Small Shifts, Big Faith: Are We A Stephen? (Part IV)
Sermon Title: Small Shifts, Big Faith – “Are We A Stephen?”
Good News Statement: Jesus encourages his church to be alive
Summary: The church isn’t perfect but yet is willing to grow in faith, practice love, and be alive today and tomorrow.
Preached: Sunday, June 28th, 2026 at Dogwood Prairie UMC & Seed Chapel UMC
Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.
Scripture (NRSVUE): Acts 6:8-15 Today’s scripture passage comes from the Book of Acts. In the sixth chapter, the reader is introduced to a martyr named Stephen, who risks his life to keep the message of Christ alive: a message of love and faith. Our scripture reading comes from the Book of Acts Chapter Six, Verses Eight thru Fifteen. May the hearing and understanding of this scripture add a blessing to your life?
The Arrest of Stephen
8 Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. 11 Then they secretly instigated some men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. 13 They set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us.” 15 And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”
Introduction:
The ministry of Jesus Christ has been shared. Healings have been performed. The blind were able to see and the lame able to walk. Those demon possessed were set free. The chains of the oppressed were broken. People began to believe and prayed to have their “unbelief turn into belief” (Mark 9:24). Some were even raised from the dead to breathe again. And some were welcomed home after being outcast to the dark, damp, tombs outside of the city walls.
Then, after riding into Jerusalem on a never before ridden donkey and being praised as the people laid their cloaks on the ground as shouts of “Hosannas” filled the air, Jesus is turned over to the religious leaders of the day. Jesus is questioned and tortured by the Roman soldiers—beaten nearly to death—prior to receiving a crown of thorns and a purple robe as a sign of earthly mockery. He was presented to the people in the presence of Pontius Pilate, who said, “But what crime has he committed? I cannot find anything he has done to deserve death! I will have him whipped and set him free” (Luke 23:22, GNT). To which the people responded, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (Luke 23:20, GNT). Luke 23:24 states, “So Pilate passed the sentence on Jesus that they were asking for.”
Jesus is marched from the palace to Calvary, bearing the weight of the cross—most likely the horizontal beam—as excruciating pain shot through his body with every step, as blood dripped from his head to the ground, soaking the dirty road beneath his feet, and as both cries and shouts surrounded him. On Calvary, he hung on the cross for six hours before taking his last breath and proclaiming “It is finished” (John 19:30). Then he was taken down from the cross and laid in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Three days later he rose from the dead to prove that death does not have the last word, that a tomb sealed by a large stone could not withhold him, and that an instrument of death—the cross—is a promise of hope and salvation. And now, after 40 days of walking this earth in his resurrected form, he has ascended to heaven; but before leaving this earth, he gave his apostles and disciples a challenge: to keep the church alive.
This is where the Book of Acts comes into play. For those that are unaware, the Book of Acts (or sometimes called the Acts of the Apostles), written during the time of 33AD to 62AD, is a sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Luke was a physician back in the day and has been credited to write the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. The theme of Luke’s writing after the ascension of Jesus Christ is focused on how the Holy Spirit empowers believers to declare the gospel among both Jews and Gentiles. In doing so they establish the church, which is the fulfillment of God’s promises from the beginning of time. Jesus states in Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Luke’s purpose for writing the Book of Acts—the journey and testimony of Paul and the rise and growth of the early church—was to give an orderly account of the early church after Christ’s resurrection; and to highlight the notion that keeping the church alive was not, is not, and will not be easy. But keeping the church alive is necessary. So, for the next several weeks, we are going to explore certain themes sprinkled throughout the Book of Acts which I believe remind us of how important it is to keep the church alive today for tomorrow. And the question I propose to you is this: “What are we doing and could be doing to keep our church and the whole Church—the body of Christ—alive?”
