Mat 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Ever wonder what actually happened to the disciples or where they ended up after they entered their own ministries? They took Jesus’ words to heart and scattered around the then known world to spread the gospel. Here is how they did.
Peter – Ministered in Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia, Cappadocia and Asia in modern day Turkey. He ended up making it to Rome and was martyred there at about the same time as Paul.
James – Probably ministered in the area of Spain and was ultimately beheaded by Herod Agrippa.
John – Ministered in Asia and then moved to Ephesus with Mary Jesus’ mother. He was the bishop of Ephesus. He was exiled to Patmos for about a year and then returned to Ephesus where he lived the rest of his life and died of old age.
Andrew – Lived in Bethsaida and ministered in Scythia which is present day Russia and Ukraine. He was crucified in Patmos which is in Greece.
Philip – Also lived in Bethsaida and ministered in Galatia. He later lived in Hierapolis where he was crucified.
Bartholomew – Ministered in Hierapolis with Philip. According to legend he was crucified once, but let down before he died. He was finally martyred in Albanopolis which is current day Albania.
Thomas Didymas – Ministered in Parthia, Babylon, Persia and India where he was finally killed.
Matthew – Ministered in Ethiopia and was martyred in either Egypt or Parthia.
James the Younger – Was possibly the first bishop of the Syrian church and finally stoned in Jerusalem.
Jude – Ministered in Syria and Persia and then martyred near the Caspian Sea.
Simon The Zealot – Ministered in North Africa and Egypt and may have made it as far and Britain. Was likely crucified by the Romans.