Category: Apostles Martyrdom

Persecution of Christians Grows

4/15/2017

Christians Most Persecuted:
World's Vicious Attacks Grow

In January 2017, Robert Nicholson of the Philos Project said,
"There are many places on Earth where being a Christian
is the most dangerous thing you can be.”

4-14-17, FoxNews -- According to a report by the Center for Studies on New Religions, the recent Palm Sunday bombings at two Egyptian churches killing 44 worshipers wounding more than 100 makes Christians the most persecuted group in the world.

In 2016 the world’s Christians were slaughtered in great numbers; nearly 90,000 of the faithful were killed for their beliefs in violent and gruesome attacks. While some were killed as part of state-sanctioned persecution, as in places like North Korea, nearly one-third of the Christians who died were executed at the hands of Islamic extremists like ISIS.

The study also found that, in 2016 as many as 600 million Christians were prevented from practicing their faith. More here

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Scripture for Today, 1-10-17

1/9/2017

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Series Martyrdom of Apostles of Jesus #11:
Simon the Zealot

Simon the Zealot

Simon the Zealot (Acts 1:13) although nothing is recorded in scripture that he said or did, testimonials abound of his deeds after Christ ascended to Heaven. He was called the Zealot (Luke 6:15), Simon Kananaios (Matthew 10:4) & Simon Cananeus (Mark 3:18).

One tradition states that Simon traveled in the Middle East and Africa he preached in what is today Turkey. There is a often repeated report he was sawn in half at Suanir, Persia [today's Iran].

One report possibly inspired by his title "the Zealot", states that he was a member of the group involved in the Jewish revolt against the Romans, which was brutally suppressed. Wikipedia [6] [7]The most popular tradition says he visited Britain and was martyred by crucifixion in 74 AD.

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Scripture for Today, 1-5-17

1/4/2017

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Series Martyrdom of Apostles of Jesus #6:
James, Son of Alphaeus [the less]

James (son of Alphaeus, AKA James the Less)
James, son of Alphaeus is often identified with' James the Less,' who is only mentioned four times in the Bible, each time in connection with his mother. (Mark 15:40) refers to "Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses", while (Mark 16:1) and (Matthew 27:56) refer to "Mary the mother of James". Since there was already another James (James, son of Zebedee) among the twelve apostles, equating James son of Alphaeus with "James the Less" made sense. (James son of Zebedee was sometimes called "James the Greater").

Mark 15:40 "There were also women looking on from a distance;
among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother
of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome."

According to Foxe's Book of Martyrs, James, who was elected by his fellow believers to head the churches of Jerusalem, was one of the longest-lived apostles, perhaps exceeded only by John. At the age of 94, he was beaten and stoned by persecutors, and then killed him by hitting him in the head with a club.

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Scripture for Today, 1-4-17

1/3/2017

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Series Martyrdom of Apostles of Jesus #5:
Thomas [Didymus] aka Doubting Thomas

Thomas
Thomas also called Didymus one of the twelve original disciples. When Jesus was going to Bethany because Lazarus had died, the disciples feared for His safety ... but Thomas' love and devotion was strong; he said:
"Let us also go, that we may die with Him." John 11:16
However, he's best known as “Doubting Thomas” for his disbelief in Jesus’ resurrection. (John 20:24-28).

Reportedly after Jesus’ ascension, the apostles cast lots to divide the nations among themselves to evangelize. Thomas’ lot fell to India, he was the first apostle to visit the East and carried out the bulk of his ministry in India. Ancient traditions maintain that the wife of a king heard Thomas preach and believed in Jesus. When the king discovered his wife became a Christian, he had Thomas imprisoned then sentenced to death. According to the dominant tradition, Thomas was martyred in southeastern India around 72 CE; he was speared to death.

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Scripture For Today, 1-3-17

1/2/2017

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Series Martyrdom of Apostles of Jesus #4:
Andrew died in Greece

Apostle Andrew

Andrew was a fisherman and was the first of the Apostles to follow Jesus and just as John the Baptist introduced Jesus to the nation of Israel, so Andrew is noted for having introduced Jesus to individuals. It is believed that Andrew went to the foothills of the Caucasus mountains (present day Georgia in Eastern Europe). Preaching to the Scythians as far as the Caspian Sea and to Byzantium which is present day Istanbul Turkey and to Greece. It was in Patros Greece that Andrew was martyred. In the church of St. Andrew in Patros, Greece, there is a book written in Greek which sheds light on his death; the following is written:

"Aigeatis who was the governor of Patros became enraged at Andrew for his preaching and ordered him to stand before the tribunal in his attempt to do away with the Christian Faith. When Andrew refused, the governor ordered him crucified."

An ancient writer recorded:

"Andrew hung upon the cross three whole days, suffering dreadful pain but continuing constantly to tell the people around him of the love of Jesus Christ. The people, as they listened to him, began to believe his words and asked the governor to let him be taken down from the cross. Not liking to refuse them, he at last ordered the ropes to be cut, but when the last rope was severed, the body of the apostle fell to the ground quite dead."

Before his death he said: "Accept me, O Christ Jesus, whom I saw, whom I love and in whom I am; accept my spirit in peace in your eternal realm."

It is believed that Andrew died on the last day of November, 69 AD.

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Persecution of Christians Grows

Christians Most Persecuted:
World's Vicious Attacks Grow

Scripture for Today, 1-10-17

Series Martyrdom of Apostles of Jesus #11:
Simon the Zealot

Scripture for Today, 1-5-17

Series Martyrdom of Apostles of Jesus #6:
James, Son of Alphaeus [the less]

Scripture for Today, 1-4-17

Series Martyrdom of Apostles of Jesus #5:
Thomas [Didymus] aka Doubting Thomas

Scripture For Today, 1-3-17

Series Martyrdom of Apostles of Jesus #4:
Andrew died in Greece

Index

Archives

Persecution of Christians Grows

​Christians Most Persecuted:World's Vicious Attacks Grow

Scripture for Today, 1-10-17

Series Martyrdom of Apostles of Jesus #11:Simon the Zealot

Scripture for Today, 1-5-17

​Series Martyrdom of Apostles of Jesus #6:James, Son of Alphaeus [the less]

Scripture for Today, 1-4-17

Series Martyrdom of Apostles of Jesus #5:​​Thomas [Didymus] aka Doubting Thomas

Scripture For Today, 1-3-17

Series Martyrdom of Apostles of Jesus #4:​Andrew died in Greece

Index

Archives

Christians Most Persecuted:
World's Vicious Attacks Grow

Series Martyrdom of Apostles of Jesus #11:
Simon the Zealot

Series Martyrdom of Apostles of Jesus #6:
James, Son of Alphaeus [the less]

Series Martyrdom of Apostles of Jesus #5:
Thomas [Didymus] aka Doubting Thomas

Series Martyrdom of Apostles of Jesus #4:
Andrew died in Greece