One27 Blog

An Introduction to the Church

Martyrdom- tradition says that all but 2 of the disciples were martyred for the cause of Christ. Tremendous FOCUS led them right to their divine death. What do you live for or are willing to die for?

Here are a few heroes in history that still encourage and shake the church today. Let this challenge you in your focus to the Lord Jesus.

James- elder brother of the Apostle John. The first of the 12 apostles to be martyred. He was executed about A.D. 44 by order of King Herod Agrippa 1 of Judea. Clement Alexandrinus, an eminent primitive writer, wrote that when James was being led to his execution, his extraordinary courage so impressed one of his captors that he fell on his knees before the apostle, asked his forgiveness and confessed that he was a Christian also, and said that James should not die alone. Whereupon they were both beheaded.

Matthew- beheaded in the country of Ethiopia around A.D. 60.

James (the less)- brother of Jesus and the writer of the epistle. Seems to have been the leader of the Church at Jerusalem. Martyred around A.D. 66 by stoning.

Matthias- replacing Judas, he understood the costs. It is said that he was stoned and beheaded at Jerusalem.

Andrew- brother of Peter. Tradition says that he preached the gospel to many Asiatic nations, and was martyred in Edessa by being crucified on an X-shaped cross, which came to be known as St. Andrews cross.

Mark- After Paul's mention of him in 2 Timothy 4:11, he disappears from view. Only tradition tells us the possible method of his death- that he was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria when he spoke out against a solemn ceremony for their idol Serapis.

Peter- It seems that when Peter was old (John 21:18), Nero planned to put him to death. After being begged by the disciples to flee the ancient Rome, Peter then experiences a glorious appearance by Christ that inspires him to not flee. After being captured and taken into his place of martyrdom, he requested that he be crucified in an upside down position because he did not consider himself worthy to be crucified in the position as his Lord.

Creating a prayer culture!

-Robby Atwood

Submitted 01/26/2009