At the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, a handful of people were standing near the cross. These included Mary, Jesus’ mother; Mary Magdalene; Mary the wife of Clopas; Salome; John the Apostle; and Mary, the mother of James and Joseph.
All of these women were present at the foot of the cross to witness Jesus’ crucifixtion and death. Additionally, there were some male followers of Jesus, including Joseph of Arimathea and Nikodemus, who were standing nearby.
Lastly, there were Roman soldiers who were present in order to oversee the execution, including Centurion Longinus who ultimately proclaimed Jesus’ innocence just before He died.
Who was at the bottom of the cross?
At the bottom of the cross when Jesus was crucified, there were two others men who were crucified with Him, both criminals. One criminal mocked Jesus, while the other recognized Jesus’ innocence and defended Him.
This second criminal accepted Jesus as the Messiah and said to Him, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom. ” Jesus replied, “Truly, I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise. ” This criminal believed in Jesus, even when facing death, and for that belief, he was granted assurance of eternity with Jesus in paradise.
Therefore, the two criminals crucified with Jesus at the bottom of the cross were one who mocked Jesus, and another who accepted Him and was promised a place in paradise.
How heavy was Jesus cross?
The exact weight of the cross that Jesus carried on the way to his crucifixion is uncertain. It is likely, however, that it was a substantial weight, especially for someone in weak physical condition such as Jesus was at the time.
It is traditionally believed that the cross was constructed from wood harvested from olives, cypress, and cedar, and would have weighed around 150 pounds. However, archaeologists have suggested that the patibulum, the central cross beam, could have weighed as much as 70 pounds, and the stipes, or side posts, could have weighed in at 20 pounds each.
Adding to this weight was the titulus with its inscription, which was most likely a wooden plaque weighing 10 to 20 pounds. This would bring the total weight of the cross to up to 220 pounds. Whatever the case, there is no doubt that Jesus carrying his cross to Golgotha was a momentous task.
How many Apostles left standing?
In the New Testament there are twelve Apostles listed in Matthew 10:2–4 and Mark 3:16–19. The list includes Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus (also known as Judas), Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.
When Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus and killed himself (Matthew 27:3–5), that left the other 11 Apostles. After Pentecost, Matthias was chosen to take Judas Iscariot’s place, restoring the number of Apostles to twelve again (Acts 1:23–26).
Thus, at the time of Jesus’s ascension, there were eleven Apostles left standing.
Who was the apostle that was sawed in half?
The apostle who was sawed in half is traditionally believed to be St. Jude Thaddaeus, who is commemorated as the patron saint of lost causes. The story of St. Jude being sawed in half is not mentioned in the Bible, so it is up to interpretation based on other accounts.
According to tradition, St. Jude Thaddaeus was a convert of St. Peter and was martyred during the reign of Emperor Nero in A. D. 65. He is said to have been persecuted for his faith and then “sawn asunder with a wooden saw.
” This story is often used as an example of the great sacrifices that Christians have made to stay true to their faith in difficult times.
Which disciple was skinned alive?
Saint Bartholomew is traditionally accepted as being the disciple who was skinned alive. According to Christian tradition, this occurred as either a punishment for exposing an idol mischievously placed in the temple, or for refusing to convert to the idolatrous beliefs of King Astyages, depending on the source.
The Balforon (an early European prayer book) states that Bartholomew’s skin was removed “down to the waist”, while other sources have claimed that the entire skin of the Saint’s body was removed. Bartholomew’s death is variously narrated as having happened in India, Armenia and Turkey.
He is said to have preached the gospel in locations such as India and Armenia, and held to his faith even after threats of crucifixion, torture, and skinning. Bartholomew was eventually martyred in Albanopolis (modern day Aşağı Aluç) in Armenia, whereskinning alive is believed to have been his punishment.
Who was the only disciple not to be killed?
John the Apostle, who was a close friend of Jesus, was the only disciple not to be killed. He was the only disciple to survive the crucifixion of Jesus and live to a ripe old age. After the death of Jesus, John traveled throughout the Mediterranean area and eventually settled in Ephesus, modern day Turkey.
He founded several Christian churches in the area and wrote several important books of the New Testament, including the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation. Although he was exiled, tortured and arrested several times, he always managed to escape death.
He was the only disciple out of the twelve to witness the death and resurrection of Jesus, and is the spiritual leader of Christianity today.