The twelve apostles are listed in each of the synoptic gospels – Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:13-16. Although in slightly different order, the lists are similar with the exception that Luke calls Thaddeus Judas the son of James, and Simon the Cananean becomes Simon the Zealot. Whether he actually was a member of that band of political extremists is open to debate.
All eleven were in the upper room at Pentecost as recorded in Acts 1:13-14. Two replacements were proposed for Judas Iscariot – Joseph Barsabbas Justus and Matthias. Both men met the criteria to be reckoned as apostles of Jesus. Matthias was chosen; Joseph was not rejected. For the majority of these men, this mention in Acts 1 is the last we hear of them, from a scriptural viewpoint. Although we accept that Scripture is the only divinely inspired record, there are many other writings and traditions that add to our historical knowledge of places and events At Acts 1:8 Jesus told them that they were to witnesses of him ‘to the ends of the earth’. Did they obey? What does the Bible say? What about tradition?
Peter travelled widely. He went to:
* Samaria (Acts 8:14 – AD 34/5)
* Lydda (Acts 9:32)
* Joppa (Acts 9:39, 10:5)
* Caesarea (Acts 10:24 – AD 36)
* Jerusalem (Acts 11:2, 15:6 – AD 49)
* Antioch (Gal 2:11 – AD 49)
* Corinth (1 Cor 1:12 – before AD 51)
* Babylon (1 Pet 5:13 – c. AD 64)
* Rome(?)
Peter is said to have been put to death on a cross, upside-down at his own request, as he felt he was not worthy to die the same death as his Lord. Whether this was in Rome or whether that is wishful thinking by the Catholics cannot be stated.
Andrew. His last mention in the Bible is in the upper room receiving Holy Spirit. Tradition has it that he preached in Thrace (Bulgaria, European Turkey), Scythia (N of Black Sea – Ukraine, Crimea, Russia), Greece and Asia Minor, being put to death on an X-shaped cross at Patras, Greece. Apparently his arm was brought to Scotland, hence the Saltire and patron saint.
James was put to death in Jerusalem AD 44 (Agrippa I); possibly visited Spain beforehand.
John
* Samaria (Acts 8:14)
* Jerusalem (Acts 11:2, 15:6)
* Ephesus (from around AD 65)
* Patmos (Rev 1)
* Ephesus
Died of old age
Philip (the apostle)
* Preached in Phrygia and died at Hieropolis (trad). No other Bible references after Pentecost.
Bartholomew (Nathanael son of Tolmai?)
* India, Mesopotamia, Persia, Armenia (trad)
Matthew
* Palestine (15yrs), Persia, Parthia, Media, died/martyred in Ethiopia (trad)
Thomas
* Persia, India, buried at Edessa (Turkey). The St Thomas Christians in India are found on the Malabar Coast of Kerala in the far SW of the country. Is that indicative of his travels?
James of Alphaeus (the Less)
* Appears to have died in Jerusalem
Thaddeus (Judas - not Iscariot)
* Judea, Samara, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, Libya (trad)
Simon (Cananaean, Zealous)
* Possibly as far as Persia (trad)
Matthias
* Judea, Cappadocia, Ethiopia (trad)
Paul (apostle to the nations and not of the twelve)
* His travels are well documented by Luke in the Acts of the Apostles. Nevertheless, this account ceases with Paul being imprisoned in Rome the first time around. From his letters to Timothy, we know that he was released and continued to travel. It seems that he was rather abruptly arrested in Troas, where he left his winter cloak. According to the apocryphal Acts 29, between these events, he went to Spain, Gaul and Britain, returning via Switzerland*. Although this is not confirmed, there does appear to be some evidence suggesting its veracity. For example, it speaks of him preaching on Mt Lud in Southeast England. St Paul’s Cathedral is at Ludgate Hill.
* Spain, Armorica (Brittany/Normandy), Britain (Raphinus – Sandwich, Kent), Atium in Gaul, Helvetia, Mt Julius, Illtricum (Illyricum?).
Whilst this is all very interesting and fascinating, is it a merely that, a bit of interesting history of no importance whatsoever? It is true that we do not need to know what happened to the apostles after they exit the Bible accounts. If we did need to know, we would have been told. They were, however, commanded to be witnesses of Jesus to the most distant parts of the earth. Did they fulfil their commission? With alacrity! It seems that John was the only one not to have been martyred for his bearing witness to Jesus. And yes, that is a tautology. The Watchtower Society is governed by a central body in New York. This is the publishing arm of the religion known as Jehovah’s Witnesses. This governing body (and they do refer to themselves capitalised), controls all doctrines, beliefs, practices, financing, publishing and so on. They claim to have based this clerical structure on the prototype of the first century congregation (although as a whole, their hierarchy bears a striking resemblance to that of the Catholic Church). Take the following quotes to understand where they are coming from:
Organization of the Christian Congregation. While Christian congregations of God were established in various places, they did not function independently of one another. Instead, they all recognized the authority of the Christian governing body at Jerusalem. This governing body was comprised of the apostles and older men of the Jerusalem congregation, there being no rival bodies elsewhere seeking to supervise the congregation. It was to the faithful Christian governing body of the first century C.E. that the issue of circumcision was submitted for consideration. When the governing body made its decision, as directed by the holy spirit*, that decision was accepted and became binding upon all Christian congregations**, these willingly submitting to it.—Ac 15:22-31 (it-1 pp. 498-499 Congregation)
* The account mentions arguing and dissension (vv2,7) but not prayer. Did they seek divine direction or was that added to the final letter as an afterthought (v28)?
** The letter was specifically for the brothers in Antioch. Copies may have been made for others in Syria, Cilicia and perhaps other communities that Paul had visited on his first journey, such as at Derbe and Lystra (15:41-16:1). There is no further mention of this letter anywhere in scripture.
Jesus trained the apostles for the role they would have after Pentecost 33 C.E. as a channel in dispensing spiritual food. They were later joined by other elders to serve as a governing body in order to settle issues and to direct the preaching and teaching of the Kingdom good news. (Ac 2:42; 8:14; 15:1, 2, 6-29) (it-1 p. 806 Faithful and Discreet Slave)
Subsequent passages in Acts show that the Jerusalem elders became a part of the governing body of the early Christian congregation, along with the 12 apostles.—Acts 15:2; 21:18. (w87 8/1 p. 13 par. 12 Christ Actively Leads His Congregation)
As the years went by, other Christian men gained spiritual stature and were appointed as elders in the Jerusalem congregation. By the year 49 C.E. at the latest, the governing body had been expanded to include not only the remaining apostles but also a number of other older men in Jerusalem. (Acts 15:2) (w90 3/15 p. 12 par. 10 ‘The Faithful Slave’ and Its Governing Body)
By 49 C.E., the surviving apostles had been joined by certain other qualified elders. (Read Acts 15:1, 2.) “The apostles and older men in Jerusalem” served as a governing body. As the Head of the congregation, Christ used this small group of qualified men to settle doctrinal issues and to oversee and direct the preaching and teaching of the Kingdom good news.—Acts 15:6-29; 21:17-19; Col. 1:18 (w13 7/15 p. 17 par. 10 Feeding Many Through the Hands of a Few)
Personally, I feel that this meeting, far from being an event to celebrate, was a very sad one in that it created the first schism in the church. The primary issue was of Judaisers demanding that their Gentile brothers be circumcised. That was never addressed. So Jewish believers continued being zealous for the Law whilst the Gentiles were reminded to abstain from idolatry, blood and immorality, matters that were pertinent to their backgrounds but that were already anathema to their Jewish counterparts.
One must be excused for believing, from these passages, that the twelve apostles settled themselves down in Jerusalem and had a comfortable life sending forth others, dictating policy and doctrine, just as the modern-day leadership of the WTS does. But does scripture actually support this notion? Firstly, it must be stated that the term ‘governing body’ does not appear in scripture, not even in the New World Translation, published by the WTS. This belief, therefore, is entirely interpretative. The quotes above all rely on two passages from Acts. The ‘first Council of Jerusalem’, as the Catholics like to call it, occurred in AD 49 and this is found recorded in chapter fifteen. Acts 21 tells of the time when Paul returned for the last time and he was requested to perform certain rites to keep the Jews happy. This was in AD 57 and the request came from ‘James and all the elders’ (21:18). The James here is the brother of the Lord, the same James of Acts chapter fifteen, and who the Catholics refer to as the Bishop of Jerusalem, and was stoned to death in Jerusalem, c. AD 62. There is no mention of any apostles. Peter and John were present at that first meeting; there is nothing to suggest that they were still in Jerusalem in AD 57. James the son of Zebedee was the first to die, in AD 44 having already been to Spain (trad). Most of the others were killed over the next twenty or so years in their travels around Italy, Greece, Turkey, North Africa, Syria and Persia, and east as far as India. They were out and about fulfilling their commission in the ends of the earth, not sat in Jerusalem directing others.
So where is the Biblical basis for a governing body? Christ is the head of the congregation, and God’s Holy Spirit is quite powerful. Where does the need for human leadership come from? The role of an elder is to shepherd the flock of God willingly, eagerly and as fine examples (2 Pet 5:2-3). The inerrant Word of God is complete and beneficial (2 Tim 3:16) and we are to prove to ourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom 12:2). Do we really need a governing body to interpret it for us? What do you think?
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