Lives of the Apostles

A Midrash on Church Tradition, and the Deaths of the Apostles. As it is, none of my writing is scripture. This is drawn from Martyr's Mirror, and also from memory from the tens of thousands of Sermons I've listened to, with regard to these men and women. And also some other church tradition.

Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene began her ministry in Jerusalem, with Peter. Where she studied under him, and then became partnered with a disciple named Maximus, who was one of the 70 whom Jesus sent out to minister by two. And Mary Magdalene ministered with him, and then began to be persecuted by the people of Jerusalem, where she fled on a boat, and became shipwrecked in France. There, she met a Roman General, and his family, and saved them through promising them they would conceive a child if they accepted Christ. To which, the general did conceive a child, and his wife went on a long journey with him, and she and the child died on their course. To which, the General kept the faith, and found Peter and learned from him, so through Mary's prayers, the woman and her child were revived, and reunited with the General when he returned to France. Mary then went to Ephesus, and remained with John Son of Thunder until she died. She did not, however, remain a hermit in France as the legends say, as God does not want hermits or recluses, but people who engage and evangelize, and He wants us to be in community with other men. And some records say Mary cursed this general, and used fear to persuade him, but such is not true. A saint does not curse. Rather, it was a humble thing, and the man found faith, even though God had wounded him severely, through Mary's prayers he was restored his wife and child.

James Son of Thunder

James Son of Thunder began his ministry in Judea and Samaria, and then unsuccessfully in Spain, where he met resistance. So he returned to Jerusalem, where he was opposed by a worthless sorcerer named Hermogenes. He lived until the fourth year of Claudius, when Agabus had predicted a great famine, because the church was being suppressed. And Herod Agrippa persecuted the church in Rome severely. So on a Passover Feast, Herod laid hands on James, and threw him into an awful prison. There, for a short time he remained, until James the Son of Thunder was sentenced to death. The sword beheaded James Son of Thunder, and thus his life ended, as the first of the Twelve to die a death. But, many miracles are witnessed of James, more than many other great men of God, so his time was very fruitful upon the Earth, and he made many converts that he could, more than many other apostles, though his life were shortest of them all. Also, upon execution, his executioner confessed he were Christian too, and asked James to forgive him, and James said "Peace be with thee," though after but a little deliberation. And the two were led to martyrdom together.

Philip

The LORD's second disciple to die, ministered first in Scythia, where he planted many churches. He also was Bishop of Syria and the upper parts of Asia. Philip then came to Phrygia, where none would listen to him. Woe to those who do not listen. These heretical Christians denied the divinity of Christ, and said of Him, He was only a gifted philosopher, or said of Him He was a Prophet only, and not of the Trinity. After ministering to the  Ethiopian, which means Burnt Skin,--thus the Gospel was ministered to the Darkest Skinned people first of all,--he found himself in Phrygia, where he was laid hands on, and his head was fastened to a pillar, like Sisera, but this were a holy death, and Sisera an abomination. Let your death be holy, and not due to being a sinner or because you are active in rebellion.

James the Son of Alphaeus

James was the first Bishop of Jerusalem, and one of the three pillars, along with John and Peter. For thirty years he administered this position faithfully, and made many converts. Not only through sound doctrine, but also through holiness did James convert many souls. He was the true author of The Wisdom Book of James, and also austere with food and drink, and was never given to any wine. Though he did not purge his food from the drought like a Roman, but ate modestly. He was brought before the Sanhedrin to force him to deny Christ, and convicted of Blasphemy, for confessing the LORD Jesus. These wolves took James to the very Temple--before Titus would burn it to the ground--and held him prisoner there like Zacharias, and did with him what they would, to force him to blaspheme, and violently treated him in the very hallows of the Sacred Temple. But it only emboldened him to confess more, so he wouldn't be subdued by their enchanting arts. Many saw this, for the wolves did it openly, and converted to Christianity, as James would never deny the LORD's name. They were frightened by this, those who persecuted James, for he might convert the entire city, so they took him and lay him in secret chambers. And there, in the pits of outer darkness, they cast stones upon James, until he die, and see the true light. For, he was not yet dead from the stoning, and many priests begged for his pardon--James' legs were broken, and he was on his knees, as they called James Camel Knees for praying so much, he caloused those knees--and a Pharisee took a rod and broke James' neck with it.

