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The Sad and Tragic Death of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ _ Bible Stories · truthunedited

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Speaker 1: It was meant to be a story of loyalty and
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Speaker 1: love twelve men chosen by God incarnate to change the world.
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Speaker 1: But plans don't always unfold as we imagine, and sometimes
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Speaker 1: the greatest betrayals come from those we trust the most.
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Speaker 1: This is the tragic end of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus,
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Speaker 1: a narrative of faith, courage, and sacrifice that begins with
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Speaker 1: the most famous betrayal in history, as recorded in Matthew
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Speaker 1: twenty six fourteen sixteen. It all began when Judas Iscariot,
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Speaker 1: one of the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus, approached the
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Speaker 1: chief priests with a dark proposal, What will you give
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Speaker 1: me if I deliver him over to you? The religious leaders,
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Speaker 1: seizing the opportunity they had long awaited, weighed out thirty
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Speaker 1: pieces of silver, the price of a common slave at
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Speaker 1: the time, and sealed the deal that would change history forever.
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Speaker 1: In John thirteen, twenty one thirty, during the Last Supper,
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Speaker 1: the atmosphere was heavy. Jesus revealed that he would be betrayed, saying, truly,
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Speaker 1: I say to you, one of you will betray me.
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Speaker 1: The disciples, confused and anxious, looked around at one another,
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Speaker 1: trying to fathom who could commit such an act. It
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Speaker 1: was then that Jesus discreetly handed a piece of bread
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Speaker 1: to Judas, saying, what you are going to do, do quickly.
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Speaker 1: At that moment, As recorded in John thirteen twenty seven,
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Speaker 1: Satan entered Judas. He immediately left into the darkness of
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Speaker 1: the night, carrying the weight of the decision he had made.
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Speaker 1: Matthew twenty six forty seven fifty narrates how Judas led
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Speaker 1: a crowd armed with swords and clubs to the garden
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Speaker 1: of Gethsemone, where Jesus often prayed. The kiss, which should
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Speaker 1: have been a symbol of friendship and respect, became the
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Speaker 1: signal of betrayal. The one eye kiss is the man
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Speaker 1: seize him. Jesus, in his infinite wisdom, merely asked, friend,
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Speaker 1: why have you come. At that moment, the crowd urge
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Speaker 1: toward Jesus, and Judas's plan came to fruition, but the
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Speaker 1: burden of guilt soon became unbearable. In Matthew twenty seven
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Speaker 1: three to five, we see how remorse consumed Judas when
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Speaker 1: he realized the consequences of his actions. Witnessing Jesus condemned
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Speaker 1: to death, he was overwhelmed with regret. In desperation, he
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Speaker 1: ran to the chief, priests and elders, trying to return
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Speaker 1: the thirty pieces of silver. I have sinned by betraying
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Speaker 1: innocent blood, he declared, his voice choked with remorse. But they,
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Speaker 1: indifferent to his suffering, coldly replied, what is that to us?
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Speaker 1: See to it yourself. In Acts one eighteen nineteen, Luke
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Speaker 1: reveals the tragic conclusion of this story. Judas, utterly devastated
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Speaker 1: by the guilt that consumed him, threw the silver coins
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Speaker 1: into the temple and went away in a field that
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Speaker 1: would later be known as Asceldama, the field of blood.
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Speaker 1: He took his own life by hanging himself. The passage
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Speaker 1: tells us that his body fell, burst open, and all
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Speaker 1: his intestines spilled out. The place became known to all
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Speaker 1: the inhabitants of Jerusalem, a silent testament to the tragedy
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Speaker 1: of the traitor, as written in Psalms sixty nine twenty
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Speaker 1: five and one O nine eight prophecies that Peter would
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Speaker 1: later cite in Acts one twenty it was foretold, let
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Speaker 1: his dwelling place be desolate, and let there be no
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Speaker 1: one to live in it and let another take his office.
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Speaker 1: Thus ended the life of the first apostle to die,
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Speaker 1: while Jesus's earthly ministry continued in a conclusion as tragic
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Speaker 1: as the betrayal he committed. The second apostle to meet
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Speaker 1: his end was James the Greater. As recorded in Acts
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Speaker 1: twelve one two. The persecution of the early Church intensified
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Speaker 1: when King Herod laid hands on some from the church
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Speaker 1: to harm them, and he killed James, the brother of John,
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Speaker 1: with the sword. This mark but the beginning of a
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Speaker 1: new era of persecution for the followers of Jesus, establishing
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Speaker 1: James as the first to be martyred for his faith. James,
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Speaker 1: the son of Zebadee and brother of John, was known
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Speaker 1: for his fiery temperament. In Mark three seventeen, Jesus nicknamed him,
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Speaker 1: along with his brother Boa Neerges, which means sons of thunder.
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Speaker 1: This passionate nature became evident in moments such as when
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Speaker 1: in Luke nine fifty four he and John asked Jesus
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Speaker 1: if they should call down fire from heaven upon a
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Speaker 1: Samaritan village that had rejected them. Jesus's response was one
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Speaker 1: of rebuke, demonstrating that zeal without wisdom did not please
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Speaker 1: the Master. In Matthew twenty twenty twenty three, we see
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Speaker 1: a pivotal moment in James's life. His mother approached Jesus
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Speaker 1: with an ambitious request that her sons sit one at
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Speaker 1: Jesus's right hand and the other at his left in
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Speaker 1: his kingdom. Jesus replied with a prophetic question, are you
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Speaker 1: able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?
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Speaker 1: James confidently answered, we are able. Jesus then prophesied, you
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Speaker 1: will indeed drink from my cup, foreshadowing the martyrdom that
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Speaker 1: awaited James. This passage reveals both james initial ambition and
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Speaker 1: his willingness to face suffering for Christ. The Book of
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Speaker 1: Acts shows that James faithfully served the church in Jerusalem
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Speaker 1: in the years following Jesus's ascension. In Acts one thirteen
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Speaker 1: to fourteen, he is mentioned among those who were continually
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Speaker 1: devoting themselves to prayer and supplication in the Upper Room.
