Matthew was a man who could have moved comfortably in political circles, and his book mentions things that someone in his position would know. For example, his account of theResurrection tells that those assigned to guard the Savior’s tomb saw two angels roll back the stone that covered the door of the tomb. They told their superiors what had happened, so the soldiers were offered large sums of money to say that the Lord’s followers had crept in and carried His body away. This lie was then spread among the Jews. (See Matthew 28:2–15.) Matthew must have been informed about the bribery. The book of Matthew is the only place this interesting bit of information is told.

According to legend, the former tax collector turned missionary was martyred in Ethiopia, where he was supposedly stabbed in the back by an swordsman sent by King Hertacus, after he criticized the king’s morals.

By Caris

Good Afternoon! Let us rejoice in the Lord.

The apostle James ( the son of Alphaeus), who is also called "Less" or "Younger," was a brother of the apostle Matthew and the son of Mary.  Which Mary is not altogether certain though she seems to be the wife of one Cleopas (Cleophas), which may have been another or second name for Alphaeus.

James was a native of Capernaum (located on the northwestern shores of the Sea of Galilee in Israel.)  It is believed that he was from the Jewish tribe of Levi, however, this is not certain.

Not much is known about the latter ministry of of this apostle, however, Aziz S. Atiya, in his "History of Eastern Christianity" says," The seeds of Syrian Christianity had been sown in Jerusalem during the Apostolic age and the contention has been made that the first bishop of the Syrian church was none other than St. James of the Twelve Apostles, identified as 'St. James the Less'."

It has also been said that James (son of Alphaeus) was stoned in Jerusalem for preaching Christ and buried by the Sanctuary.

Death: 65 or 107

Simon was surnamed the Zealot for his adherence to the Jewish law and to the Canaanite law.
He was one of the original followers of Christ. Western tradition is that he preached in Egypt and then went to Persia with St. Jude, where both suffered martyrdom. Eastern tradition says Simon died peacefully at Edessa. 

Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

— Luke 6:14–16

He had been a merchant in Capernaum before he turned his entire attention to the patriotic organization of the Zealots

Simon Zelotes was given charge of the diversions and relaxation of the apostolic group, and he was a very efficient organizer of the play life and recreational activities of the twelve.

Simon's strength was his inspirational loyalty When the apostles found a man or woman who floundered in indecision about entering the kingdom, they would send for Simon. It usually required only about fifteen minutes for this enthusiastic advocate of salvation through faith in God to settle all doubts and remove all indecision, to see a new soul born into the "liberty of faith and the joy of salvation."

Of the final days of the apostle Peter in Rome, Italy, Jowett wrote that Peter was cast into a horrible prison called the Mamertine.  For nine months, in  darkness, he endured torture manacled to a post.  In spite of all the suffering Peter  converted his jailers, Processus, Martinianus, and forty-seven others.

Peter met his death at the hand of the Romans in Nero's circus, 67AD.