Body:
Have any of you ever witnessed a tightrope walker? The last time I saw a tightrope walker was when I was child and attended a circus that came to the event center in a neighboring town where I grew up. To see someone walking high above the ground, the wire shaking with each step, no harness or safety equipment, and the crowd providing sound effects from the ground below was scary, terrifying, and something I never want to do. Have any of you ever had the urge to walk a tightrope hundreds of feet above the ground? In my life time Nik Wallenda, from the legendary “Flying Wallendas Family,” became the first person in 2012 to walk a high wire directly across Niagara Falls, completing a 1,800-foot traverse in 25 minutes. Then in 2013, Nik completed a 1,500-foot-high traverse over the Little Grand Canyon without a safety harness. Then in 2014, Nik completed a Chicago Skyscraper Walk. Lastly in 2020, Nik crossed the active volcanic crater Masaya on a 1,800-foot wire in Nicaragua. Would any of you be willing to walk on a tightrope over an active volcano or Niagara Falls or a portion of the Grand Canyon or even over the bustling town of Chicago? I know I wouldn’t!
Before Nik Wallenda performed these dare-devil stunts, there have been several people throughout history who have performed their own tightroping spectacle. Tightrope walking is not only an old sport, but also a global one. Reportedly, tightrope walkers put on spontaneous performances high above the streets of Rome and even in the Coliseum.[1] Ancient plaster paintings, buried for 1,700 years under the same volcanic ash that buried the ancient city of Pompeii, depict what look like small demons walking on what are unmistakably tightropes stretched over A-frames, a structure slackliners still use today. This discovery stretches the written (or painted) record of tightrope walking as far back as 79AD, approximately 46 years after the death of Jesus Christ.[2]
Across the globe, at the wedding of Charles VI to Isabel of Bavaria in 1385, a tightrope walker reportedly walked high above the royal wedding feast. Rope walking was popular all over Europe for centuries, but didn’t make it across the Atlantic until the first American circus in 1793. (Sorry Sherry, we didn’t get a tightrope walker for your celebration today!) Decades later, in 1859, Charles Blondin of France elevated rope walking to a high art when he made the first daring crossing of Niagara Falls on a single 3-inch hemp cord. Blondin walked the 270-foot-high and over 1,000-foot-long line blind-folded, on stilts, even pushing a wheelbarrow—all with no safety harness or net of any kind. It is said, that when he made it to the other side, he asked the crowd for a volunteer to travel with him back to the other side. The volunteer would sit in the wheel-barrow. Needless to say, no one volunteered!
Today, I want us to think about Charles Blondin’s invite to get in the wheel-barrow as we revisit the first martyr of Christianity—a person who dies for their faith. Last week, we were introduced to Stephen who taught us about the fathers and father-like-figures in our life. Today, I want us to return to Stephen and ask ourselves, “Are we a Stephen?” Are we willing to live out our faith for Christ, as an individual and as a church, not fully understanding what the outcome may be? If Jesus told us to get in the wheel-barrow, could we do it?
Movement One: Introduction…
I want to begin by setting the stage for our message today. In Acts Chapter 6, the twelve apostles seek to resolve an issue regarding the daily distribution of food amongst the widows. Acts 6:2-6 reports, “And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples (120 plus) and said, ‘It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, brothers and sisters, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.’ What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.” These seven could have been what we call in the church today deacons—connecting the church to the community and world.
In this particular passage, Stephen is described as a “man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5). He is the first of seven chosen to serve and is later noted for performing great wonders and signs among the people. His name in Greek means “crown.” He is known for his spiritual qualities of faith, wisdom, grace, and power and for the Spirit’s presence in his life. He was an outstanding leader, teacher, and debater. He is also recorded as being the first one to give his life for Jesus Christ. Stephen is mentioned in the Bible later on in Acts 11 and Acts 22.Today, Stephen is celebrated on his Feast or Saint Day on December 26th.