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Speaker 1: His presence was significant on the day of Pentecost, when
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Speaker 1: the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, as reported in
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Speaker 1: Acts too. During these years, James became a prominent figure
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Speaker 1: in the Early Church, making him a valuable target for
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Speaker 1: Herod's persecution. In Acts twelve and one to two, Luke
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Speaker 1: tells us that around forty four a D king, Herod
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Speaker 1: Agrippa the I, the grandson of Herod the Great, initiated
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Speaker 1: a violent persecution against the Church. Seeking to please the
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Speaker 1: Jewish leaders and strengthen his political position, he chose James
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Speaker 1: as his first target among the apostles. The execution was
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Speaker 1: swift and brutal beheading by the sword, a death considered
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Speaker 1: more honorable by Roman standards reserved for higher state as citizens.
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Speaker 1: The Biblical text is brief in describing his death, but
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Speaker 1: this does not diminish the impact it had on the
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Speaker 1: Early Church. Tradition from the Early Church preserved by Clement
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Speaker 1: of Alexandria tells us that James's courage in the face
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Speaker 1: of death was so impressive that even his accuser converted.
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Speaker 1: Witnessing the apostle's unwavering faith, the man confessed himself a
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Speaker 1: Christian and was executed alongside him, just as Jesus had predicted.
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Speaker 1: James truely lif He drank from the cup of martyrdom,
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Speaker 1: following in his master's footsteps to the very end. James's
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Speaker 1: death marks a turning point in the history of the
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Speaker 1: early Church. As reported in Acts twelve three, his execution
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Speaker 1: pleased the Jews, prompting Herod to also imprison Peter, who
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Speaker 1: narrowly escaped death through divine intervention. The martyrdom of the
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Speaker 1: first apostle paved the way for a wave of persecutions
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Speaker 1: that would spread throughout the Roman Empire, but it also
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Speaker 1: served as a testament to the unshakable strength of Christian
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Speaker 1: faith in the face of death. In Matthew twenty four nine,
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Speaker 1: Jesus had warned his followers, then they will deliver you
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Speaker 1: up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be
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Speaker 1: hated by all nations for my name's sake. James was
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Speaker 1: the first of the apostles to fulfill this prophecy with
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Speaker 1: his blood, establishing a standard of faithfulness unto death that
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Speaker 1: would be followed by many others. The third apostle to
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Speaker 1: face martyrdom was Peter, the natural leader of the group
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Speaker 1: of twelve. In John twenty one eighteen nineteen, Jesus had
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Speaker 1: prophesied about his death. When you were younger, you girded
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Speaker 1: yourself and walked where you wished. But when you are old,
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Speaker 1: you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird
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Speaker 1: you and carry you where you do not wish. He
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Speaker 1: said this, signifying by what death he would glorify God.
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Speaker 1: Peter's leadership after jesus ascension is evident throughout the book
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Speaker 1: of Acts. In Acts two fourteen to forty one, we
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Speaker 1: see his powerful sermon on the day of Pentecost, when
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Speaker 1: three thousand people were converted. In Acts three one to ten,
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Speaker 1: he heals a lame man at the temple, demonstrating that
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Speaker 1: the power that operated in Jesus was now working through
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Speaker 1: the apostles. As recorded in Acts five point fifteen, even
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Speaker 1: his shadow was believed to be capable of healing the
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Speaker 1: sick in Acts twelve three to nineteen. Pete had already
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Speaker 1: experienced persecution when he was imprisoned by Herod shortly after
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Speaker 1: James's death. At that time, an angel miraculously freed him
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Speaker 1: from prison. However, the prophecy of Jesus regarding his end
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Speaker 1: was yet to be fulfilled. During the reign of Emperor
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Speaker 1: Nero around sixty four to sixty seven, a d intense
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Speaker 1: persecution fell upon Christians in Rome, as noted in First
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Speaker 1: Peter five one to three, Peter was in Rome, serving
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Speaker 1: as a presbyter and witness of the sufferings of Christ.
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Speaker 1: His letters One and Second Peter reveal a mature leader
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Speaker 1: who had grown significantly since the days he denied Jesus
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Speaker 1: three times. In Second Peter one fourteen, he himself writes,
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Speaker 1: knowing that shortly I must put off this my tent,
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Speaker 1: just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. The tradition
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Speaker 1: of the early Church, recorded by Eusebius and other ancient historians,
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Speaker 1: tells us that Peter was imprisoned during near Roh's persecution.
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Speaker 1: When Christians encouraged him to flee from Rome. He encountered
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Speaker 1: Jesus on the Appian way. Quo vadis dominee, where are
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Speaker 1: you going, Lord Peter asked. Jesus replied that he was
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Speaker 1: going to Rome to be crucified again. Peter understood the
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Speaker 1: message and returned to face his martyrdom. Upon being condemned
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Speaker 1: to crucifixion, Peter made one last request. Not considering himself
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Speaker 1: worthy to die in the same manner as his master,
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Speaker 1: he asked to be crucified upside down. This final act
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Speaker 1: of humility and devotion demonstrates how the impetuous fisherman from
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Speaker 1: Galilee had transformed into a true servant of Christ. Peter's
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Speaker 1: death in Rome, the center of the Empire, had a
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Speaker 1: profound impact on the early Church, as reported by Clement
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Speaker 1: of Rome in his letter to the Corinthians written around
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Speaker 1: ninety six a d. Peter suffered not one or two,
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Speaker 1: but numerous labors, and having thus borne witness, he departed
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Speaker 1: to the place of glory that was due to him.
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Speaker 1: His execution further strengthened the faith of the Roman Christians,
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Speaker 1: who viewed his martyrdom as an example of faithfulness until
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Speaker 1: the end. Peter's death marked the end of an apostolic
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Speaker 1: era in Rome, but also the beginning of a lasting legacy.
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Speaker 1: In tewod Peter one fifteen, he had written, Moreover, I
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Speaker 1: will be careful to ensure that you always have a
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Speaker 1: reminder of these things after my decease. His martyrdom, along
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Speaker 1: with his letters and his example of leadership, continued to
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Speaker 1: inspire Christians for generations. The fourth apostle to face martyrdom
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Speaker 1: was Andrew, the brother of Peter. In John one forty
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Speaker 1: forty two, we are introduced to him as the first
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Speaker 1: disciple to follow Jesus while still being a follower of
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Speaker 1: John the Baptist. One of the the two who heard
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Speaker 1: John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
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Speaker 1: He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him,
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Speaker 1: we have found the Messiah, which has translated the Christ.
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Speaker 1: Andrew had a special gift for introducing people to Jesus.
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Speaker 1: In John six eight nine, he was the one who
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Speaker 1: found the boy with five loaves and two fish, which
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Speaker 1: Jesus multiplied to feed the multitude. One of his disciples, Andrew,
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Speaker 1: Simon Peter's brother, said to him, there is a lad
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Speaker 1: here who has five barley loaves and two small fish.
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Speaker 1: In John twelve, twenty twenty two, when some Greeks wanted
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Speaker 1: to see Jesus, they first approached Andrew. Now there were
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Speaker 1: certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at
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Speaker 1: the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from
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Speaker 1: Bethsada of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we wish
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Speaker 1: to see Jesus. Philip came and told Andrew, and in
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Speaker 1: turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. After the ascension of
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Speaker 1: Jesus and Pentecost, Andrew dedicated himself to evangelizing in distant regions.
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Speaker 1: In Acts one thirteen, he is mentioned among the apostles
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Speaker 1: who continued with one accord in prayer and supplication. The
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Speaker 1: tradition of the Early Church tells us that he brought
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Speaker 1: the Gospel to regions of present day Greece and areas
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Speaker 1: around the Black Sea, establishing churches and strengthening believers. His
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Speaker 1: ministry led him to Patras in Akia, a region of
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Speaker 1: ancient Greece. There his preaching began to attract crowds and
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Speaker 1: many converted, including the wife of the Roman governor Egeus.
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Speaker 1: This provoked the ire of local authorities, who viewed Christianity
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Speaker 1: as a threat to the established order and the worship
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Speaker 1: of Roman gods. Governor Eegeus, furious at Andrew's influence over
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Speaker 1: the people, especially over his wife, ordered his imprisonment. During
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Speaker 1: his trial, Andrew stood firm in his faith, refusing to
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Speaker 1: offer sacrifices to the Roman gods. His response to the governor,
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Speaker 1: preserved by tradition, was clear, I offer every day to
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Speaker 1: the Almighty God, the only True God, not the flesh
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Speaker 1: of bulls or the blood of goats, but the immaculate
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Speaker 1: lamb of God. The sentence was crucifixion, but with an
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Speaker 1: added cruelty. Andrew would be tied, not nailed, to a
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Speaker 1: cross shaped like an ex so that his death would
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Speaker 1: be slower and more painful. This cross would later be
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Speaker 1: known as the Cross of Saint Andrew. For two days,
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Speaker 1: while hanging on the cross, Andrew continued to preach to
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Speaker 1: the crowds that gathered to see him, encouraging Christians to
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Speaker 1: remain steadfast in their faith. Tradition tells us that upon
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Speaker 1: seeing his cross, Andrew greeted it with the following words,
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Speaker 1: hail o cross, which has been consecrated by the body
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Speaker 1: of Christ and adorned with his members like precious pearls.
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Speaker 1: Before the Lord was lifted upon you. You inspired earthly terror,
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Speaker 1: but now invested with heavenly love. You are received as
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Speaker 1: a gift. The believers know how much joy you possess
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Speaker 1: and how many gifts you have prepared. Confident and joyful,
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Speaker 1: I come to you to receive me, exultant as a
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Speaker 1: disciple of him who was hung upon you. Even after
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Speaker 1: his death, the impact of Andrew's ministry continued. His relics
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Speaker 1: were later transferred to Constantinople and then to the cathedral
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Speaker 1: of Amalfi in Italy. He became the patron saint of Scotland, Russia,
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Speaker 1: and Greece, demonstrating how his legacy of faith transcended borders
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Speaker 1: and generations, faithfully fulfilling his mission of bringing people to
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Speaker 1: Christ until his last breath. The fifth apostle to find
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Speaker 1: his destiny was Philip. In John one forty three forty
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Speaker 1: four we see his direct calling by Jesus. The next
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Speaker 1: day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip
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Speaker 1: and said to him follow me. Now. Philip was from Bethsada,
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Speaker 1: the city of Andrew and Peter. This encounter would mark
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Speaker 1: the beginning of a faith journey that would lead him
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Speaker 1: to his martyrdom in Hierapolis. Philip stood out for his
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Speaker 1: practical and analytical nature. In John six five seven, when
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Speaker 1: Jesus tested his faith in front of the hungry crowd,
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Speaker 1: he responded with a precise calculation. Two hundred dinari I
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Speaker 1: would not buy enough bread for each of them to
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Speaker 1: get a little. This same quality was evident in John
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Speaker 1: fourteen eight when he asked Jesus, Lord, show us the Father,
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Speaker 1: and it is enough for us. His quest for concrete
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Speaker 1: evidence led Jesus to give him one of the deepest revelations.
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Speaker 1: Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. In Acts
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Speaker 1: eight five to Wis eight, we find another Philip, the evangelist,
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Speaker 1: often confused with the apostle preaching in Samaria. However, the
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Speaker 1: apostle Philip, according to records from the early Church, traveled
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Speaker 1: to the region of Phrygia in present day Turkey. In Hiraplis,
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Speaker 1: a city known for its hot springs and strong worship
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Speaker 1: of pagan deities, Philip established a vibrant Christian community. His
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Speaker 1: preaching in Hierapolis was marked by notable signs and conversions.
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Speaker 1: According to the tradition preserved by Polycrates of Ephesus, Philip
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Speaker 1: ministered alongside his two daughters, who were prophetesses, as mentioned
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Speaker 1: in Acts twenty one nine. Although this passage refers to
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Speaker 1: the daughters of Philip, the evangelist tradition also associates these
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Speaker 1: characteristics with the daughters of the Apostle. The success of
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Speaker 1: his ministry in Hierapolis eventually attracted hostility from the worshippers
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Speaker 1: of the Serpent, a symbol associated with the god Asclepius,
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Speaker 1: who was highly venerated in the area. The pagan priests,
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Speaker 1: seeing their power and influence wane with the conversions to Christianity,
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Speaker 1: incited a revolt against Philip. The persecution culminated in his
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Speaker 1: arrest by order of local magistrates. Like other apostles before him,
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Speaker 1: Philip was subjected to torture in an attempt to renounce
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Speaker 1: his faith in Christ. However, he remained steadfast in his testimony,
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Speaker 1: refusing to offer sacrifices to the pagan gods. The final
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Speaker 1: sentence was a cruel combination of execution methods. Philip was
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Speaker 1: first crucified, but to increase his suffering, he was also
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Speaker 1: stoned while on the cross. Even in the face of
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Speaker 1: a violent death, he followed the example of his master and,
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Speaker 1: according to tradition, prayed for his persecutors. Local tradition claims
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Speaker 1: that the sight of his crucifixion, known as the martyrium,
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Speaker 1: became an important sense of pilgrimage in the early centuries
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Speaker 1: of the church. Archaeological excavations in Hierapolis revealed an octagonal
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Speaker 1: church built in the fifth century a d supposedly over
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Speaker 1: the site of his martyrdom, demonstrating the profound impact his
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Speaker 1: testimony left in the region. Philip's martyrdom in Hierapolis served
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Speaker 1: as a powerful testament for the church in Asia Minor.
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Speaker 1: His death inspired many to remain steadfast in their faith
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Speaker 1: even in the face of persecution. The city of Hierapolis,
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Speaker 1: now Pamuclay in Turkey, still holds ruins that bear witness
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Speaker 1: to the strength of early Christian faith and the sacrifice
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Speaker 1: of those like Philip who gave their lives for the
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Speaker 1: truth of the Gospel. The sixth apostle to face martyrdom
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Speaker 1: was Bartholomew, also known as Nathaniel. In John one forty
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Speaker 1: five to forty seven we find his first encounter with
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Speaker 1: Jesus when Philip called him, saying, we have found him
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Speaker 1: of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets wrote
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Speaker 1: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Nathaniel's initial response
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Speaker 1: was skeptical, can anything good come out of Nazareth? However,
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Speaker 1: upon meeting Jesus personally, his life changed forever. Jesus immediately
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Speaker 1: recognized Bartholomew's character, declaring in John one forty seven, behold
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Speaker 1: an Israelite, indeed in whom is no deceit. This statement
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Speaker 1: revealed the integrity and sincerity that would characterize his later ministry.
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Speaker 1: Impressed by Jesus's supernatural knowledge of his life, Bartholomew made
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Speaker 1: one of the most beautiful confessions of faith recorded in
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Speaker 1: the Gospel, Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You
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Speaker 1: are the King of Israel. In Acts one thirteen, Bartholomew
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Speaker 1: is mentioned among the apostles who persevered in prayer after
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Speaker 1: Jesus's ascension. Tradition in the Early Church tells us that
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Speaker 1: he took the Gospel to distant regions, including India, where
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Speaker 1: he reportedly left a copy of the Gospel of Matthew
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Speaker 1: in Hebrew. Eusebius, the Church historian, records that Panteno, a
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Speaker 1: second century theologian, found this gospel during his travels in India.
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Speaker 1: His ministry eventually led him to the region of Armenia,
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Speaker 1: where his preaching and miracles began to shake the local
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Speaker 1: religious structures. In particular, his influence threatened the power of
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Speaker 1: the priests of the Temple of Astarte, a pagan deity
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Speaker 1: widely worshiped in the area. According to tradition, Bartholomew not
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Speaker 1: only preached the Gospel, but also exposed the deceptions of idols,
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Speaker 1: leading many to conversion. The success of his mission in
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Speaker 1: Armenia caught the attention of King Polymius, whose brother governed
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Speaker 1: a neighbouring region. When the king's daughter was delivered from
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Speaker 1: demonic possession through Bartholomew's ministry, the king himself converted to Christianity. However,
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Speaker 1: this conversion enraged the pagan priests and the king's brother, Astiages,
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Speaker 1: who viewed Christianity as a threat to his power. Astyages
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Speaker 1: ordered Bartholomew's arrest, and, in an attempt to force him
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Speaker 1: to renounce his faith, subjected him to one of the
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Speaker 1: most brutal forms of martyrdom recorded in the history of
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Speaker 1: the early Church. First, he was flayed alive, a particularly
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Speaker 1: brutal method of torture where the skin is removed while
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Speaker 1: the victim is still conscious. Even during this indescribable torment,
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Speaker 1: Bartholomew continued to preach the Gospel to his torturers. Tradition
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Speaker 1: preserved by various Church historians tells us that after being flayed,
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Speaker 1: Bartholomew was also beheaded. His body was collected by local
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Speaker 1: Christians and buried with reverence. Subsequently, his relics were moved
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Speaker 1: to different locations, including the island of Lipari in Italy,
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Speaker 1: and eventually to Rome, where a church now stands in
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Speaker 1: his memory. The martyrdom of Bartholomew powerfully exemplifies how someone
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Speaker 1: who initially doubted that anything good could come from Nazareth
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Speaker 1: transformed into an unwavering testimony of the truth of the Gospel.
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Speaker 1: His brutal death not only strengthened the faith of Christians
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Speaker 1: in Armenia, but also served as an inspiration for future
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Speaker 1: generations of believers, showing that true faith remains steadfast even
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Speaker 1: in the face of the worst suffering. The Church in Armenia,
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Speaker 1: which regards Bartholomew as one of its founders, became the
23:38
Speaker 1: first nation in the world to officially adopt Christianity in
23:43
Speaker 1: the early fourth century. Thus, the martyr's blood truly became
23:48
Speaker 1: the seed of the Gospel, fulfilling Jesus's prophecy in John
23:52
Speaker 1: twelve twenty four. Unless a grain of wheat falls into
23:56
Speaker 1: the ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it eyes,
24:00
Speaker 1: it produces much grain. The seventh apostle to face martyrdom
24:05
Speaker 1: was Thomas, initially known for his doubt, but who became
24:08
Speaker 1: one of the most courageous missionaries of the early Church.
24:13
Speaker 1: In John twenty twenty four twenty nine, we find the
24:16
Speaker 1: famous episode that earned him the nickname Doubting Thomas, when
24:21
Speaker 1: he declared, unless I see in his hands the mark
24:24
Speaker 1: of the nails, and place my finger in the mark
24:27
Speaker 1: of the nails, and place my hand in his side,
24:29
Speaker 1: I will never believe. However, the same Thomas who doubted
24:34
Speaker 1: was also the one who made one of the most
24:36
Speaker 1: profound confessions of faith recorded in the New Testament. Upon
24:41
Speaker 1: seeing the resurrected Jesus, he exclaimed in John twenty twenty eight,
24:47
Speaker 1: my Lord and my God. Jesus then responded with words
24:51
Speaker 1: that would resonate through the ages. Because you have seen me, Thomas,
24:55
Speaker 1: you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen
24:59
Speaker 1: and yet have believed. Even before this episode, Thomas had
25:03
Speaker 1: already shown his willingness to die for Jesus. In John
25:08
Speaker 1: eleven sixteen, when Jesus decided to return to Judea, where
25:12
Speaker 1: there were threats against his life, it was Thomas who
25:15
Speaker 1: said to the other disciples, let us also go, that
25:19
Speaker 1: we may die with him. This courage, initially mixed with pessimism,
25:24
Speaker 1: would transform into an unwavering faith that took him to
25:28
Speaker 1: the ends of the known world. In Acts one thirteen,
25:33
Speaker 1: Thomas is mentioned among the apostles waiting for the promise
25:36
Speaker 1: of the Holy Spirit after Pentecost. According to the tradition
25:41
Speaker 1: preserved by the early Church and ancient documents like the
25:45
Speaker 1: Acts of Thomas, he departed for distant regions, bringing the
25:49
Speaker 1: Gospel to India. His journey took him through Parthia and
25:53
Speaker 1: eventually to Krangnare on the Malabar coast in fifty two
25:56
Speaker 1: a d In India, Thomas established churches in Kerala and
26:01
Speaker 1: converted high status Brahmin families along with many others. His
26:06
Speaker 1: ministry was marked by miracles and confrontations with the local
26:10
Speaker 1: caste system. Indian tradition holds that he reached Madras now Chennai,
26:16
Speaker 1: where he converted the local king and many of his subjects. However,
26:20
Speaker 1: his success in converting people from all castes, including royals,
26:24
Speaker 1: incited the wrath of the Brahmin priests in Mylapore, near Madras,
26:29
Speaker 1: Thomas faced fierce opposition as he began converting followers of
26:33
Speaker 1: the goddess Khali. The priests saw him as a threat
26:37
Speaker 1: not only to their religion but to the entire social
26:40
Speaker 1: structure based on the caste system. The climax came when
26:44
Speaker 1: he converted the wife of a prominent local king. Enraged,
26:49
Speaker 1: the king ordered that Thomas be taken to a nearby
26:51
Speaker 1: hill now known as Saint Thomas Mount. There, according to
26:55
Speaker 1: records preserved by the Syrian Malabar Church tradition, he was
26:59
Speaker 1: attacked by several soldiers armed with spears. Before his death,
27:04
Speaker 1: it is said that Thomas managed to offer a final prayer,
27:08
Speaker 1: embracing a cross like the one he had carved into
27:11
Speaker 1: the rock. His last words were of forgiveness for his murderers,
27:15
Speaker 1: following the example of his master. His body was collected
27:19
Speaker 1: by his disciples and buried at the site now occupied
27:23
Speaker 1: by the Basilica of Saint Thomas in Millapaw Chennai. Thomas's
27:28
Speaker 1: legacy in India is extraordinary. The Christian communities he established,
27:33
Speaker 1: known as Saint Thomas Christians still thrive to day, maintaining
27:37
Speaker 1: traditions that date back to the first century. His tomb
27:41
Speaker 1: in Millapare has become an important pilgrimage center, visited by
27:45
Speaker 1: both Christians and non Christians alike. The eighth apostle to
27:50
Speaker 1: give his life for the faith was Matthew, the former
27:53
Speaker 1: tax collector who became the author of the First Gospel.
27:57
Speaker 1: In Matthew nine nine, we find calling. As Jesus went
28:02
Speaker 1: on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting
28:06
Speaker 1: at the tax collector's booth. Follow me, he told him,
28:10
Speaker 1: and Matthew got up and followed him. This moment marked
28:13
Speaker 1: the dramatic transformation of a man despised by society into
28:18
Speaker 1: one of the principal chroniclers of jesus life. Before his calling,
28:23
Speaker 1: Matthew was known as Levi, the son of Alphaeus, as
28:26
Speaker 1: recorded in Mark two fourteen. As a tax collector for
28:30
Speaker 1: the Roman Empire, he was considered a traitor by his
28:33
Speaker 1: own people. However, his immediate response to jesus call demonstrated
28:39
Speaker 1: an extraordinary willingness to abandon his comfortable and secure life
28:43
Speaker 1: for an uncertain journey of faith. In Matthew nine ten
28:47
Speaker 1: thirteen we see how he celebrated his new life in
28:51
Speaker 1: Christ by hosting a great banquet in his home, where
28:55
Speaker 1: Jesus dined with many tax collectors and sinners. When the
28:59
Speaker 1: Pharaohses criticized this behavior, Jesus responded, it is not the
29:04
Speaker 1: healthy who need a doctor, but the sick, for I
29:08
Speaker 1: have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. This
29:12
Speaker 1: personal experience of transformation and grace would be fundamental to
29:16
Speaker 1: how Matthew later portrayed Jesus in his Gospel. After Jesus's
29:21
Speaker 1: ascension and Pentecost, Matthew initially stayed in Jerusalem. In Acts
29:26
Speaker 1: one thirteen, he is mentioned among the apostles who all
29:30
Speaker 1: joined together constantly in prayer. During this time, he compiled
29:34
Speaker 1: the sayings and deeds of Jesus in Aramaic, creating one
29:38
Speaker 1: of the earliest written sources about the life of the Messiah,
29:41
Speaker 1: which would later be expanded into the Gospel we know today.
29:45
Speaker 1: Tradition from the early Church, preserved by Eusebius and other
29:49
Speaker 1: ancient historians tells us that Matthew preached for fifteen years
29:54
Speaker 1: in Jerusalem and among the Jewish communities of Judea. His Gospel,
30:00
Speaker 1: originally written in Aramaic and later translated into Greek, was
30:05
Speaker 1: primarily directed at the Jews, presenting Jesus as the fulfillment
30:09
Speaker 1: of the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament. After his
30:14
Speaker 1: initial ministry among the Jews, Matthew felt called to spread
30:18
Speaker 1: the Gospel to distant lands. His missionary journeys took him
30:22
Speaker 1: through Persia, Syria, and Macedonia, eventually reaching Ethiopia. There he
30:28
Speaker 1: encountered an ancient civilization with strong ties to Judaism, dating
30:33
Speaker 1: back to the visit of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon.
30:37
Speaker 1: In Ethiopia, Matthew faced not only the challenge of preaching
30:41
Speaker 1: in a different culture, but also strong opposition from local priests.
30:47
Speaker 1: His ministry was marked by remarkable miracles and conversions, including
30:52
Speaker 1: members of the Ethiopian royal family. However, it was precisely
30:57
Speaker 1: his success in converting influential people that ultimately sealed his fate.
