Nobody would die for a lie.

60CE-Present

People will often remark that the disciples wouldn't die for a lie. They are missing an important distinction; people can and will die for a lie if they believe it to be true. Their belief doesn't make the lie true.

• Only two of the disciples deaths are listed in the Bible: James, and Judas (which contains two conflicting stories)
• There are many instances of people dying for a lie: Peoples Temple, Heavens Gate, Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God, Good News International Church, Order of the Solar Temple, and Branch Davidians.
• A good example of someone who died for a lie and knew it was a lie, because it originated with him, is: Joseph Smith.

The Disciples (and Paul)

1. Peter
   • Acts of Peter tells us about Peter's death. It also contains a talking dog, people witnessing Peter flying but he says it was an illusion, Peter brings a dead herring back to life, a miracle battle between Peter and Simon (Magus) who brings man back to life, and sees Jesus going back into Rome to be crucified a second time.
   • 1 Clement mentions the martyrdom of Peter in 1 Clement but the details are lacking.
   • A letter once attributed to Pope Linus about the martyrdom of Peter and Paul is now dated to the 6TH century.
2. Andrew
   • The Acts of Andrew (~260CE) tells us how Andrew was crucified, on an X shaped cross at the city of Patras in 60CE, and died after three days.
3. Philip
   • The Acts of Philip (~4TH century) is incomplete, Some versions of the text say Philip was beheaded, some noting it was after being crucified upside-down.
   • It also says Philip and his group were accompanied by a talking goat and leopard.
4. Bartholomew
   • The Acts of Philip also foretells of Bartholomew being crucified.
   • The Martyrdom of Bartholomew (~4TH-5TH century) says he was beaten and beheaded. Then 13 days later the king and priests involved were strangled by demons.
   • St. Theodore the Studite (11TH century) mentions multiple tales of how Bartholomew was martyred.
5. Thomas
   • The Acts of Thomas (225CE-240CE) says Thomas was pierced with spears.
6. Matthew
   • The accounts of Matthew's martyrdom are varied.
   • In Acts and Martyrdom of St. Matthew (4TH-5TH century) he is nailed to the ground and his executioners try to be set on fire, but it turns into dew. Matthew survives the attempts on his life, and lives on to have a son. Acts and Martyrdom of St. Matthew does not appear to conclude with his death.
7. Simon
   • No single, verified contemporary historical record details the martyrdom of the disciple Simon the Zealot. Several stories are listed on the wikipedia page. The Golden Legend from the late middle ages says Simon and Jude were martyred together. However, On the Apostles and Disciples says Simon fell asleep at the age of 120.
8. James the Great (son of Zebedee)
   • His martyrdom is listed in Acts 12:1-2
9. John brother of James (son of Zebedee)
   • Wasn't martyred.
10. James son of Alphaeus
    • According to Pseudo Hippolytus he was stoned.
    • Later works such as Encomium on James by Nicetas the Paphlagonian (9TH century), Historia Ecclesiastica by Nikephoros Kallistos (14TH century), and The Prologue of Ohrid by Saint Nikolai Velimirovic (19TH century) claim he was crucified.
11. Judas Iscariot
    • Wasn't martyred. The bible contradicts itself on how he died.
12. Thaddeus (Jude)
    • Multiple accounts on the location of his death exist. Places in the traditions list: Armenia, Beirut, and Rome.
13. Matthias
    • Tradition varies on the manner of death, some say he was stoned and then beheaded, others say he was crucified.
14. Paul
    • Acts of Paul offers details of Paul's death. It states Paul was beheaded and milk spurted on the cloak of the executioner.
    • 1 Clement also mentions the martyrdom of Paul in 1 Clement stating Paul was stoned.