a freer access to him, than Philip himself. Compare John 1:40 with
verses 42,43.
Further, although he fell through weakness, like all the other
apostles, in forsaking his master; yet he recovered from his fall, and
again joined himself to Christ and to his fellow-brethren. Matt. 26:31;
Luke 24:33.
Afterwards he with all his fellow-ministers received command to preach
the gospel in the whole world, and to all nations; to which end he was
endued, on the day of Pentecost, with the Holy Ghost, whom he received
in all fullness. Matt. 28:19.
Going out, in obedience to the command of Christ, he taught in
many countries, as in Pontus, Galatia, Bethynia, as well as at
Antropophages, and afterwards in Scythia. He also traveled in the
northern and the southern countries, yea, as far as into Byzantium;
further, in Thracia, Macedonia, Thessalia, and Achaia, everywhere
preaching Christ; whereby he converted many to the Christian faith.
He also confirmed the doctrine of his Master with many miracles,
according to the words of the Lord: “These signs shall follow them,”
etc. But since other authors do not treat accurately of this, we shall
omit the particulars of these signs. _Abdias, van den strijd der
Apostelen._
Finally, when he had finished his course, according to the will of the
eternal God, Aegaeas, the governor of Edessa, in the name of the Roman
senate, caused him to be crucified in the city of Patras, in Achaia.
_Joli. Gys. Hist. Mart., fol. 10, col. 1, 2, from Sophronis and Aug.
Solilo., cap. 2._
Concerning the cause and manner of his death, the following is
contained in _Apophthegm. Christian. Baudart., page 3_: At Patras, a
city in Achaia, he converted, besides many others, Maximillia, the wife
of Aegaeas, the governor, to the Christian faith. This so enraged the
governor against Andrew, that he threatened him with the death of the
cross. But the apostle said to the governor: “Had I feared the death of
the cross, I should not have preached the majesty and gloriousness of
the cross of Christ.”
The enemies of the truth having apprehended and sentenced to death
the apostle Andrew, he went joyfully to the place where he was to be
crucified, and, having come near the cross, he said, “O, beloved cross!
I have greatly longed for thee. I rejoice to see thee erected here. I
come to thee with a peaceful conscience and with cheerfulness, desiring
that I, who am a disciple of him who hung on the cross, may also be
crucified.” The apostle said further, “The nearer I come to the cross,
the nearer I come to God; and the farther I am from the cross, the
farther I remain from God.”
The holy apostle hung three days on the cross; he was not silent,
however; but as long as he could move his tongue, he instructed the
people that stood by the cross, in the way of the truth, saying, among
other things: “I thank my Lord Jesus Christ, that he, having used me
for a time as an ambassador, now permits me to leave this body, that
I, through a good confession, may obtain everlasting grace and mercy.
Remain steadfast in the word and doctrine which you have received,
instructing one another, that you may dwell with God in eternity, and
receive the fruit of his promises.
The Christians and other pious people besought the governor to give
Andrew unto them, and take him down from the cross. (For it appears
that he was not nailed to the cross, like Christ, but tied to it). When
the apostle learned of this, he cried to God, saying, “O Lord Jesus
Christ! suffer not that thy servant, who hangs here on the tree for thy
name’s sake, be released, to dwell again among men; but receive me, O
my Lord, my God! whom I have known, whom I have loved, to whom I cling,
whom I desire to see, and in whom I am what I am.” Having spoken these
words, the holy apostle committed his spirit into the hands of his
heavenly Father. _M. W. Baudart. in Apophthegm Christian, lib. 1, super
Andream, ex August. de Vera et Falsa Poenitentia., cap. 8, Bernhard. in
Sermon. de Andrea. Lanfrancus contra Berengar. Niceph., lib. 2, cap.
39, and lib. 15, cap. 39. Remigius in Psal. 21 and 40. Johan. Strac. in
Festo Andreae, p. 23, haec et alia._ Also, _Konst-tooneel van veertig,
by N. D. C., Concerning the Life of Andrew_.
