Most of Jesus’ apostles served in Jerusalem, at least initially. We don’t have a lot of information within Scripture about their activities. Let’s start out looking what God was doing with the Apostle Paul who had been called by God to minister to Gentiles.

After serving the church in Antioch for a year, Paul and Barnabas went on their first missionary journey in 47 AD. John Mark, a nephew of Barnabas, went with them, but turned back after they sailed from Cyprus and reached Pamphylia, a region on the southern coast of what we know as Turkey today (Ac 13:13). Paul and Barnabas first taught in the synagogues wherever they went within the region of Pamphylia and Galatia and then would preach to the Gentiles and anyone who wanted to listen. Many of the Jewish leaders became jealous of Paul and Barnabas’ success and would follow them to whatever city they went to try and get the people to reject their teaching (Ac 13:19). They were able to get the people of Lystra to turn against Paul and the citizens of that city stoned him. Yet this is also where Timothy heard Paul and became a Christian (Ac 16:1).

Once back at Antioch in 49 AD, some visitors from Jerusalem taught that the Gentiles must first convert to Judaism before they could become Christians (Ac 15:1). This elicited so much pushback from Paul and Barnabas that they were sent to Jerusalem to debate this issue with the Church Council in Jerusalem. Titus, a Greek, also accompanied them to Jerusalem. From what Paul told the Council about his and Barnabas’ experience in Asia Minor and Peter’s encounter with Cornelius, the Council realized that God was working mightily with the Gentiles and had them receive the Holy Spirit without having to become a Jewish proselyte first. The Council concluded that Gentiles did not need to be circumcised but should abstain from meat offered to idols or from strangled animals, from blood, and from sexual immorality (Ac 15:20, 23-29). They also recognized that Paul had been called by God to the Gentiles and Peter called to his Jewish brethren (Ga 2:7-9).

Barnabas had his nephew, John Mark, return to Antioch with them. When Paul got back to Antioch, he read them the letter and the people rejoiced in the support they were given. Apparently, several people from Jerusalem came and helped teach at this time. One was Peter himself, but Paul had to reprimand Peter publicly because he was showing favoritism toward the Jewish Christians over the Gentile Christians (Ga 2:14). It seems Peter, as well as many other Jews, had a hard time with being on equal spiritual footing with Gentiles. While he believed it, this did not make it any easier for him to implement. He became cliquish without even realizing he was doing so until it was pointed out to him.

This can be true for us as well. Often, we are cliquish by clinging to the familiar with Christian friends rather than reaching out to those who don’t know Christ. We need to understand that we are Christ’s ambassadors in this world (2Co 5:20). We are in the world but not of it (Jn 17:16). We are to be the promoters of Christ’s kingdom to those not yet of it and don’t even realize it is something to which they have access or even need (Ro 8:7).

This was likely near the time that the twelve apostles began their evangelistic ministry outside Jerusalem. Most of the disciples continued to minister to Jews with many going east into Parthia as there was a large Jewish contingent still there from the time of their original exile into Assyria and Babylon. Here is a brief description of what some Biblical texts and tradition states about the twelve disciples (most of this information is from McBirnie’s book Search for the Twelve Apostles):

Peter: became a pillar of the church in Jerusalem along with James, the half-brother of Jesus, and ministered to Jews in Babylon and in the northern part of what we today call Turkey.

Andrew: went to Scythia (land mainly between and just north of the Black and Caspian Seas) and ministered to the Jews there and possibly died a martyr’s death—possibly stoned and crucified. There are some who say that he later went to Asia Minor (today the country of Turkey) and spent time in Ephesus with John and later went to Greece where he won a Grecian governor’s wife to Christ which so angered the man that he had Andrew crucified in Patras.

James: was martyred early by King Agrippa I around 44 A.D. There are some who say that before this he traveled with Peter to India to preach to Jews who had been scattered there.

John: he moved to Ephesus prior to the destruction of Jerusalem and likely took Mary, the mother of Jesus with him. We know he opposed emperor worship which got him exiled to the isle of Patmos by emperor Domitian. After Domitian’s death, he was allowed to return to Ephesus where he died of natural causes.

Philip: went to Scythia and ministered to the Jews there for twenty years. It would seem fitting that he and Andrew would be there together as they had known each other since their time being disciples of John the Baptist. Later in his life, he apparently went to Phrygia (part of today’s Turkey) and died in Hierapolis, possibly a martyr’s death (stoning and crucifixion) due to him standing up against the city’s idolatry.

Bartholomew (Nathanael): He apparently went to parts of India for a time to preach Jesus to Jews found there. It seems he later went to Hierapolis to be with Philip. He apparently was arrested with Philip but for some reason was released. He arrived in Armenia (land between and just south of the Black and Caspian Seas) sometime later where he met a martyr’s death of crucifixion.

Thomas: he became a central figure of the apostolic movement eastward from Jerusalem and spent much time in Babylon and later ministered in parts of India establishing many churches along the way. He was martyred somewhere in India by being thrust through by a lance.

Matthew: There is much controversy as to what happened to Matthew. It is thought he went to Ethiopia. Yet, there were two: one in Africa and one in Parthia, just south of the Caspian Sea. Since there is a tradition that a copy of his gospel reached India, it would seem he likely ministered in Parthia rather than in Africa. There is also some who say he had many confrontations with the Sanhedrin in Alexandria, Egypt. Some say he died a natural death, and this may have occurred in Egypt.

James, the son of Alphaeus (James the Less, or James the Younger): he may have served as a leader in the Syrian church at Antioch and it is believed he was stoned by Jews for preaching Christ and was buried in Jerusalem.

Thaddaeus (Jude): It is thought he originally ministered in Syria living in Damascus and then in Armenia, likely with Barthalomew and Thomas for a time, and is thought to have been martyred when he returned to Syria by being killed by magicians who were enraged by the destruction of their idols using a halberd (type of hand-held axe) or club.

Simon the Zealot: It is thought he traveled to Egypt, through North Africa to Carthage, to Spain and then to Britain. He likely did not stay long in Britain but returned to Persia where he ministered with Thaddaeus in Syria and Mesopotamia. It is believed he was martyred by being sawn asunder.

Matthias: He was the one who replaced Judas Iscariot as one of the Twelve. It is believed he helped to evangelize Armenia and later ministered in Damascus in Syria and died in Phaleaon, a city in Judea, by stoning.

As we can see, Christ’s original eleven, and Matthias replacing Judas, mainly served their fellow Jews to try and win them over to Christ, although they did witness to many Gentiles in that process. They each remained faithful and never failed to be a true witness about their Lord and Savior even at the cost of their very lives.

Do we have the same drive and commitment. May we be that if the time ever comes to make such a drastic decision if and when adversity comes out way. Next time, we’ll look at adversity that followed Paul and how he worked through it. I hope you join me.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens