The Search for the Twelve Apostles Paperback – Illustrated, May 1, 2008

If you are interested in what happens to the disciples after Jesus’s death, this is a great book! Easy to read. I just enjoyed the book as whole. Very informative!

Whether or not one agrees with the author's conclusions (which he admits are best guesses, owing to the lack of substantiating documentation or evidence in most cases), this is nevertheless a fascinating and worthwhile read. As the author states, the book is more than a mere search for bones; rather, it is an honest attempt to determine the fate of the twelve apostles (as well as other persons whom the gospels and the Book of Acts mention). In each case, the author examines prevailing traditions and (if available) alternate possibilities. In some cases, such as those of Timothy (who became the patron saint of India) and James (who became the patron saint of Spain), it is clear that these apostles followed the Roman roads to reach those remote locations. In the case of Spain, we know from the writings of Paul that there was a community of exiles in Spain (Gaul); it is likely that there was also a similar community on the frontier with India. Why would these apostles have traveled to these parts? In order to obey Christ's command to take the gospel to "the uttermost parts of the world" and also to bring the gospel --- as Paul noted --- "first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." All in all, the book should stimulate one's thinking, even if one does not always agree with the conclusions. Yet, the author provides a decent case for the fate of each of these men.

William S. McBirnie's book, "The Search for the Twelve Apostles" is an excellent resource for those seeking more knowledge about the apostles, the circumstances they encountered, and the culture of the time. While the book is well written, it should be recognized that it was originally written as a thesis and maintains some of the academic flavor.The introductory chapter is an excellent guide to the apostles and was extremely helpful in developing an introduction for my class. Chapters on the individual apostles are useful in characterizing them as individuals.The Search for the Twelve Apostles

This book by Dr. McBirnie is a very readable but scholarly discussion of the legends surrounding the later lives and deaths of the Apostles, something that is not found in Scripture. Legends do have a kernel of truth in them, with pious accretions added over the centuries. No one really knows what happened to eleven of the twelve Apostles, since the book of Acts was clearly written before 70 AD and the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Roman general Titus. Many legends about these men have grown up over the years, some faiarly believable, some well-intentioned but obviously false; for example, there is absolutely no reason to think that St. Andrew ever went to Scotland, and not archaeological or historical evidence exists to suggest such a thing. Nonetheless, the book is very interesting and the reader can decide for him/herself what to believe. It's interesting in itself, as the Apostles were real people, but unfortunately history so far has not revealed their actual work or the times, places, or manner of their deaths. It is supposed that most if not all of them were martyred. Only John, the youngest, is thought to have died a natural death in very old age. The author is very even-handed and does not suggest that the legends about these men are any more than that; but some of the information is possibly true, even if probability suggests otherwise. A very interesting book for any Christian who wants to know what the legends are regarding the Twelve after the Book of Acts falls silent.

I really like how Rome has so many people indoctrinated into believing Peter was their "First Pope" and how Jesus was only speaking to him at the Rock, Too bad this was terribly researched and written, what a joke.

Well written and well researched .Interesting when I realized how little we actually know about the Apostles . From the Word of God, early church writings and oral history . If your studying the deeper things of God this is a good read .

Exactly what I was looking for.A well researched explanation on each of the Apostles of Christ.

Rev. Dr. McBirnie is obviously a real scholar, having traveled extensively and having made use of virtually all appropriate early Christian and non-Christian writings, not just the Bible. He does not dilute his in-depth historical research and analysis with speculative commentary based on doctrine. The facts are not always pleasant, considering that virtually all the apostles were martyred. Compared to all other books on the apostles to which I've been exposed, this book stands head and shoulder above.If you want a "feel good" book, go elsewhere. If you want to really learn about the dissemination of early Christianity, and the "final disposition" of the apostles, as best can be determined at this point, this is the book.(In addition to my own copy, I have, at this point (27 July 2013), bought four more copies for my more scholarly Christian friends.)

The author laboured greatly to write this book and consulted many sound and dedicated sources to bring us this book. Great and reliable book to read.

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Superb book.

The book sells itself as the culmination of 30 years of in depth research, finding obscure documents, personally exploring the paths that the apostles walked, even climbing a mountain to follow a rumour. Seemed as though it would be a fascinating and enlightening read.The actual book is not much like that. There are some interesting details that are given, and a some of the more interesting stuff is about where the apostles were buried, but when it comes to their actual journeys, there is much to be desired.Most of the obscure quotes come from fairly modern historians, who the author admits are using sources he has not seen. This means we don't know whether this information is trustworthy. So, if you're hoping for snippets taken from church fathers or non-Christian historians of the first few centuries, you're going to be left wanting.The other issue I have is that the author will often tell us "We know X happened in year Y and so...". However he gives us no evidence or reasoning to trust whether his dating is accurate, and in my own studies some of the dates he suggests are news to me. At the very least many of them are heavily debated.If you can pick it up cheap, it is worth a look, but it is far from the epic and detailed fountain of knowledge it claimed to be.

I was looking forward to reading this book (not in chronological order but according to the feast day of whichever apostle was being celebrated) but was sadly disappointed and put off from reading any more when I came across reading this statement made by the author at the very beginning of his chapter on Matthew (chapter 10):"Matthew was a brother of James the Less and both were the sons of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14)."McBirnie, William Steuart. The Search for the Twelve Apostles (Kindle Locations 2265-2266). Tyndale Momentum. Kindle Edition.Going to the Bible it actually says the following for Mark 2: 14:"14 And when he was passing by, he saw Levi, the son of Alpheus, sitting at the receipt of custom; and he saith to him: Follow me. And rising up, he followed him."Catholic Way Publishing. The Holy Bible: Douay-Rheims Version (Kindle Locations 75272-75273). Catholic Way Publishing. Kindle Edition.Yes, Matthew's father may have been called Alpheus but to make an assumption such as the author makes is just plain wrong and extremely misleading. Alphaeus may well have been a popular name at that particular time and so there were probably many men who were called this and just because James and Judas Thaddeus who were apostles, brothers and actual cousins of Jesus had a father named Alpheus who was the elder brother of Joseph (who was the foster father of our Lord) does not make Matthew their brother or rather a brother of James in the biological sense which is strongly suggested by the author. James and Judas had two older brothers named Joseph and Simon but Matthew was not related to any of the apostles biologically…If the author can be so slipshod over quite a major thing as this then I really have no confidence in any of the statements he actually makes & I do not want to read a book full of errors & I cannot recommend reading this book to anybody because of this.UPDATE: to those who are seeking to learn a little more about the apostles I would recommend reading about them in "The Saints Collection" by Catholic Way publishing as this collection is comprised of 2428 saints with a few saints given for each day of the year according to the feast day of each particular Saint…I looked up their section on St Matthew the Apostle and In the first paragraph that they devote to him they state the following:"St. Mark calls him the son of Alphæus; but the conjecture which some form from hence, that he was brother to St. James the Less, has not the very shadow of probability."Catholic Way Publishing. The Saints Collection [2,428 Saints] (Kindle Locations 56724-56725). Catholic Way Publishing. Kindle Edition