Disciples, Acts and Councils: Disciples (2/4)

Disciples, Acts and Councils — Part 1: Christianity Simplified. (Acts and Councils will be published in separate threads). The four-part series of the Disciples will cover the following:

1. Introduction, Peter, Thaddaeus.
2. Philip, Matthew, James the Greater, Simon the Zealot.
3. John, James the Lesser.
4. Bartholomew, Andrew, Thomas, Judas the Iscariot.

This post will focus on the twelve disciples of Christ —Philip, Matthew, James the Greater and Simon the Zealot. I have researched into multiple books, early Church fathers’ traditions and books and scholarly references for this thread, as the fate of some disciples were not clear. Some may conflict with others.

I. Philip

Background 🗒️: • Philip was born in Bethsaida (John 1:44). (Often confused with Philip the evangelist in Acts) • The name in Greek means “he who loves horses”. He probably spoke Greek (John 12:20–21) when some Greeks wanted to see Jesus Christ. • He was listed as one of Christ’s twelve disciples (Matthew 10:2–4, Luke 6:14–16, Mark 3:16–19). • Early Church traditions (Eusebius) mention that Philip was married and had two daughters.

Personality 🙂: • Practical (John 6:7) and helpful (John 12:20–21) • Confused and literal (John 14:8, when Philip asked Jesus to show them God the Father)

Mission 🏁: • Philip was the third disciple to be called by Jesus (John 1:43). • Symbols for Philip include a tall cross and loaves of bread (John 6:5–7). • Preached in Asia Minor (Phrygia and Hierapolis) and tradition suggests he travelled to Scythia (present-day Ukraine).

Death ☠️: Was crucified at a tall cross in Hierapolis, Asia Minor (currently near Pamukkale, Türkiye).

Philip’s Encounters with Jesus

➡️ Brought Bartholomew (Nathanael) to Jesus. (John 1:45–46)

➡️ Philip asked Jesus to show him the Father. (John 14:8–9)

➡️ Was present for the Last Supper. (Matthew 26:20)

➡️ Jesus tested Philip regarding the feeding of the multitude. (John 6:5–7)

➡️ Philip informs Jesus that several Greeks wanted to see Him. (John 12:20–22)

The Missionary Journey of Philip

The apostolic movement of Philip was mainly in Asia Minor (Phrygia). Philip the apostle should not be confused with Philip the evangelist — this will be explained in the Acts section.

Later traditions place Philip in Scythia (present-day Ukraine), where he preached the gospel to the pagans there. One unverified account describes pagans who tried to force him to sacrifice to an idol, Mars. A great dragon appeared, and Philip commanded it to go into the desert — however, this is considered hagiographical (legendary).

1⃣ Preached in Phrygia (a region of Asia Minor, close to Bithynia, Galatia, and Cappadocia) — currently in Türkiye.

2⃣ Traditions maintain he went to Scythia — Greek colonies on the other side of the Black Sea (present-day Ukraine) — although Andrew specifically covered this area.

3⃣ Crucified on a tall cross at Hierapolis (near the city of Denizli, Türkiye) under the Roman emperor Domitian.

II. Matthew

(Also known as — Levi, Levi the son of Alphaeus)

Background 🗒️: • Matthew hailed from Capernaum (Mark 2:13–17). Son of Alphaeus, possibly brother of James (Mark 3:18). • He was a tax collector (Matthew 9:9). • In Hebrew, the name Matthew means “gift of God.”

Personality 🙂: • Penitent and hospitable (Matthew 9:9–10).

Mission 🏁: • Matthew left his tax collector booth to follow Jesus and invited Him to dine with him and his corrupt friends (Matthew 9:10). • Wrote the Gospel of Matthew.

Death ☠️: Was probably beheaded or slain in Parthia.

The Missionary Journey of Matthew

The apostolic movement of Matthew mainly covered Judea.

Matthew’s extra-Judean apostolic movements are not well known — except for hagiographical accounts placing him at Nadaber, possibly in Parthia, where he is said to have consecrated Ephigenia (a virgin, daughter of Egippus) to the Lord. He was reportedly martyred by King Hiraticus for refusing his demand to marry Ephigenia. (Some sources mention Ethiopia — “land of dark-skinned people” — but it is unlikely to be the African one, as Coptic and Ethiopic Synaxaria do not mention Ephigenia specifically.)