Furthermore, authors Philip Comfort and Walter A. Elwell note in their book, The Complete Book of Who’s Who in the Bible, that Stephen teaches us two vital lessons. Comfort and Elwell state, “First, Stephen teaches us that we are called to strive for excellence in small assignments as these assignments prepare one for greater responsibilities. Second, Stephen teaches us about how the real understanding of God always leads to practical and compassionate actions towards people.”[3]
As I mentioned earlier, Stephen was one of seven chosen to not just resolve an issue about food distribution and taking care of those who have been neglected, but to share the mission and message of Jesus Christ while the twelve apostles go off praying and serving Christ in other “nations.” Upon being chosen, Stephen takes it upon himself to directly address the Israelites. He essentially calls them out and calls them a “stiff-necked people” (Acts 7:51). While calling them out, he recalls the history of Israel by quoting Genesis and Exodus, highlighting stories of powerful leaders who weren’t perfect, who sinned, who didn’t believe in God at first, to show them that even if they originally chose one path, God was still present and calling them to return to Him. Essentially, Stephen was hoping that the Israelites would 1) seek repentance and 2) understand that having differences doesn’t mean that people can’t co-exist together. Stephen sought unity in the name of Christ. However, his message wasn’t greatly received. He was rushed upon, dragged out of town, and stoned to death by the Roman authority under the watchful of Saul who later named Paul (Acts 13:9).
Before taking his last breath, Stephen prayed. He compassionately prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:59-60). Stephen died for his faith. Stephen, full of faith and the Holy Spirit, sacrificed himself for the sake of keeping the message of Christ alive. Jesus told his disciples that they would be tortured, flogged, and beaten for his name sake. Stephen chose to follow Christ not because it was going to be easy but because he had a message of Christ to share with others. Stephen, knowing the outcome of his ministry, found within his heart—as he prayed for those who sinned against him, essentially his enemies—to sing, “I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back. No turning back.”
Stephen was willing to die for his faith. Stephen, chosen and elected to resolve an issue, demonstrated the power of faith. Stephen, realizing that being a follower of Christ would not be easy, continued to follow Christ and didn’t turn back. Stephen got in the wheel-barrow without hesitation; and because he did, we are left wondering if we can be a Stephen. How much do you trust in the Lord? How strong is your faith? What are you willing to do to prove to others that you are willing to follow Christ no matter what? As we think about our faith, we are left with two lessons from Stephen: 1) We have enemies and 2) We need to get in the wheel-barrow. Let me explain…
Movement Two: We will have Enemies…
Throughout history, people of the faith have been martyred. The term “martyr” is a Greek word meaning “witness.” As people witnessed their own faith in action in times of opposition, some suffered persecution, agonizing pain, or even death. Tradition has it that the twelve apostles were martyred for their faith: Peter was crucified upside down in Rome, Andrew was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Greece, Matthew and Thomas were speared to death, James was beheaded, and Simon the Zealot was reportedly sawed in half in Persia.[4] The Apostle Paul became a martyr when he was beheaded in Rome. Besides the Apostles and disciples, Polycarp, a bishop of Smyrna was burned at the stake because he refused to curse Christ. Perpetua and her slave, Felicity, were executed in the Carthage arena by Roman authorities speaking boldly about Christ. Fast-forwarding several decades, theologian and scholar and German Luther pastor and anti-Nazi supporter, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was hanged in a concentration camp just two weeks before the end of World War II for preaching and protecting Jews.
These martyrs as well as the thousands not mentioned have two things in common: they all died defending and standing up for their faith—their belief and trust in Jesus Christ—and died at the hands of their enemies taking to heart the words of Jesus who stated in Matthew 16:25, “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” If we want to gain life in Christ, then we must not let our enemies take away our faith.
Let me explain to you what I mean. First, Stephen could love his enemies because he knew God would vindicate—redeem—him. First Peter chapter 2:21-23 asserts, “For to this you have been called because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” Do you see the connection? Much like Jesus, Stephen, when reviled, when people hated him, and when they mocked him, he did not turn around and do what they did to him. Peter says because “He entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly.” In other words, Stephen, just like Jesus, understood that, “Though you may have concluded all of this about me and you hate me and you despise me, and you don’t like my faith, and you don’t approve of my faith, you are not the one to finally judge me.” God is the ultimate judge. And there is coming One, Stephen knew, who would redeem him and these charges. We can love our enemies because God will redeem us. It doesn’t matter what others think, what others say about us. What matters is if we believe that Jesus can redeem us and set us free from that which may hold us back. We can love our enemies because our enemies are no match for the One who will save us.
