St. Stephen

St. Stephen suffered the next in order. His death was occasioned by the faithful manner in which he

preached the Gospel to the betrayers and murderers of Christ. To such a degree of madness were

they excited, that they cast him out of the city and stoned him to death. The time when he suffered

is generally supposed to have been at the passover which succeeded to that of our Lord's

crucifixion, and to the era of his ascension, in the following spring.

Upon this a great persecution was raised against all who professed their belief in Christ as the Messiah, or as

a prophet. We are immediately told by St. Luke, that "there was a great persecution against the church which

was at Jerusalem;" and that "they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria,

except the apostles."

About two thousand Christians, with Nicanor, one of the seven deacons, suffered martyrdom during the

"persecution that arose about Stephen."

James the Great

The next martyr we meet with, according to St. Luke, in the History of the Apsotles' Acts, was

James the son of Zebedee, the elder brother of John, and a relative of our Lord; for his mother

Salome was cousin-german to the Virgin Mary. It was not until ten years after the death of Stephen

that the second martyrdom took place; for no sooner had Herod Agrippa been appointed governor

of Judea, than, with a view to ingratiate himself with them, he raised a sharp persecution against the

Christians, and determined to make an effectual blow, by striking at their leaders. The account

given us by an eminent primitive writer, Clemens Alexandrinus, ought not to be overlooked; that, as

James was led to the place of martyrdom, his accuser was brought to repent of his conduct by the

apostle's extraordinary courage and undauntedness, and fell down at his feet to request his pardon,

professing himself a Christian, and resolving that James should not receive the crown of martyrdom

alone. Hence they were both beheaded at the same time. Thus did the first apostolic martyr

cheerfully and resolutely receive that cup, which he had told our Savior he was ready to drink.

Timon and Parmenas suffered martyrdom about the same time; the one at Philippi, and the other in

Macedonia. These events took place A.D. 44.

III. Philip

Was born at Bethsaida, in Galilee and was first called by the name of "disciple." He labored

diligently in Upper Asia, and suffered martyrdom at Heliopolis, in Phrygia. He was scourged,

thrown into prison, and afterwards crucified, A.D. 54.

Matthew

Whose occupation was that of a toll-gatherer, was born at Nazareth. He wrote his gospel in Hebrew,

which was afterwards translated into Greek by James the Less. The scene of his labors was Parthia,

and Ethiopia, in which latter country he suffered martyrdom, being slain with a halberd in the city

of Nadabah, A.D. 60.

James the Less

Is supposed by some to have been the brother of our Lord, by a former wife of Joseph. This is very doubtful,

and accords too much with the Catholic superstition, that Mary never had any other children except our

Savior. He was elected to the oversight of the churches of Jerusalem; and was the author of the Epistle

ascribed to James in the sacred canon. At the age of ninety-four he was beat and stoned by the Jews; and

finally had his brains dashed out with a fuller's club.

Matthias

Of whom less is known than of most of the other disciples, was elected to fill the vacant place of Judas. He

was stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded.

VII. Andrew

Was the brother of Peter. He preached the gospel to many Asiatic nations; but on his arrival at Edessa he was

taken and crucified on a cross, the two ends of which were fixed transversely in the ground. Hence the

derivation of the term, St. Andrew's Cross.

VIII. St. Mark

Was born of Jewish parents of the tribe of Levi. He is supposed to have been converted to Christianity by

Peter, whom he served as an amanuensis, and under whose inspection he wrote his Gospel in the Greek

language. Mark was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria, at the great solemnity of Serapis their

idol, ending his life under their merciless hands.

Peter

Among many other saints, the blessed apostle Peter was condemned to death, and crucified, as some do

write, at Rome; albeit some others, and not without cause, do doubt thereof. Hegesippus saith that Nero

sought matter against Peter to put him to death; which, when the people perceived, they entreated Peter with

much ado that he would fly the city. Peter, through their importunity at length persuaded, prepared himself to

avoid. But, coming to the gate, he saw the Lord Christ come to meet him, to whom he, worshipping, said,

"Lord, whither dost Thou go?" To whom He answered and said, "I am come again to be crucified." By this,

Peter, perceiving his suffering to be understood, returned into the city. Jerome saith that he was crucified, his

head being down and his feet upward, himself so requiring, because he was (he said) unworthy to be

crucified after the same form and manner as the Lord was.: http://christianityupdate.com/2015/10/the-death-of-the-apostles/

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