31:03
Speaker 1: King Hertcus of Ethiopia initially welcomed Matthew with respect, impressed
31:08
Speaker 1: by his teachings and the miracles he performed. However, when
31:13
Speaker 1: Matthew condemned the king's marriage to Iphigenia, the young niece
31:17
Speaker 1: of the previous king, who had consecrated herself to Christ
31:20
Speaker 1: as a virgin, the situation changed dramatically. Furious at Matthew's
31:26
Speaker 1: interference in his marriage plans, Hertacus ordered his execution. According
31:31
Speaker 1: to the tradition preserved by Clement of Alexandria, Matthew was
31:35
Speaker 1: killed by the sword while in prayer becoming a martyr
31:39
Speaker 1: for the sanctity of Christian marriage and chastity. The ninth
31:42
Speaker 1: apostle to face martyrdom was James the Less also known
31:46
Speaker 1: as James the Just. In Matthew thirteen fifty five, he
31:50
Speaker 1: is mentioned among the brothers of Jesus. Isn't this the
31:54
Speaker 1: carpenter's son. Isn't his mother's name Mary? And aren't his
31:58
Speaker 1: brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas. This familial proximity to Jesus,
32:04
Speaker 1: whether as a cousin or a half brother, gave James
32:08
Speaker 1: a unique perspective on the ministry of the Messiah. In
32:11
Speaker 1: verse Corinthians fifteen seven, Paul notes that the risen Christ
32:17
Speaker 1: appeared to James, then to all the apostles. This personal
32:22
Speaker 1: encounter with the resurrected Jesus transformed James from an initial
32:26
Speaker 1: skeptic into a pillar of the early Church. In Galatians
32:31
Speaker 1: two nine, Paul recognizes him as one of the pillars
32:35
Speaker 1: of the church, alongside Peter and John. James, Cephus, and John.
32:40
Speaker 1: Those esteemed as pillars gave Me and Barnabas the right
32:44
Speaker 1: hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me.
32:48
Speaker 1: James became the leader of the Church in Jerusalem, as
32:51
Speaker 1: evidenced in Acts fifteen thirteen to twenty one, where he
32:54
Speaker 1: presides over the Jerusalem Council and delivers the final judgment
32:59
Speaker 1: on the matter of converted Gentiles. His wisdom and ability
33:03
Speaker 1: to mediate conflicts were crucial in maintaining unity between Jews
33:08
Speaker 1: and Gentiles in the early Church. The Epistle of James
33:12
Speaker 1: reveals his character and emphasis on practical faith. In James
33:16
Speaker 1: one twenty two, he writes, do not merely listen to
33:19
Speaker 1: the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
33:24
Speaker 1: His austere lifestyle and dedication to prayer earned him great
33:28
Speaker 1: respect not only among Christians, but also among many non
33:32
Speaker 1: Christian Jews. The Jewish historian Josephus provides valuable details about
33:37
Speaker 1: his martyrdom, which occurred in sixty two a d During
33:42
Speaker 1: a power vacuum between two Roman governors. The high priest
33:46
Speaker 1: Anonius saw an opportunity to attack the Christian leadership. James
33:51
Speaker 1: was taken to the pinnacle of the Temple, where religious
33:54
Speaker 1: leaders demanded that he publicly deny the divinity of Jesus.
34:00
Speaker 1: Instead of renouncing his faith, James boldly proclaimed, why do
34:05
Speaker 1: you ask me about Jesus, the Son of Man? He
34:08
Speaker 1: is seated in heaven at the right hand of the Almighty,
34:12
Speaker 1: and will come on the clouds of heaven. According to Hegesippus,
34:17
Speaker 1: a second century historian quoted by Eusebius, this declaration enraged
34:22
Speaker 1: the religious leaders, who pushed him from the top of
34:25
Speaker 1: the temple. The fall did not kill him immediately, and
34:28
Speaker 1: he managed to kneel and pray, Father, forgive them, for
34:33
Speaker 1: they do not know what they are doing. This prayer,
34:37
Speaker 1: echoing Jesus words on the Cross, demonstrates the profound transformation
34:42
Speaker 1: that had occurred in his life. As he prayed, his
34:45
Speaker 1: persecutors began to stone him. A priest from the Recabite
34:49
Speaker 1: order tried to intervene, shouting, stop, what are you doing?
34:53
Speaker 1: The just man is praying for you. But one of
34:56
Speaker 1: the attackers, a stonecutter, struck James his head with a
35:00
Speaker 1: tool he used for beating clothes, resulting in his death.
35:05
Speaker 1: James executions sparked outrage even among many non Christian Jews,
35:10
Speaker 1: who respected his piety and integrity. Josephus suggests that the
35:16
Speaker 1: destruction of Jerusalem in seventy a d was seen by
35:19
Speaker 1: many as divine judgment for the unjust death of James
35:24
Speaker 1: the Just. His martyrdom marked a turning point for the
35:28
Speaker 1: Church in Jerusalem. As the last Apostolic leader with influence
35:33
Speaker 1: among both Jews and Christians, his death symbolized the growing
35:36
Speaker 1: separation between the two communities. Following his prophetic warning, the
35:41
Speaker 1: Jerusalem Church would soon flee to Pella before the Roman siege,
35:46
Speaker 1: preserving the legacy of faith and wisdom that James had established.
35:50
Speaker 1: The tenth Apostle to meet his end was Simon, known
35:54
Speaker 1: as the Zealot. In Luke six point fifteen and Acts
35:58
Speaker 1: one thirteen, he is identified Dad as Simon called the Zealot,
36:03
Speaker 1: a title that hints at his past as a member
36:06
Speaker 1: of the Zealots, a radical group of Jews who actively
36:09
Speaker 1: resisted Roman occupation. This aspect of his background makes his
36:14
Speaker 1: transformation through the Gospel even more remarkable. The term Zealot
36:19
Speaker 1: in his name was not merely an indicator of personality,
36:23
Speaker 1: but a specific political and religious identification. The Zealots were
36:29
Speaker 1: known for their fervent zeal for the Jewish law and
36:33
Speaker 1: for national independence, often resorting to violence against the Romans.
