The Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew – Jusepe de Ribera

“He’s Never Lied” from the album “The Season of Singing  ” featuring Jim Rogers , Lucy Rutherford and Mike Backhouse with the Mustard Seed Soul Band recorded and produced by Ross Gill.

Last week I looked at how the disciples of Jesus who feature in Risen!- The Musical died -Judas, John, Peter, James and Thomas. This week I look at the traditions surrounding the deaths of  the other disciples.

Andrew, the brother of Peter, was martyred in AD 60 by first being scourged and then tied to a cross.  Because Andrew deemed himself unworthy to be crucified in the same way as Christ he chose an  X shaped cross. Andrew survived for two days, during which he preached to passers-by.

Matthew, the former tax collector was martyred in Ethiopia, where some sources say he was  stabbed in the back by an swordsman sent by King Hertacus, after he criticized the King’s morals. Another belief is that he was beheaded at Nad-Davar in 60-70 A.D

Philip became a missionary in Asia. Eventually, he travelled to the Egyptian city of Heliopolis, where he was scourged, thrown into prison, and crucified upside down in 54 AD.

Bartholomew (Nathaniel) preached in several countries, including India, where he translated the Gospel of Matthew for believers. In one account, “impatient idolaters” beat Bartholomew and then crucified him, while in another, he was skinned alive and then beheaded.

James son of Alpheus (James the Lesser) was thrown down from the temple by the scribes and Pharisees; he was then stoned, and his brains dashed out with a fuller’s club in AD 62

Thaddaeus, (Jude) was crucified at Edessa (the name of cities in both Turkey and Greece) in 72 AD.
Simon the Zealot- there is more than one tradition for  him, for example  Christian Ethiopians claim that he was crucified in Samaria, while Justus Lipsius writes that he was sawn in half at Suanir, Persia. Yet another tradition says he possibly visited Britain,  and was crucified in Caistor, modern-day Lincolnshire.

I believe that the martyrdom of the Apostles is  a huge proclamation that Jesus really was raised from the dead. People do not die for their own lies, half-truths, or fabrications. If the Apostles truly died proclaiming to have seen Christ dead and then resurrected why would they have lied – what on earth was there to gain?  I know the song for today has featured before in this blog but I thought the lyrics particularly appropriate:

You say you can’t trust every story that’s been written,

But this Gospel is different and I’ll tell you why.

Its writers faced death, persecution and torture,

So why would they tell it – why would they lie?