BARTHOLOMEW, THE HOLY APOSTLE OF CHRIST, FIRST GREATLY TORTURED, THEN
FLAYED ALIVE, AND FINALLY BEHEADED, IN ARMENIA, BY KING ASTYAGES, ABOUT
A. D. 70.
[Illustration: BARTHOLOMEW FLAYED ON THE CROSS.]
Bartholomew, which signifies, the son of Tholomaeus, was a Galilean,
like all the other apostles; and also a fisherman, according to the
opinion of Theodoretus; some, however, hold, that he was of royal
descent, and the nephew of the king of Syria.
Little is said of him in Holy Scripture aside from what relates to his
call to the apostleship to preach the Gospel with the others throughout
Judea and Galilee, to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. After
Christ’s resurrection he was confirmed in his apostleship, and, with
the others who were in like ministry, received the gift of the Holy
Ghost. Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14,15; Acts 2:1–5.
After the separation of the apostles he exercised his ministry first
in Lycaonia, then in Syria and the upper parts of Asia, and afterwards
in India, where, as the chronicles relate, Pantenus, a teacher of
Alexandria, coming to the same place, about a century afterwards, found
and took away with him the Gospel of Matthew, which Bartholomew had
brought thither, and which he had taught the Indians in their native
tongue. _Isid. de part N. T., J. Gys. Hieron., Catal. Pantaleon,
Euseb., lib. 3, cap. 10, J. Gys._
Finally he spread the Gospel in Great Armenia, and there, in Albana,
or Albanopolis, the capital and residence of the kingdom of Poleno,
or Palemonio, and converted King Astyages’ brother, together with his
wife, two sons, and a daughter, to the faith. _Hieron. Cat. Barthol.,
J. Gys._
He moreover, as is stated by others, delivered from idolatry, and
enlightened with the knowledge of Jesus Christ, twelve cities in that
country, in which the devil was worshiped through the idol Ashtaroth.
But the priests of Ashtaroth, being very much vexed on account of this,
complained to King Astyages, who caused Bartholomew, this holy apostle
of Christ, to be apprehended and brought before him.
When Bartholomew stood before the king, the latter upbraided him, that
he had perverted his brother, and unsettled the worship of the gods in
his country. He therefore threatened him with death, unless he would
desist preaching Christ, and sacrifice to his gods.
When Bartholomew had replied to this accusation, saying, that he had
not perverted, but converted, his brother, that he had preached the
true worship of God in his country, and that he would rather seal his
testimony with his blood, than suffer the least shipwreck of his faith
or conscience, the king gave orders, that he should first be severely
tortured and beaten with rods, then be suspended on a cross with his
head downwards, flayed alive, and finally beheaded with the ax. This
having been done with him, he was united with Christ, his Lord.
_Niceph. lib. 3, cap. 39, Isid. Hisp. de vita et obitu sanct. J. Gys.
Hist. Mart. super Bartholomeum._
Others relate that the sentence pronounced upon Bartholomew extended
no further, than that he should be flayed on the cross, without any
mention of decapitation; but that, as he, being still alive after
having been flayed, exhorted the people, his head was struck off
with an ax, in order to prevent this, he having committed his spirit
into the hands of God. _Konst-tooneel van veertig, about the Life of
Bartholomew._ Also, _Bybelsch Naemboek_, printed at _Horn, Anno 1632,
letter B. on the name Bartholomew, fol. 159, col. 2._
THOMAS, THE HOLY APOSTLE OF CHRIST, TORMENTED WITH RED-HOT PLATES, CAST
INTO A FURNACE, AND HIS SIDE PIERCED WITH SPEARS BY THE SAVAGES, AT
CALAMINA, ABOUT A. D. 70.
[Illustration: THE APOSTLE THOMAS CAST INTO AN OVEN.]
Thomas, surnamed Didymus, that is, twin, was a native of Galilee,
and his occupation, as it appears, that of a fisherman. John 11:16.
Concerning his parents and the time of his conversion, we find
no account in the Evangelists, who mention only his call to the
apostleship. Matt. 10:3.
His love and ardent affection for Christ appears from the fact that
he exhorted his brethren, to go up to Jerusalem, that they might die
with Christ. John 11:16. But as he had not yet resisted unto blood, and
labored also under a certain misapprehension concerning the death of
Christ, he with the others forsook the Lord in the time of need. John
14:5; Matt. 26:31.
Afterwards, when the Lord had arisen, and appeared to the other
apostles, in the absence of Thomas, he could not believe it, as he
said, unless he should put his fingers into the prints of the nails
with which he had been crucified, and thrust his hand into the Lord’s
side, which a soldier had opened with a spear. But when the Lord came
again, and appeared also to him, saying, “Reach hither thy finger,
and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my
side,” etc., then he, being convinced, began to salute Christ with
divine titles of honor, saying, “My Lord and my God.” John 20:24–28.
After this, he, together with the other apostles, received commandment
to preach the Gospel in the whole world, and to baptize the believers;
to which end, ten days after, namely on the day of Pentecost, he, with
all his fellow-ministers, received the Holy Ghost in full abundance.
Matt. 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16.
According to history, he sent Thaddeus unto King Abgarus, shortly
after Christ’s resurrection. _Euseb. Hist. Eccl., lib. 1, cap. 13._
As Parthia, India, Ethiopia, and many other countries had as his
portion, been assigned him, he traveled through them; he dreaded,
however, as it appears, to go to the moors and the savage nations of
India. Nevertheless, God having strengthened him, he there converted
many to God. _Euseb. Hist. Eccl., lib. 3, cap. 1._
Concerning the end of Thomas, the most probable account found by
the ancients is this, namely, that at Calamina, a city in the East
Indies, he put a stop to the abominable idolatry of the heathen, who
worshiped there an image of the sun; so that through the power of
God he compelled the Evil One to destroy the image. Thereupon the
idolatrous priests accused him before their king, who sentenced him,
first to be tormented with red-hot plates, and then to be cast into
a glowing furnace, and burned. But when the idolatrous priests, who
stood before the furnace, saw that the fire did not hurt him, they
pierced his side, as he lay in the furnace, with spears and javelins;
and thus he conformed in steadfastness unto his Lord Jesus Christ, whom
he confessed even unto death. Jerome states that his body, which, it
seems, was taken out of the fire, was buried in the same place where
he died. _Joh. Gysii Hist. Mart., fol. 11, col. 4. Konst-tooneel van
veertig, in the life of Thomas._ MATTHEW, THE HOLY EVANGELIST,
NAILED TO THE GROUND, AND BEHEADED AT NADDAVAR, UNDER KING HYTACUS,
ABOUT A. D. 70.
[Illustration: MATTHEW, THE EVANGELIST, BEHEADED AT NADAVAR.]
Matthew, also called Levi, the son of Alpheus, was a publican in
Capernaum. The publicans were detested by the Jews, because the latter
did not consider themselves justly bound to pay toll or tribute to
any foreign prince. Matt. 9:9; Mark 3:18; Luke 5:29. As touching the
condition of publicans at that time, it was such that they generally
exacted more from the people than was just; on which account they were
shunned by the pious, so that open sinners, who were separated from the
church, were compared to publicans. Matt. 9:11; 18:17.
When Matthew, or Levi, was still unconverted, and made his living in
this unjust business, Christ met him with his grace, and commanded
him to follow him as a disciple. Obeying through an inward impulse,
he forsook the custom-house, and, having prepared a great feast
for the occasion of taking leave of his companions, he invited his
fellow-publicans, and also the Lord Jesus; apparently for an adieu,
that they might find opportunity to become converted through the
discourse of the Lord Jesus.
