The persecution of Christians by the Romans was a sport show like football games but without gabling. Many Christians were publicly executed in arenas full of cheering crowds. Burning at the stake and being fed to wild animals were not unusual forms of execution. Roman emperors such as Caligula and Nero got pleasure out of killing many Christians refused to bow down to the God of Roman (produced by Allah) which was an absolute. The insane Nero blamed every crises on the Christians to execute more of them. The Disciples are the firsthand witness of Jesus reality and His miracles. Death also proves that changing the Roman empire religion means nothing unless there is a change in will. Emperor Constantine saw the truth and out of will became the Christian leader.
The following events happened to the Twelve Disciples.
1. Peter : crucified upside down in Rome. He is the leader and regarded by Roman Catholic as the first Pope. In Greek Peter’s name is Petros means the “rock”.
2. Philip : crucified at Hierapolis in Phrygia an ancient Kingdom in present day central Turkey.
3,4. James : there is two James, the first probably the son of Mary's sister (the mother of the Lord). He worked in partnership with Andrew and Simon Peter. He was beheaded by the first Herod Agrippa the Son of Aristobulus and the Ruler of Judea, a Roman province part of Syria. It is not to be confused with the ancient kingdom of Judah. The second James became the first Bishop of the church at Jerusalem after the Resurrection. He was martyred around AD 62, beaten, stoned and clubbed. He wrote the 20th book of the New Testament based on a traditional evidence. The book is packed full of practical common sense with a sure grasp upon Christianity in action, the faulty social behavior and unChristian attitudes of one person to another.
5. Andrew : formerly a fisherman and disciple of John the Baptist. He preached in what is now Russia. He was crucified in patras Greece on an X – shaped cross. He is the patron saint of Russia and of Scotland.
6. Jude : the name is an Anglicized form of Judas, to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot. He is possibly the author of the New Testament “Epistle of Jude” which combat heresy. The circumstances which made the letter necessary were an outbreak of heresy of a particularly dangerous and immoral type. Crucified.
7. Bartholomew : he was introduced to Jesus by Philip. Crucified
8. Thomas : stabbed to death in Madras India. After he became a missionary to East Parthia and Persia.
9. Simon Zelotes: he was Zealot, a member of a patriotic party of the Jews against the Romans also known as the Cananaeans. Crucified.
10. Matthew : a tax collector in specific farming areas given to smaller men then forward in to Herod. Jesus passing by near Capernaum invited him to become his Disciples. He was a clerical writer. He wrote the Gospel for the Jews. He preached to the Jews and stabbed to death.
11. Judas Iscariot : the Apostle who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver by identifying him to the soldiers at Gethsemane (the garden across Kidron valley on the mount of olive east of the old city of Jerusalem), by the kiss. He hanged himself.
12. John : a favorite of Jesus and the only Disciple who enjoyed a natural death. There is a traditional story that he was tossed into a pot of boiling oil but miraculously was unharmed. He was thereafter exiled to the island of patmos in Greece. He died about AD 90. He lived long to finish the job; five books of the New Testament, are ascribed to Him; the Gospel, the Revelation and 3 letters which bear his name.
13. Matthias : Judas's replacement, stoned and beheaded. The Apostles voted between Matthias and Joseph Barsabas, Matthias was elected.
The followers of Jesus tended to be an outspoken lot, unafraid to address their detractors. The religious authorities in Jerusalem, in particular, were not amused by these bold upstarts who had few qualms about chastising even the most senior of officials. Imprisonments and beatings took place, and it wasn't very long before the Christians had their first martyr (after Jesus). A man named Stephen, was the first martyrs who boldly proclaimed his faith before the authorities, was thrown out. He was one of “7” deacons appointed to relieve the Apostles of administrative work. He became forceful and successful evangelist. He was stoned by the fanatic Jews after charging him with blasphemy.
The followers of Jesus were out spoken men unafraid to burn to death in order to address their dictators and the religious Jews the over whelming truth.
Threats against a ministry is a persecution but the delivery of God is stronger than the burden of death. Persecution is principality not just a flesh and blood, a power of darkness trying to give a farewell kiss, under intimidation and desperation to claim lives so no issues can be resolved by peaceful means. The Crown of Thorn to Jesus is the language of persecution spoken by most people and was nationally accepted.