Church, it’s not our job, our duty, our obligation, to cast the stone upon which has been cast against us. It is, however, our obligation to know that God will redeem us and set us free from the burdens that weigh upon us. God will set us free from our enemies. God will remove our chains and set us from by His amazing grace. We are called to defend both God and Jesus Christ but in a way that demonstrates love. It has been recorded that while John Wesley preached in open fields and from porches that some people would throw tomatoes, garbage, and rocks at him; but he would continue to preach. As we continue to do what God needs us to do, our enemies will throw whatever they want at us, but we must keep going and know that through our faith we will not only come to love our enemies but will be redeemed by the One who has never cast a stone.
Second, Stephen could love his enemies because he knew God was glorious. You get this stunning picture here of Stephen gazing into heaven at the glory of God. Earlier it says his face was like an angel. There apparently was something Stephen was seeing so amazing that his face was transfixed and transfigured as he gazed into heaven to see this glory—almost similar to Moses’ face after he spent extensive time in the direct presence of God on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:29-35). There was a glow to his presence. Now we cannot be sure but I imagine that one of the reasons that Stephen could pray for his enemies here is because he knew what they were missing. He could see the glory that they did not know. He could see the beauty of the Son of Man at the right hand of God that they did not grasp. And so I think moved by love he prayed for them. Stephen could see what they themselves couldn’t see, just like Jesus saw hope in the criminal on the cross who was promised paradise.
According to reddit.com, people usually become bullies to cope with their own deep-seated pain, insecurity, or a lack of control in their lives. By intimidating others, they temporarily mask their own vulnerabilities, gain social status, or externalize frustration stemming from difficult environments like an abusive or neglectful home.[5] They realize something is missing but don’t understand how to fill that void in their life properly. So, they negatively latch out toward others. Stephen was in the presence of bullies, who were doing their job, but were missing out on what could change and save their life. So Stephen prayed for them based upon what he could see but they couldn’t.
If we were to see the glory, maybe we would pray for our enemies, “O Lord, I want them to know what I know and experience the joy that I experience and see what I see. And so Lord, forgive them!” And so Stephen prayed, knowing that God was glorious. He knew he would be okay, so he prayed for those who needed Christ in their life. If we truly take to heart that we are to love our enemies, then certainly we can pray for them, not for bad things to happen to them, but to have their heart of stone be melted and given to Christ. Perhaps, the best solution to deal with our enemies is to pray for them. Jesus, from the cross, stated, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Jesus was probably praying for his enemies when he had every right to curse them. Jesus chose to love those who put him on the cross. Can we do the same thing in our own life?
Church, we will have enemies. We have enemies today. The Devil is constantly working at us and doing whatever he can to win us over: placing a fruit before our very eyes that looks delicious but isn’t safe to eat. It’s easy to give into the enemy. It’s easy to let the Devil win. It’s easy to choose not to pray for our enemies. However, that is not the way of Christ and it definitely was not the path of Stephen. Instead of finding energy to ridicule our enemy because they can’t see what we see, pray them to have their eyes opened. Pray that they, too, will be able to see the glory of God. Are we a church that only prays for those we like? Or are we a church that prays for everyone and everything?
And thirdly, Stephen knew God’s Son was not to be trifled with and he knew that these people were in need of mercy and forgiveness. In Acts 7:55-56, Stephen sees Jesus standing. Why is the Lord Jesus standing when everywhere else in Scripture confesses that he is seated? I think that he is standing because he is rising to receive Stephen’s testimony and to be his advocate suggesting that he is over and more powerful than our enemies. In short, Jesus is rising from his throne to come to Stephen’s defense, to receive his prayer, and to redeem his name.
Besides praying for our enemies, did you know that we are invited to forgive our enemies? Stephen forgave his enemies because his love was greater than hate. Stephen forgave his enemies because his love was greater than his pain. Stephen forgave his enemies because his love was greater than the punishment. Sure he was going to die, but his love of Christ and neighbor gave him a new life. Church what would this world look like if we truly took time to forgive our enemies? What would this world look like if we took to heart the words of Psalm 23, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…?” (Psalm 23:5). What would this world look like if we were more concerned with putting down the stone rather than picking it up? Stephen could love his enemies because he knew the glory of God, the redemption of God, and he knew the power of Christ.
Do you believe Christ is more powerful than your enemies? Do you believe Christ can conquer your enemies? Do you believe Christ can overcome your enemies? If so, say “Amen.” Stephen believed. Stephen had faith. And Stephen trusted that Christ would stand before his enemies and grant him freedom. Like Stephen, we should believe that our enemies are no match for Jesus. Church, we will have obstacles, we will encounter struggles, and we will embark on missional work that we can’t quite see the outcome of, but we must remain faithful and trust in the authority and power of Jesus Christ, who is standing before us, to overcome that which can cause us to give into the enemy. We are called to love our enemies because when we love we demonstrate the workings and doings of Jesus Christ in our life. What do we need to do to love our enemies today?
Movement Three: Are We A Stephen…
As the early church was beginning to form and take shape, many people stepped up to continue the work of Jesus Christ. Some of them lived a full life, avoiding the authorities of the day. While others, unfortunately, became martyrs: witnessed their faith lived out through and in the love of Jesus Christ. Stephen was just one of many who gave his life for Christ; who demonstrated the power of faith. So today, I invite us, as the church of today for tomorrow, to really ask ourselves, “Are we a ‘Stephen’?” Are we a church that puts our faith into action even though the work ahead may be difficult? Are we a church that allows our faith to guide us where the love of Christ needs to be shared? Are we a church that lives by faith? Are we a church that is okay with taking leaps of faith to keep our church alive? As you think about these questions, I want to share with you how overcoming the enemy through faith can change people’s lives.
Vivek Murthy, in his online article titled “My Parting Prescription for America,” he wrote “The love required to build community must not be reserved only for close family and friends or those who share our beliefs and life experiences; it must also be extended to neighbors, colleagues, people of different backgrounds, people with whom we disagree, and even people we consider our opponents. It requires recognizing something deeper and more fundamental that connects us.”[6]
Here are a few examples of what overcoming the enemy leads to as we build a loving community. Cristin Cooper was not aiming to start a movement. She just wanted folks to experience more than a Sunday service. She started with soup and gathering people around her kitchen table. Her dinner church, now known as Coop’s Soups, has become a spiritual table where local growers, markets, and food pantries collaborate to nourish both body and soul. Its mission is simple: to make soup worth sharing. It is truly “belonging in a bowl.”[7]
Chelsea Spyres, when working for Riverfront Ministries, saw a commercial kitchen that sat empty all week. Where most church leaders saw a gap, she experienced an opportunity. She built a cooperative between local businesses and a congregation, transforming a quiet church commercial kitchen into a buzzing hub for economic empowerment and shared mission in Wilmington Kitchen Collective.[8]
And Beverly Jenkins had a vision not for charity, but for dignity. On a mission trip to Haiti, where she believed that she was bringing Jesus, was prompted by the Spirit to stop asking, “What do these people need?” and began asking, “What do they want?” What followed was nothing short of miraculous: R&R Marketplace. R&R Marketplace in Dellwood, Missouri, is a space so Spirit-led that even the bank that once denied her a loan now rents space inside it.[9]
You see, if Cristin, Chelsea, and Beverly, let the enemy win, hundreds of people would not have been able to find the love of Christ, to feel like they belong to a community, or even to a family. If they gave up when times got hard, hundreds of people would not have been able to find the love of Christ. If they didn’t believe in the faith that God gave them, hundreds of people would not have been able to find the love of Christ. Do you see the picture? These three individuals, like so many others before them and after them, faced the enemy—the struggles and challenges—not fully understanding the outcome, so that their faith could make a difference. They saw a need, loved the need, and fulfilled the need even though the enemy was ready to convince that they couldn’t do it. These three people are modern-day Stephens: allowing their faith to be stronger than what was against them. In a way, they took a chance, got in the wheel-barrow, and made it to the other side where people were waiting.
I’m not saying that we, as a church or even you as an individual, need to pursue something that is groundbreaking and that will generate media attention. What I’m saying is that, if you truly believe in your faith and are willing to pursue your faith, others will find Christ through you. We can’t give into the enemy. We must lean into the faith that we have been given because there are plenty of people out there they need our church in their life.
