The Apostles

Question 1: We are not told when or where the apostles, Paul, John, and Peter died, nor where they are buried. Can you give me information on this?

ANSWER: The Bible does not provide us with this information! The wisdom of God is seen in the silence of the Scripture on this matter. For, without doubt, were all of these things known, great memorials would be built so that mankind would honor them, rather than He for whom they lived and died.

Legend tells us that Peter suffered martyrdom by crucifixion in 68AD; that Paul was executed by sword at Rome in 67AD; and that John died naturally in Ephesus in 97/98AD at about the age of one hundred years. The accuracy of these legends is

Question 2: Where did each of the apostles die and how were they killed?

ANSWER: We do know that James was killed with the sword, very likely in Jerusalem (Acts 12:2) in about 44AD. However, the Bible does not provide us with all of the information that you are seeking! Surely, the wisdom of God is seen in the silence of the Scripture on this matter. For, without doubt, were all of these things known, great memorials would be built so that mankind would honor them, rather than He for whom they lived and died.

Christ told Peter (John 21:18-19) that he was going to die a martyr’s death, but did not say how or where. Legend records that Peter did suffer martyrdom by crucifixion in 68AD; that Paul was executed by sword at Rome in 67AD; that Andrew was crucified in Scythia; that Philip died a martyr’s death in Phyrgia; that Bartholomew died the death of a martyr in India; that Thomas also died as a martyr in India in AD 68; and that John died naturally in Ephesus in 97/98AD at about the age of one hundred years. All indications are (Matthew 20:22) that all of the apostles died as martyrs with the exception of John who undoubtedly suffered much throughout his life for the cause of Christ, at one time being exiled to the Isle of Patmos. Beyond this, we have little knowledge!      

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