BIG C CATHOLICS

All we know of Barnabas comes from the New Testament. A Jew from Cyprus, Barnabas was chosen by the Holy Spirit to share in the mission of the Apostles. So much so, that the Church honors him as one of them. He played an essential role in the spread of Christianity beyond the Jewish world. Barnabas was closely affiliated with St. Paul (he introduced Paul to Peter and the other apostles) and was a mediator between Paul and the still suspicious Jewish Christian community. He was Paul's traveling companion on the latter’s first missionary journey. With Paul he brought Antioch's donation to the Jerusalem Christians during a famine, and returned to Antioch with John Mark, his cousin. The three went on to Cyprus, where they were violently persecuted. Barnabas is mentioned as one of the most selfless members of the new, extremely poor Church in Jerusalem: "The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but the

The first act of the apostles following the Ascension of Jesus was to find a replacement for Judas. With all the uncertainty they faced, they focused their attention on naming a twelfth apostle. Why was this important? Twelve was a number of significance to the Chosen People: twelve was the number of the twelve tribes of Israel. If the new Israel was to come from the disciples of Jesus, a twelfth apostle was needed. [See video below.] The apostles cast lots and Matthias was chosen. That is the first and last time we hear about Mathias in Sacred Scripture. Fr. René Butler writes this about Matthias, while reflecting on the inscrutable ways of God: "And Matthias was never heard from again. Well, as far as that goes, he was never heard from before, either. This story of his “election” as an Apostle is the only time he is mentioned by name in the whole New Testament. We know, from the criterion established by Peter, that both he and Barsabbas were among the first disciples of

At the time that Jesus summoned him, Matthew was a publican, or tax collector for the Romans. His profession was despised by the Jews because it reminded them of their subjection. Pharisees viewed publicans as sinners. St. Matthew is known principally as an Evangelist. According to popular piety, he was the first to put down in writing our Lord's teaching and the account of His life. His Gospel was written in Aramaic, the language that our Lord Himself spoke. St. Matthew: From Publican to Apostle & Evangelist  No one was more shunned by the Jews than publicans. They were Jews who worked for the Roman Empire by robbing fellow Jews (through over taxation); making large personal profits as a result. Publicans were not allowed to trade, eat, or even pray with other Jews. One day, while seated at his table of accounts, Jesus looked at Matthew and said two words: "Follow me." This was all that was needed to make Matthew rise, leaving his pieces of silver to follow

(9/9/2015: This list includes the non-apostle Evangelists & Paul of Tarsus. See also " How the Apostles Where Martyred " ) Matthew Suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia - Killed by a sword wound Mark Died in Alexandria, Egypt, after being dragged by horses through the streets until he was dead Luke Was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous preaching to the lost. John Faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution in Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered from death.   John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison island of Patmos .   He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos. The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve as Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey.   He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully. Peter He was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross. According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt u