Bartholomew’s Missionary Journeys

The Apostle Bartholomew is also known as Nathanael. Bartholomew literally means “Son of Tholomaios” which is an ancient Hebrew surname. It is written in the Gospel of John (1:44-51) that it was Philip, who upon learning of Jesus, brought Nathanael (Bartholomew) to the Lord and thus he became one of the 12 Apostles.

After Pentecost, the lots were cast to distribute the territories in which each Apostle would preach. The Apostles Bartholomew and Philip were assigned the regions of Syria and Asia Minor. Sometimes they worked together, sometimes apart in their ministry of the Gospel.

Jerusalem: Begins

Syria: Teaching, Wonder-working, Baptizing and Ordaining

Western Asia Minor (now Turkey): There he worked in the regions of Lydia and Mysia, in neighboring cities to which the Apostle Philip was working. Bartholomew received a command from the Lord to go to the aid of Philip and Philip’s sister and co-laborer for the Gospel, Mariamne, and help them. Thus, they met up in Hierapolis of Phrygia.

Hieropolis: There, they were joined also by the Apostle John for a short time and by their prayers, God killed a large serpent that lived in a pagan temple, which was worshiped with sacrifices by the people there. They baptized multitudes and ordained bishops and presbyters. They taught the people, healed many; including a man named Stachys who was forty-years blind; and the wife of the mayor who was dying from a snake bite.

The mayor, who was not happy about his wife’s conversion to the Christian Faith, tortured and crucified both Philip and Bartholomew. Philip received the crown of martyrdom in Hierapolis, but by a dramatic and miraculous turn of events, Bartholomew survived and continued preaching and strengthening the newly founded Church there.

India: Bartholomew spent quite a long time in India; preaching, healing and establishing churches. He also translated the Gospel of Matthew (which he carried with him) into the native language and gave it to them along with a copy of it in the Hebrew language.

Armenia – Urbanopolis: There, he preached, worked wonders, cast out demons by the power of God, baptized many, but was ultimately martyred by King Astyages in about the year 90 AD.