Simon Peter Cephas

Peter was able to convert 3,000 souls a sermon, and fed his sheep--bodily as well as spiritual nourishment, as Shepherds ought to do; first be kind to the sheep, and give them their balms and sheer their fleece, and trim their nails, but also to give them their food, and hold them close to their breast before the day they are slaughtered. He was fiercely threatened to stop preaching and writing, and led by chains to many councils where they would threaten him with death and confinement if he did not stop. Then Herod, a King of certain provinces, was wroth over the Christian doctrine--for what matter, no one knows as these were perverted men and perverted times. So, as it were, under Nero--who killed half a million sheep, where Rome would murder millions more over the next three centuries--he took Peter and placed him under chains, and would crucify him. But, Peter was not fearful of the death, only that some might worship him. So emboldened by the Spirit cried out to be crucified upside down like a woman--which was a shorter death, and by an act of some divine mercy, it was done, for these men know only cruelty and wouldn't do it unless coerced by a greater force. 

Paul

Paul, like many of the LORD's other apostles, ministered in many places, and planted many churches. As you can read about him in Luke's book of Acts. But, what is unknown, he fought wild beasts in arenas, but would not slay a man for spectacle. He was forsaken by friend and ally at the end of his life... and was lonely, and cold. And not joyful. But in mourning all day and night. Which is not unlawful, let no one deceive you, sufferers are not at fault for their sickness of heart. He was then brought before Nero at the end of his life, but joyfully ran faster than his captors, to the beheading. And with joy, and thankfulness, he was beheaded by Nero, for his life was one of torment and suffering, and he went to a better claim.

Andrew

Andrew was obedient unto death, and ministered in Pontus, Galatia, Bethynia, and Anthropophagus, also in both northern and southern countries. He even went so far as Byzantium, and Thracia, and Macedonia, and Thessalia, and Achaia. He preached Christ everywhere, and made loud noises of jubilation when extolling our LORD. What must be understood about some of these men, is they ministered over journeys of twenty thousand miles, publishing the Gospel everywhere they went. Over land and sea, and persecuted from city to city, planting churches wherever they went. Yet, when in Achaia, he converted a governess, which enraged the officials of that county. As is true, they hate the Gospel because it is meek, and they pride themselves on war and struggle, instead of community. They think the Gospel made Rome weak, and thus unable to defend itself. Which is not true, it expanded the empire globally. The Apostle was cheerful to die, and confessed the nearer to death he was, the nearer to the LORD's City he was. And he hung three days. As he hang on the cross, he confessed Jesus to everyone, and would not deny him. He ministered there, upon the instrument, to everyone who passed by. He was not nailed to the cross, but hung there, and some faithful wanted to take him down. For they thought him pitiful. But, he cried out to leave him up on the cross, and commit himself to death, which is the doorway to a better life.

Nathan Bartholomew

Bartholomew ministered in Lyconia, and Syria, and upper Asia, and also in India. He and Thomas left a Gospel of Matthew in India, and planted churches there, now called the Nasrani. He also ministered in Armenia, and Albana, and Albanopolis, and converted an Assyrian King's, King Astyages',  brother. And also his wife and children. He also delivered twelve cities in Assyria, from idolatry, the idolatry of the old Canaanite Pantheons. This caused a great stir, and the people to hate Bartholomew, so they told the king his ministry, and Bartholomew was apprehended. The king was unhappy with the new doctrine taught in his kingdom, and that his brother was taught it. So he threatened Bartholomew with death, unless he would stop talking about the Gospel. Bartholomew would not.  Bartholomew was tortured, crucified upside down, flayed alive, beaten with rods, and then beheaded with an axe. But he was only supposed to be flayed, and not beheaded, but preached the gospel as he was being flayed on the cross, so they beheaded him.

Thomas

Thomas was a man, who could only believe his eyes and hands. Yet, consider, Satan can even misdirect those, thus we need ears. He directed Jude Thaddeus to go to King Agbarus, after Christ had resurrected. To Parthia, India, Ethiopia, beyond the Roman Kingdom were his ministry, as many of the churches still there attest. The Apostles appeared as two witnesses, confirming the Testimony of our LORD in the regions beyond the Roman Empire, where Christ's fame was magnificent. He had persuasive arguments, because he saw God in the flesh, therefore knew Him with his full senses. Thus, no abstract argument could dissuade him, nor any reason, though Christ said better to believe and not see. And this, because seeing, you only have the choice between God or the Devil, and no third option of ignorance. In Calamina in the East Indies, he stopped many idols, by preaching the Word of God. For they had been sun worshippers. Yet, Thomas even commanded Satan himself, and destroyed the idolatry through evil--as evil is subordinate to the good, and must obey, thus, you cast out devils, and break down images even through evil itself. Thus, he was tormented by red hot irons, and skewered by the Oriental King, and thrown into a furnace, where he would not be consumed by the fire. And thus, while he was safely in the fire like Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego--to confirm his testimony--they pierced him through the side like the Centurion did Christ, where his hand had thrust through.

Matthew

Matthew wrote the Gospel in Hebrew, and the Portuguese through Rome's Ignorance burned them in India, where Thomas and Bartholomew went. Matthew was an Apostle in India, where the rivers were. This was his main domacery. His Gospel was also in India, beyond the rivers of Jordan bordering the Ganges, and he performed miracles there, and a great ministry. He would then preach in a city called Naddavar, in Asia, where he would be murdered. A king friendly to the Gospel, named Aeglippus had died, and the new king was unfriendly, and nailed Matthew to the ground, thus martyring him. That new king was Hytacus. First, however, it was through persecution, and then namely, they lay hands on him, and affix him to the ground like Sisera. And then they strike his head off. He preached in a church within the Tamil Borders, where he was apprehended. 

Simon the Zealot and Thaddaeus Judas Alphaeus Labeaus. 

Simon preached in many locations, moving around a lot because he was an adventurer. He went to Egypt, Cyrene, Africa, Mauritania, Libya, and was the first to minister to the Celts and Saxons. He then came down from England, into Persia--he was a great traveller--and in old age, he ministered there, where he found Jude. And the two ministered together, as a powerful force, being both brothers of the LORD. And he sealed his confession with blood. Jude had written his letter, authentically. Jude had travelled to Mesopotamia, Syria, Arabia, and as far as Edessa. Finally, going to Persia, and meeting his brother--the two had great love for one another--they both opposed the Persian idolatry, which was hard because it had good law, but only lacked Christ. And Jude and Simon were both beaten to death for offending the Pagan's Monotheism. 

Matthias

All eleven Apostles were scourged in the temple when they were young, and Matthias made up the twelfth, and Paul the half of Matthias, for the Half Tribes, though Paul was not scourged there, but would be many times. If you are counted worthy to suffer for the cross, rejoice. Though your heart fail, though Satan cause mourning to enter into your bones, though the pains of hell grab hold of you, know your reward is great. Matthias went into Ethiopia, deep, south of Egypt, and bordering the Blue Nile, and ministered where there were rivers, beyond Jordan. He ministered to a barbaric people--cannibal tribes, heathens of diverse religions that appear only for one or two hundred men at most. But Matthias, through his inner light, shined into the Heathen's darkness, and showed their religion were false. Not through argument or persuasion, but through love and the Holy Ghost. For this is what grabs the heathen, and not cunning artifice, is proof of the good. For all other things can pass, and be perverted by the princes of this world, one thing remains, and that is the Spirit, and proof through our unconditional love. Finally, Matthias travelled back to Samaria, Judea and Galilee, where he failed for reason of being a native. So, when Matthias would not sacrifice to Jove, and the Jews wanted him dead for charges of Blasphemy, he was crucified with nails, stoned, and when that wouldn't kill him, he was beheaded with an axe.

The Persecution of Nero

Of the seventy Apostles, many were martyred under Nero. And these were witnesses, who confirmed the Word of our LORD to Luke, and Mark was confirmed to Peter. And Matthew, being literate, wrote in Hebrew and these proto gospels were taken all over Persia. 

John

John was put in a vat of boiling oil, shipwrecked on Patmos, and hand wrote Revelation. The blessed Papias dictated his gospel from his mouth. Assuredly John's Gospel is a witness. It is claimed that he may still live. Perhaps. None know. He ministered to Mary Magdalene and Mary the Mother of God, and did much work. But, he was also marooned many times, and companion to scorpions, and asps, and wild beasts. John was Bishop of Ephesus, and banished, and then came back to resume his role as bishop there again. He drank hemlock, but did not die. He was imprisoned for years. Tortured many times.

Lazarus

Lazarus was Bishop of Kition in Cyprus, and ministered in France with Mary Magdalene and was company in her Journey there. He was persecuted, and tormented many times. But, he remained steadfast. He lived long, and died of old age, like his sisters. Being one of Jesus' best friends, though not of the Disciples. For Lazarus was a poor man, and helpless, until the LORD unshackled him and gave him purpose, and then raised him to the office of Bishop, and the office of Evangelist of Peace.

Martha

Martha was companion to Mary and Lazarus, and went to France, to flee persecution in Jerusalem. She then established a community there, where she was Mother Superior, and was left behind by Mary when she returned to Ephesus. Martha was faithful, and suffered much for the cross, being Jesus' true friend. And a servant's heart, where she served all her life in France, converting both Kings and Barbarians. She was accountant for the church, and its offices. She managed the operations of the church there, in France; she ministered to her sheep's spiritual well being, and nurtured them with compassion and kindness. But, quickly disciplined the wicked and chastised them, so they would remain pure.