1⃣ Preaching in Judea.

2⃣ Possible journey to Mesopotamia, Media, and Parthia; martyrdom in Parthia.

Another account places him in Myrna (possibly Lycaonia, Asia Minor, or Myrmekion, Chersonnesus, Crimea), where Matthew preached to King Fulvanus but was martyred after his teachings were rejected.

Pseudo-Hippolytus records that “he slept in Hierees, a Parthian town.” Evidence for Christian communities in Parthia during the first century CE remains limited; further research and archaeological findings are needed to confirm this tradition.

III. James the Greater

(Also known as — James, son of Zebedee, Boanerges (Son of Thunder), James the Elder)

Background 🗒️: • Son of Zebedee and Salome (Matthew 4:21; Matthew 27:56; Mark 16:1) and brother of John (Matthew 4:21). • Fisherman (along with his father and brother) (Matthew 4:21) and partner with Peter (Luke 5:10).

Personality 🙂: • Fiery and vengeful — when a Samaritan village refused to receive Jesus, James asked whether to call down fire to consume it (Luke 9:54). • Selfish and conceited (Mark 10:35–37).

Mission 🏁: • Courageous to the end (Acts 12:2) while remaining committed to Christ. • Represented with the bishop’s hat and the sword, symbolizing his martyrdom.

Death ☠️: Was put to death by the sword of Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:2) — the only apostle whose martyrdom is directly recorded in Scripture.

James the Greater’s Encounters with Jesus

➡️ Was called to be a fisher of people; left everything to follow Jesus — one of the first disciples. (Matthew 4:19, Luke 5:11)

➡️ Jesus named him and his brother “Sons of Thunder.” (Mark 3:17)

➡️ Reprimanded by Christ along with John for requesting to rain fire on a Samaritan village. (Luke 9:54–55)

➡️ Witnessed Jesus’ Transfiguration (where His divinity was revealed (Mark 9:2–8)

➡️ Jesus responded to James and John’s request to sit at His right and left in the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:35–43)

➡️ Witnessed the miraculous catch of fish on the Sea of Galilee after Jesus’ resurrection. (John 21:2–7)

➡️ Was with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Matthew 26:36–46)

➡️ One of the three disciples in the core group — along with Peter and John. (Mark 5:37; 9:2; 13:3; 14:33)

IV. Simon the Zealot

(Also known as — Simon the Cananaean)

Background 🗒️: • The name Simon is derived from the Hebrew word Shimon, meaning “hearing.” • The word Cananaean comes from an Aramaic term meaning “zealous one.” • According to the Golden Legend, he was the son of Mary Cleophas (the woman who was with Christ during His Crucifixion). • Some apocryphal sources identify Simon as the bridegroom at Cana (unverified in the canonical Gospels).

Personality 🙂: • Patriotic and loyal (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18). • Passionate and sacrificial (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13).

Mission 🏁: • Selected as one of Christ’s twelve disciples (Matthew 10:2–4; Acts 1:13). • Sent out on a mission to preach “The kingdom of heaven is at hand,” heal the sick, cleanse lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons (Matthew 10:5–8). • Present for the Great Commission and Ascension of Jesus (Matthew 28:16). • Represented with a saw, referencing his martyrdom.

Death ☠️: Was sawed to death by priests in Persia. (Conflicting accounts mention he was crucified at Jerusalem while serving as bishop there.)

The Missionary Journey of Simon the Zealot

The apostolic movement of Simon the Zealot mainly covered Egypt, before continuing on to Persia.

St. Isidore of Seville and other Western hagiographical traditions credit Simon the Zealot with missionary work in Egypt, later partnering with Thaddaeus for their Persian missions. Legend states that he was martyred at Suanir/Suamar in Persia (exact location unknown) when the local priests sawed him in half.

According to other accounts, he was made bishop of Jerusalem and was crucified at an old age. Additional legends place his death in Abkhazia and the United Kingdom, though these are considered hagiographical.

1⃣ Journey to Egypt (preaching in Upper Egypt and Aswan).

2⃣ Journey to Persia (partnered with Thaddaeus) and martyrdom at Suanir (location unknown, possibly central Iran).

🟦 Bishop of Jerusalem (after James the Lesser) and crucifixion on a cross.