Conclusion:
In 1859, Charles Blondin, probably without realizing it, in the presence of those witnessing history, encountered a situation that still exists today. Upon returning to the original site in which the tightrope expedition began, Blondin asked for a volunteer to get in the wheel-barrow. No one volunteered. Everyone was scared. Everyone was okay with staying where they were. If Jesus asked you to get in the wheel-barrow, could you do it? Do you have enough faith and trust in Christ to get you to the other side? Are you willing to take risks, do something new, and pursue something that may not have a clear outcome?
There are a lot of comfortable Christians in this world. But what this world needs is more “Stephens”: those who act through their faith, who love their enemies, and who trust in the Lord with all their heart mind, body, and soul even though the journey will be challenging and difficult. Church, how can we be more like Stephen: acting by faith and trust instead of being fearful and uncertain? How can we be more encouraged to pursue the needs before us? How can we be more willing to take leaps of faith to keep the message of Christ a live? What will it take to be a church that is okay with getting in the wheel-barrow? Are you a “Stephen?”
Closing Prayer:
Let us pray… Dear Jesus, we often find ourselves having a cautious faith, and yet you call us to move from caution to courage. Jesus, keep moving in our hearts and in our lives so that we can get in the wheel-barrow, act through our faith, and do what Christ is calling us to do. In your name we pray. Amen.
Benediction:
Church, the enemy is real and the enemy doesn’t give up easily. However, through your faith, the enemy is no match for Jesus Christ who is constantly inviting us to get in the wheel-barrow and to trust him as we share the power of his love with all people. It’s time to be a “Stephen.” May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit go forth being the church God needs all of us to be. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.
[1] The Romans called these artists funambula, and today funambulist is the technical term for wire walkers, tightrope walkers, and slackliners.
[2] Historians can’t say how long the Korean tradition of Jultagi has been around, but it may have begun as early as 57 BC. Now considered part of Korea’s cultural heritage, Jultagi is a unique form of tightrope walking where performers combine acrobatic performance with music and acting. A group of Gibbon athletes visited Korea in 2010 to appear on a television show about the similarities between slacklining and Jultagi, and were shocked to see traditional Jultagi performers doing many tricks very similar to those in slacklining. A between-the-legs butt-bounce is now named “The Korean” out of respect for a culture that has been performing it for more than 2,000 years.
[3] Philip Comfort and Walter A. Elwell, The Complete Book of Who’s Who in the Bible, New York, New York: Chartwell Books (an imprint of The Quarto Group), 2025, pg. 571.
[4] According to early church tradition and historical accounts, most of the apostles met violent deaths as martyrs for their faith. While the New Testament only explicitly details the executions of James (beheaded) and Judas Iscariot (suicide), early writings and traditions describe the following fates for the others:
Peter: Crucified upside down in Rome during Emperor Nero’s persecutions.
Andrew: Crucified on an X-shaped cross in Patras, Greece.
James (Son of Zebedee): Beheaded in Jerusalem under Herod Agrippa I.
John: Believed to be the only apostle to survive his persecutions and die peacefully of old age in Ephesus.
Philip: Crucified or hung in Hierapolis (modern-day Turkey).
Bartholomew (Nathanael): Flayed (skinned) alive and beheaded in Armenia.
Matthew: Speared or killed with a sword in Ethiopia.
Thomas: Speared to death in Mylapore, India.
James (Son of Alphaeus): Stoned and beaten to death in Jerusalem (or crucified in Egypt).
Thaddeus (Jude): Crucified in Persia or killed with arrows/an axe.
Simon the Zealot: Reportedly sawed in half in Persia or crucified.
Matthias (Judas’s replacement): Stoned and beheaded in Colchis (modern-day Georgia).
[5] “What fundamentally causes a person to become a bully? What is the psychology behind it?” posted 10 months ago by r/NoStupidQuestions, https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/1mtyvfj/what_fundamentally_causes_a_person_to_become_a/ accessed June 24, 2026.
[6] Rachel Billups, An Unlikely Lent: Extraordinary People of the Easter Story, Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 2025, pg. 116.
[7] Ibid., pg. 120.
[8] Ibid., pg. 120.
[9] Ibid., pg. 120.