What Did Each of the Apostles Do after the Ascension?

Because the focus of the Bible is on Jesus Christ, there are many people who entered the record and then vanished without much information about where they were going. The Bible does tell a complete story, but it is made up of a bunch of different types of documents, not all of which were meant to record specific histories. Most of the New Testament is made up of Epistles, letters communicating important doctrines, advice on church practices, and other theological concerns.

Many wonder what each of the apostles, who feature prominently in the four Gospels, went on to do. Some of their activities are addressed in the Book of Acts, but much of what we know and believe about the apostles’ lives after the Ascension comes from tradition.

What Do the Apostles Do in the Book of Acts?

The immediate aftermath of the Ascension is recorded in the Book of Acts, and scholars believe all the apostles were in attendance. When Jesus went up into Heaven, the apostles and 500 disciples were present and were encouraged by an angel to go out and share the Good News. The apostles went up into a room together where they prayed with other disciples, including Jesus’ family. Their first act was to replace Judas through prayer and the casting of lots. “Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias and he was added to the eleven apostles” (Acts 1:26b).

Once the twelve had been reestablished, they continued to meet together with other followers of Jesus. The Holy Spirit fell on them during the feast day of Pentecost, indwelling believers, and empowering them with gifts to facilitate sharing the Gospel and edifying one another for the growth of the church.

“When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them…Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, ‘Fellow Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words’” (Acts 2:1-4, 14).

They began to go about working together to share the Gospel all around Jerusalem and to establish the ways of the church. The church grew tremendously, and the apostles preached sermons, served others, and established deacons. Arrests and persecutions began quickly, and over time the apostles were scattered either by God’s calling or fleeing Jerusalem.

During this time, a man named Saul set about to persecute the church, with some success. However, he would be called by Jesus on the road to Damascus to become an apostle. Some would question his apostleship, though he defended it and referred to himself as such because he was called personally by Jesus, one of the requirements of apostleship. “Paul, an apostle — not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead” (Galatians 1:1).

By the end of the record in the Book of Acts, all the disciples have separate destinies. Some of this information is sourced from the Bible, while some of it comes from church tradition.

What Happened to Each of the Apostles?

Matthew was the disciple who had been a tax collector before he met Christ. He wrote the Gospel of Matthew after the Ascension. He likely spent a great deal of time writing to and teaching the Jews in Judea before he went abroad to do missionary work for the Gospel. Tradition holds he was martyred in Ethiopia in 68 AD.

Simon Peter was one of the first Apostles to be arrested, and the first to preach a sermon after the day of Pentecost. He would be called by God to affirm the acceptance of gentiles into the church, as well as lifting the food restrictions in the age of grace. He was considered a leader of the early church in Jerusalem, and wrote two letters that were inspired by the Holy Spirit as part of Scripture. At some point that is not recorded in the Bible, scholars believe he was brought to Rome, where he was crucified upside down.

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, is believed to have gone as a missionary to parts of the Greek colonies on the northern sides of the Black Sea near modern day Crimea, as well as other areas of Greece. Church history holds he was martyred by crucifixion in Patras in 60AD. Tradition holds he was on the cross for three days.

James son of Zebedee and his brother John were cousins of Jesus. The Bible records, “About that time King Herod violently attacked some who belonged to the church, and he executed James, John’s brother, with the sword” (Acts 12:1-2). Tradition holds he was the first of the Apostles to be martyred.

John son of Zebedee wrote five books of the Bible, the Gospel of John, the epistles of 1, 2, and 3 John, and the Book of Revelation during the years after the Ascension. He also took responsibility for Mary, the mother of Jesus during this time. At some point he was arrested, and according to tradition, boiled in oil but did not die. He was exiled to Patmos where he received the visions that inspired Revelation. After several years in exile, tradition says he spent his last years in Ephesus, dying between 98 and 100AD.

Philip is believed to have taken the Gospel to Gaul, or modern day France, as well as Turkey, specifically the city of Hierapolis. Scholars believe he was both crucified and stoned to death.

Judas Iscariot did not live to see either the Resurrection or the Ascencion of Jesus Christ. After Jesus was arrested, Judas tried to return the money he was paid by the Pharisees to betray Jesus, but they would not accept blood money. In despair over his sin, he committed suicide.

James Son of Alphaeus is held to have gone to Syria to support transplanted Jews there, but that he mostly helped run the church in Jerusalem. Church tradition holds he was arrested by Ananias and told to deny Christ; he was taken to the top of the temple, where he boldly proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah, but he was then pushed off the temple and stoned. He is said to have died from a blow to the head.

Bartholomew aka Nathanael may have gone to India, as there are two records that indicate this, though most of them are from the 4th century. Stronger tradition holds that he went to Armenia, partnering with Thaddaeus. In Azerbaijan, Christians believe he brought the Gospel there as well. Tradition says he was flayed and then crucified in 71 AD.

Thaddaeus is believed to have partnered with Bartholomew for many of his missionary travels, so he may have gone to India and Turkey. He may have gone to Armenia as well. Tradition holds that he suffered martyrdom in 65 AD in Syria, in the city of Beirut.

Simon the Zealot is believed to have left Jerusalem and gone to Africa, traveling the northern empires like Egypt, Libya, and Mauritania. Some even think he may have gone to Spain and even Britain and then Persia. Tradition holds he was martyred in the Middle East by being crucified upside down then sawed in half around 74 AD.

Thomas may have doubted the stories of the resurrected Jesus, but after he saw Jesus, he became zealous. Scholars believe Thomas went the farthest of the apostles, and there are multiple records that he went as far as India. While there are varied accounts of his death, it is generally agreed that he was speared to death by Hindu priests in 70 AD. The city of Mylapore has a place they believe is his tomb.

Matthias is believed to have mostly stayed in Jerusalem, helping the members of the persecuted church and edifying the saints. He may have gone north, and some traditions hold that he went north of the Black Sea. It is generally held he died in Jerusalem, though there are differing accounts of how he died. He may have been stoned, crucified, or beheaded. 

Paul would go on to have three missionary journeys across the Mediterranean, suffering much for the cause of Christ as the primary missionary to the gentiles. His life is recorded in the Book of Acts and across the multiple letters he wrote that became a part of the New Testament. He was imprisoned in Rome, and some believe he was executed under Emperor Nero in 66 AD by beheading.

While the fates of the apostles are somewhat shrouded by lack of documentation and two thousand years of separation, their devotion to the Lord should be inspiring, and a reminder that persecution of believers is still common all across the world.

Sources
Eusebius. The Church History. Editor Paul L. Maier. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1999.
Ferguson, Everett. Encyclopedia of Early Christianity. 2nd edition. New York: Taylor & Francis Group, 1998.
Foxe. Voice of the Martyrs. Washington, D.C.: Regnery Publishing, 2019. 

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/rudall30

Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com.