The Scattering

Acts chapter 8 opens up with the first Christian martyr, the stoning of Stephen. Saul, who would later be known as Paul, was there sanctioning and approving of the murder of Stephen. There were no Gentiles in the church at that time; only Jews were present. But now, the unbelieving Jews are killing the Jews who have come to faith in Jesus as Messiah. The stoning of Stephen caused the believing Jews in Jerusalem to run for their lives. This is where the Bible reveals something unique and interesting: “All the believers except the apostles were scattered.” 

Acts 8:1-3 (NLT) 

Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. 2 (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) 3 But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison. 

Why are these new believers running for their lives, and why didn’t the Apostles scatter with the others? Jesus had given clear instructions to the Apostles about the mission of the church before He departed for heaven to be with the Father. 

Acts 1:8 (NLT) 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

Do you see it? You will begin this ministry in Jerusalem, but you will eventually leave Jerusalem and go to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. What was it that made these new Jewish believers take their faith on the road to Judea and Samaria? Persecution caused the scattering! 

Their scattering caused the gospel to scatter as well. God was going to use the stoning of Stephen to expand the kingdom and the gospel message of Christ outside Jerusalem. What Satan intended for evil, God was going to use for good. 

But what about the Apostles? Why didn’t they scatter with the others? No one knows for sure what they were thinking at the time, but we can assume something here. God had given the Apostles great boldness, a boldness that seemed to overcome their fear of man and death itself. 

The Jewish leaders who stoned Stephen had already threatened the Apostles with death and imprisonment, even before the stoning of Stephen. This was the Apostle’s reaction to their threats: 

Acts 5:40-42 (NLT) 

They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. 41 The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. 42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.” 

The Holy Spirit had given the Apostles great boldness, a boldness that overcame their fears of suffering and death. Jesus had told the Apostles that the Holy Spirit would come upon them in Jerusalem, and the preaching of the gospel would begin in Jerusalem. Jerusalem would become the center of their apostolic ministry. 

Let’s fast forward many years from this scattering into Judea and Samaria. Now, Saul/Paul has become a follower of Christ and is preaching alongside Barnabas and planting Gentile churches in Antioch of Syria. At this point, the question of circumcision comes up among the Gentiles. 

Paul and Barnabas go back to Jerusalem to settle the issue of Gentile circumcision with the Apostles, who are still focusing their ministry in Jerusalem, some 15 years (estimated) after that original scattering. 

Acts 15:2 (NLT) 

Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question. 

My scattering conclusion. Some would need to leave, and some would need to stay. There is a time to leave and a time to stay put. God would use both groups, the scattered and those who remained, to advance the gospel around the world. 

Paul, the one who was there sanctioning the stoning of Stephen, would eventually die in Rome as a follower of Christ, far from Jerusalem. The lives of the others are listed below: 

Apostle Traditional Place of Martyrdom / Death Died in Jerusalem? 

Peter Crucified in Rome (c. AD 64–67) No 

Andrew Crucified in Patras (Greece) No 

James son of Alphaeus Tradition varies (Persia, Egypt, or martyred in Jerusalem?) – but no early evidence places it in Jerusalem Almost certainly No 

John son of Zebedee Died of old age in Ephesus (late 1st century) No 

Philip Martyred in Hierapolis (Asia Minor) No 

Bartholomew (Nathanael) Martyred in Armenia or India No 

Thomas Speared to death in Mylapore (India) No 

Matthew (Levi) Martyred in Ethiopia or Persia No 

James the Less (son of Alphaeus) Usually confused with James the Just (brother of Jesus) – but he is not one of the Twelve — 

Thaddaeus (Jude/Lebbaeus) Martyred in Persia or Beirut No 

Simon the Zealot Martyred in Persia, Caucasus, or Britain No 

Judas Iscariot Suicide near Jerusalem (c. AD 30–33) – but he was no longer an apostle after betrayal — 

Matthias (replacement) Martyred in Judea or Ethiopia No 

Summary 

Only 1 of the original/replacement Twelve Apostles definitively died in Jerusalem: James son of Zebedee (AD 44)…killed by Herod. 

James the Just (the brother of Jesus, leader at the Jerusalem Council) also died in Jerusalem in AD 62, but he was not one of the Twelve Apostles. 

Luke 13:34-35 (NIV) "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 

35 Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" 

Maranatha, Hosanna, Hallelujah and Amen, 

Terry Cooper