Foxs Book of Martyrs | Page 6

Luke, in the History of
the Apostles' Acts, was James the son of Zebedee, the elder brother of
John, and a relative of our Lord; for his mother Salome was
cousin-german to the Virgin Mary. It was not until ten years after the

death of Stephen, that the second martyrdom took place; for no sooner
had Herod Agrippa been appointed governor of Judea, than, with a
view to ingratiate himself with them, he raised a sharp persecution
against the christians, and determined to make an effectual blow, by
striking at their leaders. The account given us by an eminent primitive
writer, Clemens Alexandrinus, ought not to be overlooked; that, as
James was led to the place of martyrdom, his accuser was brought to
repent of his conduct by the apostle's extraordinary courage and
undauntedness, and fell down at his feet to request his pardon,
professing himself a christian, and resolving that James should not
receive the crown of martyrdom alone. Hence they were both beheaded
at the same time. Thus did the first apostolic martyr cheerfully and
resolutely receive that cup, which he had told our Saviour he was ready
to drink. Timon and Parmenas suffered martyrdom about the same time;
the one at Phillippi, and the other in Macedonia. These events took
place A. D. 44.
III. Philip.
Was born at Bethsaida, in Galilee, and was the first called by the name
of "Disciple." He laboured diligently in Upper Asia, and suffered
martyrdom at Heliopolis, in Phrygia. He was scourged, thrown into
prison, and afterwards crucified, A. D. 54.
IV. Matthew,
Whose occupation was that of a toll-gatherer, was born at Nazareth. He
wrote his gospel in Hebrew, which was afterwards translated into
Greek by James the Less. The scene of his labors was Parthia, and
Ethiopia, in which latter country he suffered martyrdom, being slain
with a halberd in the city of Nadabah, A. D. 60.
V. James the Less,
Is supposed by some to have been the brother of our Lord, by a former
wife of Joseph. This is very doubtful, and accords too much with the
catholic superstition, that Mary never had any other children except our
Saviour. He was elected to the oversight of the churches of Jerusalem;

and was the author of the epistle ascribed to James in the sacred canon.
At the age of ninety-four, he was beat and stoned by the Jews; and
finally had his brains dashed out with a fuller's club.
VI. Matthias,
Of whom less is known than of most of the other disciples, was elected
to fill the vacant place of Judas. He was stoned at Jerusalem and then
beheaded.
VII. Andrew,
Was the brother of Peter. He preached the gospel to many Asiatic
nations; but on his arrival at Edessa, he was taken and crucified on a
cross, the two ends of which were fixed transversely in the ground.
Hence the derivation of the term, St. Andrew's Cross.
VIII. St. Mark,
Was born of Jewish parents of the tribe of Levi. He is supposed to have
been converted to christianity by Peter, whom he served as an
amanuensis, and under whose inspection he wrote his gospel in the
Greek language. Mark was dragged to pieces by the people of
Alexandria, at the great solemnity of Serapis their idol, ending his life
under their merciless hands.
IX. Peter,
Was born at Bethsaida, in Galilee. He was by occupation a fisherman.
Christ gave him a name which in Syriac implies a rock. Peter is
supposed to have suffered martyrdom at Rome, during the reign of the
emperor Nero, being crucified with his head downward, at his own
request.
[It is, however, very uncertain, whether Peter ever visited Rome at all.
The evidence rather favouring the supposition that he ended his days in
some other country.--Ed.]

X. Paul,
The great apostle of the Gentiles, was a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, a
native of Tarsus in Cilicia, and before his conversion was called Saul.
After suffering various persecutions at Jerusalem, Iconium, Lystra,
Phillippi and Thessalonica, he was carried prisoner to Rome, where he
continued for two years, and was then released. He afterwards visited
the churches of Greece and Rome, and preached the gospel in Spain
and France, but returning to Rome, he was apprehended by order of
Nero, and beheaded.
XI. Jude,
The brother of James, was commonly called Thaddeus. He was
crucified at Edessa, A. D. 72.
XII. Bartholomew,
Preached in several countries, and having translated the gospel of
Matthew into the language of India, he propagated it in that country. He
was at length cruelly beaten and then crucified by the impatient
idolaters.
XIII. Thomas,
Called Didymus, preached the gospel in Parthia and India, where
exciting the rage of the pagan priests, he was martyred by being thrust
through