After this, Matthew immediately forsook all, and zealously followed his
Lord, who had called him, and who, after he had more fully instructed
him, placed him among the apostles, which office he, too, exercised
among the Jews, till the death of Christ. Matt. 10:3; Luke 6:15.
Afterwards, when he was sent out to teach among the heathen, Ethiopia
fell to his lot. But before he left Judea, he, through the illumination
of the Holy Spirit, wrote his Gospel, in the Hebrew language, and left
it to them. _Euseb. lib. 5, cap. 1. Joh. Gys. Niceph. lib. 3, cap. 20.
Secund. J. Gys._
In Ethiopia he accomplished much, with teaching as well as with
miracles; and there he also left unto posterity after his death
his written Gospel, from which it can easily be seen what faith he
maintained, namely, the faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, that he
became a real man, through the power of the Holy Ghost, in his mother
Mary. Matt. 1st chapter, throughout.
History states that immediately after the death of King Aeglippus, who
was attached to the Christians, his successor Hytacus, an unbelieving
heathen, persecuted this apostle, and that at a certain time, when
this pious apostle of Christ was teaching the church of God, he caused
him to be apprehended and, as some write, nailed to the ground, and
beheaded, in Naddavar, the capital of Ethiopia, where he is also
buried, according to Venantius Fortunatus, who wrote, over a thousand
years ago, “For the great city Naddavar shall restore to us at the last
day the eminent Apostle Matthew.” _J. Gys. in Hist. Mart., fol. 12,
col. 2._ Also, _Konst-tooneel van veertig, in the life of Matthew_.
Also, _P. J. Twisck, Bybelsch Næmbœck, fol. 65, col. 2, letter M_. This
writer states that he was fastened to the ground with darts, whereupon
death ensued. _Joh. Gys._, from _Venantius Fortunatus, de Gaud. Vitæ,
lib. 7_.
SIMON ZELOTES AND HIS BROTHER JUDAS THADDEUS, BOTH SLAIN FOR THE TRUTH
OF CHRIST; THE ONE CRUCIFIED, AND THE OTHER BEATEN TO DEATH WITH
STICKS, ABOUT A. D. 70.
[Illustration: MARTYRDOM OF SIMON ZELOTES, AND JUDAS THADDEUS.]
Simon the Canaanite, surnamed Zelotes, that is, Zealot, the son of
Alpheus, the brother of James, Joses, and Juda, and a relative of
Christ, was constituted by Christ one of his twelve apostles, to preach
the Gospel, first among the Jews, and afterwards among the heathen; to
which end he, together with the others who were in like ministry with
him, received the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost. Matt. 10:4; Acts
1:13; Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3.
He traveled in Egypt, Cyrene, Africa, Mauritania, throughout Lybia, and
in the islands of Great Britain, where he preached the Gospel, _Isid.
de Vita et Mort. 5, 5. Niceph., lib. 2, cap. 40._
Afterwards, having preached everywhere, writes _N. D. C._, he came to
the Western Sea, also into England, and their neighboring places.
Finally, it is stated by others, he went to Persia, where he found his
brother Judas. Continuing together steadfastly in the duties of their
apostleship, they sealed the divine truth with their blood.
Concerning Simon Zelotes in particular, it is stated that he was
crucified in a very painful way by a certain governor in Syria.
_Bybelsch Næmbœck, letter S. on the name Simon, fol. 570, col. 1_, from
_Eus. and Niceph., and Hist. Andræ, fol. 18, Konst-tooneel van veertig,
in the life of Simon Zelotes_.
As regards his brother Judas, surnamed Lebbeus, and also, Thaddeus,
who was likewise an apostle of Jesus Christ, nothing is said of him in
Evangelical history; only there is mention made of a question which he
asked the Lord Jesus, saying, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest
thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; John
14:22.
It was this apostle who also wrote a comforting letter to the
believers, in which he admonishes them to remain steadfast in the faith
once received; and threatens the unbelievers with the severe judgment
of God.
In accordance with the division of the world made by the apostles for
the preaching of the Gospel, he traveled in Mesopotamia, Syria, Arabia,
and as far as Edessa. Finally, having gone to Persia, he there reproved
and opposed the pagan idolatry; on which account he was beaten to death
by the idolatrous priests, who were losing their gain. _Isidor. and
Niceph., Sabell. Eneæ. 7, lib. 14. Bybelsch Næmbœck, letter I., on the
name of Judas Thaddeus, fol. 595. Konst-tooneel, etc., in the life of
Judas Thaddeus, or Lebbeus._
Simon the Canaanite, or Zelotes, who was a son of Alpheus, is not
distinguished by some from Simon the bishop at Jerusalem, who was a
son of Cleophas; hence has originated the error that Simon Zelotes is
said to have been killed A. D. 108 (see _Byb. Næmb., fol. 870, col.
1_), which, properly, is to be understood of Simon, the bishop at
Jerusalem, the son of Cleophas; for Simon Zelotes and his brother Judas
Thaddeus, according to testimony, were killed towards the close of the
persecution by Nero, or about A. D. 70.
MATTHIAS, THE HOLY APOSTLE OF CHRIST, TIED ON A CROSS UPON A ROCK,
STONED, AND THEN BEHEADED, A. D. 70.
[Illustration: MATTHIAS HUNG ON THE CROSS, STONED, AND BEHEADED.]
Matthias, according to the opinion of some, was of the royal house of
David; and from his youth was well instructed in the law of God, at
Bethlehem. He was one of the seventy disciples of Christ; but shortly
after the Lord’s ascension, Judas Iscariot; having faithlessly departed
from his apostleship, and taken his own life, the remaining eleven
apostles, and one hundred and twenty men, through prayer to God, and
by the lot, unanimously elected him in place of the aforementioned
faithless Judas, an apostle and ambassador of Jesus Christ, to preach
the Gospel, according to the command of the Lord, to all nations, and
to baptize the believers. Acts 1:23–26.
Afterwards he and the other eleven apostles were scourged by the Jewish
council, for the name of Jesus Christ, and commanded that they should
preach no more in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 5:38–40. But they
departed from the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to
suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house,
they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
After the separation of the apostles, who went everywhere to preach,
Matthias, according to the opinion of Jerome, penetrated far into
Ethiopia, where no other apostle had been, into the very interior of
the land, yea, to the uttermost ends, to the inlet of the creek or
river Asphar and Hyssus; where the most ignorant and barbarous people
were. Unto these people, sitting as they were, in the deepest darkness
and ignorance, there arose, through the ministry of this apostle, the
true light of the Gospel. But, after having there gained many souls
to Christ, he returned, according to history, to Judea, Galilee, and
Samaria; namely, as in consequence of the dispersion of the apostles,
the Jews who dwelt in those parts, could not enjoy the benefits of the
ministry of the holy Gospel, unto their conversion. _Hieron. in Catal.
Script. Eccl. Isidor. Naucler. Sabell. and Anthon., in Hist. Matthiæ._
Concerning the end or martyrdom of Matthias, some write that he would
not sacrifice to the false god Jupiter, and was therefore put to death
by the heathen. Others, however, state that for the blasphemy which
the Jews said he had committed against God, Moses, and the law, he was
sentenced by their high priest, first to be hung on a cross and stoned,
and afterwards beheaded with an ax. In short, when he would not deny
Jesus, his Savior, but steadfastly confessed him, his sentence, was
this: “Thy blood be upon thy head, for thine own mouth hath spoken
against thee.” Thereupon, having been tied on a cross, as some write,
or conducted upon a rock, as others say, he was stoned, and finally,
according to the sentence, beheaded. _Joh. Gys., in Hist. Mart., fol.