36:38
Speaker 1: And their collaborators. In Matthew ten four, he is listed
36:42
Speaker 1: among the twelve chosen by Jesus, demonstrating how the Kingdom
36:47
Speaker 1: of God transcends political and ideological divisions. Simon's transformation is
36:52
Speaker 1: particularly significant when we consider that among the twelve was
36:56
Speaker 1: also Matthew, a tax collector who were for the Romans
37:01
Speaker 1: the very type of person the Zealots despised most. In
37:06
Speaker 1: Acts one to thirteen to fourteen, we see Simon alongside
37:11
Speaker 1: the other apostles devoting themselves with one accord to prayer,
37:15
Speaker 1: showing how the Gospel had overcome old animosities. After Pentecost,
37:20
Speaker 1: Simon channeled the same passion he once dedicated to his
37:24
Speaker 1: nationalist cause into the proclamation of the Gospel. Tradition from
37:29
Speaker 1: the early Church preserved by various ancient historians tells Us
37:33
Speaker 1: he traveled extensively, preaching first in Egypt and then in Persia,
37:38
Speaker 1: always accompanied by Judas Thadius. During their missionary journeys, Simon
37:43
Speaker 1: faced various challenges. In Persia, he and Judas Thadius encountered
37:48
Speaker 1: magicians and priests of Zoroastrianism, the dominant religion of the region.
37:54
Speaker 1: The two apostles confronted pagan practices and performed miracles that
37:59
Speaker 1: led many to faith in Christ, including some nobles of
38:03
Speaker 1: the Persian court. However, their success in converting influential individuals,
38:09
Speaker 1: especially among the Persian Maigi, provoked strong opposition the Zoroastrian priests.
38:15
Speaker 1: Seeing their power and influence, Wane incited a revolt against
38:19
Speaker 1: the apostles in Swania, a city in Persia. Simon and
38:25
Speaker 1: Judas were arrested and taken to the Temple of the Sun,
38:28
Speaker 1: where they were pressured to offer sacrifices to the Persian gods.
38:32
Speaker 1: Their refusal to participate in idolatry led to a death sentence.
38:37
Speaker 1: According to tradition preserved by Fortunatus of Poitier, Simon was
38:42
Speaker 1: killed in a particularly brutal manner, sorn in half. This
38:46
Speaker 1: method of execution, also mentioned in Hebrews eleven thirty seven
38:50
Speaker 1: when discussing the martyrs of Faith, was an especially cruel
38:54
Speaker 1: form of martyrdom. Even in the face of such a
38:57
Speaker 1: horrific death, it is said that Simon maintaini and his
39:00
Speaker 1: unwavering faith. Tradition holds that he continued to preach until
39:05
Speaker 1: his last breath, declaring that he was happy to offer
39:08
Speaker 1: his life for the same Lord who had died for him.
39:11
Speaker 1: His zeal, once directed towards a nationalist cause, found its
39:16
Speaker 1: highest purpose in the supreme sacrifice for Christ. The joint
39:21
Speaker 1: martyrdom of Simon and Judas Thadius in Persia had a
39:25
Speaker 1: profound impact on the early Church in that region. The
39:29
Speaker 1: seeds they planted flourished in the following centuries, with Christianity
39:33
Speaker 1: spreading throughout Persia, ultimately becoming a significant force within the
39:38
Speaker 1: Sasanian Empire. The eleventh apostle to face martyrdom was Judas Thadius,
39:43
Speaker 1: also known as Libius. In Luke six sixteen, he is
39:47
Speaker 1: identified as Judas, brother of James, to distinguish him from
39:52
Speaker 1: Judas Iscariot. This distinction is so important that in John
39:56
Speaker 1: fourteen twenty two, the evangelist makes it a point to
39:59
Speaker 1: specify Judas not a scariot. Said to him in his
40:03
Speaker 1: only recorded question in the Gospels, Judas Thaddeus reveals his
40:08
Speaker 1: deep concern for the manifestation of God's kingdom. Lord, how
40:14
Speaker 1: is it that you will manifest yourself to us and
40:17
Speaker 1: not to the world. This question led Jesus to one
40:21
Speaker 1: of the most beautiful explanations about love and obedience. If
40:26
Speaker 1: anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my
40:29
Speaker 1: father will love him, and we will come to him
40:32
Speaker 1: and make our home with him. As the author of
40:34
Speaker 1: the Epistle of Jude he left us an important written
40:38
Speaker 1: testimony of his concern for the purity of faith. In
40:43
Speaker 1: Jude one three, he urges believers to contend for the
40:47
Speaker 1: faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
40:51
Speaker 1: His letter reveals a man deeply committed to the truth
40:54
Speaker 1: of the Gospel and concerned about the infiltration of false
40:58
Speaker 1: teachers in the church. After Pentecost, as recorded in Acts
41:03
Speaker 1: one thirteen, Judas Thadius initially remained with the other apostles
41:08
Speaker 1: in Jerusalem. Early church tradition tells us that he began
41:12
Speaker 1: his missionary ministry in Judea, Samaria, Idumeya, and Syria before
41:18
Speaker 1: joining Simon the Zealot on their travels to Egypt and Persia.
41:23
Speaker 1: During his ministry in Mesopotamia, Judas Thadius became known for
41:27
Speaker 1: his boldness in confronting idolatry. The tradition preserved by Eusebius
41:32
Speaker 1: recounts that he, along with Simon, faced the Persian magicians
41:37
Speaker 1: who kept the people under demonic influence through enchantments and
41:41
Speaker 1: occult practices. In Suaniir, Persia, Judas Thadius and Simon encountered
41:48
Speaker 1: strong opposition from Zoroastrian priests. The two apostles had managed
41:53
Speaker 1: to convert several members of the Persian nobility, including generals
41:57
Speaker 1: from the king's army, which enraged the local relafeigeous leaders.
