece, where he was crucified by the Roman governor Aegeas around A.D. 60. However, the details of when and where he was martyred are uncertain.
Bartholomew
Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, continues to be one of the more mysterious apostles. Mentioned in each of the Synoptic Gospels’ lists of the Twelve, little else is known about him from Scripture apart from his call to discipleship in John 1:45-51. There is debate from historical sources over where he preached and died, with most traditions saying he was skinned alive and then crucified upside down in Armenia or Southern India.
Thomas
Thomas is infamously remembered as “Doubting Thomas” due to wanting to see the resurrected Christ for himself before believing the other apostles (John 20:24-29). But once he saw and believed, he made a powerful declaration about Jesus’s identity. Not much is known about his later ministry outside of tradition, which holds that he evangelized the Parthians, Medes, Persians and perhaps Indians. He is said to have been martyred near Madras, India where he was speared to death.
Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot stands out as the member of the Twelve who betrayed Jesus, leading to Jesus’s arrest and crucifixion (Matthew 26:14-16). Judas brought the chief priests to where Jesus was praying and identified Him with a kiss. Soon after this, filled with remorse, Judas repented and hanged himself (Matthew 27:3-5). The book of Acts records the Apostles replacing Judas with Matthias (Acts 1:15-26).
Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:3-5 ESV)
Matthias
Matthias was chosen by the remaining eleven apostles to replace Judas Iscariot following Judas’s betrayal and death (Acts 1:23-26). Beyond being selected and numbered among the Twelve, nothing else is written about Matthias in Scripture. According to historical sources, he was an exemplary apostle who evangelized in Judea and around the Caspian Sea. Tradition holds he was eventually martyred by stoning in Jerusalem.
John
John, the brother of James and author of a gospel and three epistles, figures prominently in the gospels as part of Jesus’s inner circle. According to historical evidence, John was the only one of the Twelve who did not die a martyr’s death. Instead, he was exiled to the island of Patmos during the reign of Emperor Domitian where he wrote the book of Revelation.
Summary
In summary, here’s what we know from Scripture and other historical sources about the deaths of the Twelve Apostles:
- James, son of Zebedee – Killed by sword in Judea by Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:1-2)
- Philip – Crucified in Hierapolis according to tradition
- Matthew – Martyred by unknown means in Parthia according to tradition
- James, son of Alphaeus – Stoned in Egypt according to tradition
- Thaddaeus – Martyred in Iraq or Iran according to tradition
- Simon the Zealot – Martyred in Persia by being sawn in half according to tradition
- Peter – Crucified upside down in Rome during reign of Nero according to tradition
- Andrew – Crucified in Greece according to tradition
- Bartholomew – Skinned alive and crucified upside down in Armenia or India according to tradition
- Thomas – Speared to death near Madras, India according to tradition
- Judas Iscariot – Hanged himself after betraying Jesus (Matthew 27:3-5)
- Matthias – Stoned in Jerusalem according to tradition
- John – Died a natural death in exile on the island of Patmos
Outside of the death of James recorded in Acts 12 and Judas’s suicide in Matthew 27, the rest of the reports on how the apostles died come from early church tradition. While not Scripture, these traditional accounts are generally accepted based on the teaching and writing of early church leaders who likely had access to more authoritative records.
The deaths of almost all of the apostles, except John, are said to have been martyrdom–they were violently put to death on account of their faith in Christ. Their willingness to suffer and die for the gospel and God’s kingdom is remarkable testimony to their commitment to the truth of Christ’s resurrection and the message they preached for the remainder of their lives until death.