13, col. 2, ex Anton., in part 1._ Also, _Konst-tooneel, etc., in the
life of Matthias_. Also, _P. J. Twisck in the Bybelsch Næmbœck, letter
M. on the name Matthias, fol. 652, col. 1, 2_.
SOME OF THE SEVENTY DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, AND SEVERAL FELLOW-TRAVELERS
OF THE APOSTLES, SLAIN, TOWARDS THE CLOSE OF THE PERSECUTION BY NERO,
ABOUT A. D. 70.
Prochorus, one of the first seven deacons at Jerusalem, a nephew of the
pious martyr Stephen, and companion of the Apostle John, but afterwards
bishop of the church at Bithynia, in Macedonia, suffered and died at
Antioch.
Nicanor, also one of the first seven deacons at Jerusalem, was likewise
executed for the truth’s sake.
Likewise Parmenas, also one of the seven deacons.
Olympus was imprisoned at Rome with Paul, for the Gospel’s sake.
Carpus, a servant of Paul, and afterwards bishop of the church at
Troas, was put to death in that place, for the faith.
Trophimus, Paul’s companion, was beheaded for the truth of Christ.
Maternus and Egystus, two of the seventy disciples of Christ, together
with Marianus, the Christian deacon, were put to death in Germany, for
the faith.
Hermagoras, bishop of the church at Aquileia, ordained thereto by
Peter, suffered likewise under Nero.
Onesimus, Dionysius, Areopagitæ, and others, also died at that time for
the divine truth.
This persecution, which was originated by Nero, continued a long time,
extending even into the time of Vespasian; so that it is stated that
in the third year of his reign, there was put to death in the city of
Ravenna, for confessing Christ, Apollinaris, a disciple of Peter, with
many others, whose names are not mentioned.
OF THE SECOND PERSECUTION OF THE CHRISTIANS, UNDER DOMITIAN, WHICH
COMMENCED A. D. 93; IN WHICH, AMONG OTHERS, THERE WERE APPREHENDED,
BANISHED, OR SLAIN, THE FOLLOWING PERSONS:
LUKE, THE HOLY EVANGELIST, HANGED ON A GREEN OLIVE TREE, IN GREECE, A.
D. 93.
[Illustration: LUKE HANGED ON AN OLIVE TREE.]
Luke, the third among the holy evangelists, was, according to the
testimony of the ancients, a Syrian of Antioch, and by occupation a
physician. _Bybelsch Næmbœck, about Luke_, from _Euseb. and Hieron.
Col. 4:14._
It was the will of the Lord to use him as a physician of souls; to
which end he has left to mankind two excellent books on spiritual
medicine; namely, his holy Gospel and the Acts of the holy Apostles.
Concerning his parents there is nowhere anything mentioned; hence
little or almost no account can be given of his natural descent,
excepting his birthplace, and that he descended from the Syrian nation.
It is supposed that he had no wife; though nearly all the other
apostles and evangelists were married.
According to the opinion of Jerome, he was, before his conversion, a
Jewish proselyte, though of Gentile descent; which is quite probable,
since, according to the judgment of linguists, his style is far more
excellent and perfect in Greek than in Hebrew. _Joh. Gys., in Hist.
Mart. ex Hieronimo._
He afterwards, through the preaching of Paul, became a Christian A. D.
38, after he had come from Thebes to Antioch. _Konst-tooneel, etc., in
the life of Luke._
He became a disciple of the apostles, but especially a traveling
companion of the apostle Paul, so that he was with him in many perils
and difficulties on sea and on land.
He was so intimate with Paul, and his special friend to such a degree
that, according to the ancients, he wrote the Gospel under his
dictation and instruction. He has also given a faithful account of
Paul’s principal travels until his first imprisonment at Rome. _Joh.
Gys. Hist. Mart., concerning Luke the evangelist._
Paul makes frequent mention of him in his epistles; for to the
Colossians he writes: “Luke, the physician,... greet you.” Col. 4:14.
To Philemon: “There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ
Jesus; Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-laborers.” Phil.
23,24. Likewise, to Timothy: “Only Luke is with me.” 2 Tim. 4:11.