42:01
Speaker 1: Tradition tells us that the pagan priests, seeing their power
42:05
Speaker 1: diminish with the conversions to Christianity, incited a rebellion against
42:10
Speaker 1: the apostles. Judas Thadius and Simon were arrested and taken
42:15
Speaker 1: to the Temple of the Sun, where they were pressured
42:18
Speaker 1: to participate in pagan rituals. Upon refusing to worship the idols,
42:23
Speaker 1: judas Thadius was sentenced to death, while Simon was soared
42:27
Speaker 1: in half. Judas Thadius was executed with axes and clubs,
42:32
Speaker 1: a violent death that demonstrated the fury of his persecutors
42:36
Speaker 1: against the message of the Gospel. Even in his final moments,
42:40
Speaker 1: Following the example set in his epistle, Judas Thadius continued
42:45
Speaker 1: to contend for the faith. Tradition recounts that he died
42:49
Speaker 1: praying for his executioners and proclaiming the truth about Jesus Christ,
42:54
Speaker 1: remaining faithful to the call to keep yourselves in the
42:58
Speaker 1: love of God, as he had written in Jude one
43:00
Speaker 1: twenty one. The joint martyrdom of Judas, Thadius and Simon
43:05
Speaker 1: laid an important foundation for the Church in Persia. Their blood,
43:10
Speaker 1: like that of many other martyrs, became the seed for
43:13
Speaker 1: the growth of the Church in that region. The later
43:16
Speaker 1: Persian Church would remember them as its apostolic founders, keeping
43:20
Speaker 1: alive the memory of their courage and faithfulness. The twelfth
43:24
Speaker 1: and final Apostle, John was the only one who did
43:27
Speaker 1: not suffer martyrdom. In John twenty one twenty twenty three,
43:31
Speaker 1: he is identified as the disciple whom Jesus loved, a
43:36
Speaker 1: description that reveals the special intimacy he enjoyed with the Master.
43:41
Speaker 1: Jesus entrusted him with the care of his own mother,
43:44
Speaker 1: as recorded in John nineteen twenty six twenty seven. Woman,
43:49
Speaker 1: here is your son, Here is your mother. In Acts
43:52
Speaker 1: three one ten, we see John alongside Peter performing miracles
43:56
Speaker 1: in the temple. They were arrested together as narrative in
44:00
Speaker 1: Acts four, one, three and demonstrated extraordinary courage before the Sanhedrin.
44:05
Speaker 1: In Acts eight fourteen to seventeen, John and Peter were
44:09
Speaker 1: sent to Samaria to confirm the missionary work taking place there,
44:14
Speaker 1: showcasing their vital leadership in the early Church. According to
44:18
Speaker 1: Galatians two nine, John was considered one of the pillars
44:22
Speaker 1: of the Church, alongside Peter and James. His initial ministry
44:27
Speaker 1: was centred in Jerusalem, but after the destruction of the
44:30
Speaker 1: Temple in seventy a d. He settled in Ephesus in
44:34
Speaker 1: Asia Minor, where he oversaw several churches in the region.
44:38
Speaker 1: During the persecution under Emperor Domitian around ninety five a d.
44:43
Speaker 1: John was imprisoned and, according to Tertullian, was taken to
44:47
Speaker 1: Rome where he was plunged into boiling oil. Miraculously, he
44:52
Speaker 1: survived this attempt on his life, leading the emperor to
44:56
Speaker 1: exile him to the island of Patmos. In rev. Vlation
45:00
Speaker 1: one nine, John describes his situation. I John, your brother
45:06
Speaker 1: and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance
45:09
Speaker 1: that are ours in Jesus was on the island of
45:11
Speaker 1: Patmos because of the Word of God and the testimony
45:15
Speaker 1: of Jesus It was during this exile that he received
45:19
Speaker 1: and wrote the visions found in the Book of Revelation.
45:23
Speaker 1: In his three epistles, likely written from Ephesus, John emphasizes
45:28
Speaker 1: God's love and the love among believers. In First John
45:32
Speaker 1: four seven to eight, he writes, dear friends, let us
45:36
Speaker 1: love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who
45:40
Speaker 1: loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever
45:44
Speaker 1: does not love does not know God, because God is Love.
45:48
Speaker 1: After Domitian's death, John was released from exile and returned
45:52
Speaker 1: to Ephesus. Irenaeus and other church fathers tell us that
45:56
Speaker 1: he continued his ministry into very old age. Jerome reports
46:01
Speaker 1: that when John became too weak to preach long sermons,
46:04
Speaker 1: he was carried to church meetings where he would repeatedly say,
46:09
Speaker 1: little children, love one another. Polycarp, a disciple of John,
46:14
Speaker 1: preserved many stories about his ministry in Ephesus. One of
46:18
Speaker 1: these recounts how John once encountered a young man who
46:22
Speaker 1: had become the leader of a band of robbers. Risking
46:25
Speaker 1: his own life, John went after him into the mountains
46:28
Speaker 1: and brought him back to Christ, demonstrating the persistent love
46:32
Speaker 1: he preached. John passed away peacefully in Ephesus around one
46:37
Speaker 1: hundred a d. At about ninety four years of age.
46:41
Speaker 1: He was the last living link to Jesus, having seen
46:44
Speaker 1: the Lord face to face and witnessed the early development
46:48
Speaker 1: of the church. His gospel written last compliments the others
46:52
Speaker 1: with profound reflections on the divinity of Christ. John's final testimony,
46:57
Speaker 1: through his writings and his long life, provides us with
47:00
Speaker 1: a unique perspective. While his fellow apostles glorified Christ through martyrdom,
47:07
Speaker 1: John glorified him through decades of faithful service, teaching, and love.
47:13
Speaker 1: In his gospel, epistles and revelation. He left us a
47:16
Speaker 1: treasure of spiritual truths that continue to nourish the church today.
47:21
Speaker 1: The story of these twelve men teaches us much about courage, faith,
47:25
Speaker 1: and dedication. Each of them face their destiny in a
47:29
Speaker 1: unique way, but they all shared something in common, the
47:33
Speaker 1: unshakable certainty that Jesus is the Son of God and
47:37
Speaker 1: that it is worth giving one's life for him. Today,
47:40
Speaker 1: as we live in an age of comfort and convenience,
47:43
Speaker 1: we need to ask ourselves what price are we willing
47:46
Speaker 1: to pay for our faith? What does it mean to
47:49
Speaker 1: be a true follower? Of Christ in today's world. The
47:52
Speaker 1: Apostles show us that true Christianity goes far beyond attending
47:56
Speaker 1: church on Sundays or posting verses on social media. It
48:00
Speaker 1: is about total commitment, a transformed life, willing to pay
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Speaker 1: any price for the Kingdom of God. And you are
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Speaker 1: you ready to live a faith like that? A faith
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Speaker 1: that transforms, that impacts, and that does not fear the
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Speaker 1: consequences of following Christ. If this story touched your heart
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Speaker 1: and you want to learn more about the heroes of faith,
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Speaker 1: Share this video with your friends and family. Who knows
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Speaker 1: this message might inspire some one to live a deeper
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Speaker 1: and more genuine faith. Click like, leave a comment telling
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Speaker 1: us which apostle impacted you the most, and will see
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Speaker 1: you in the next video.