Yes, thank you. I read it. That clarifies things a bit. … that still doesn’t account for the rest of the apostles. Where were they all, and if they weren’t at the cross, why not, unless for fear of their lives?
The fact that they were found in the upper room behind locked doors when Jesus visited them, would indicate that too. But it wasn’t from the Romans that they hid.
The gospel writing concerning Pilate indicates that some of the disciples were at the judging (Or at least ones like Nicodemus who weren’t known). And certain details about the scourging indicate that it was a public event as well. In neither of these events, though, are the eye-witnesses disclosed; It might be that it would be easier to have been in a defiled place (Pagan Judgment hall) because the leaders of the Jews (priests) had to celebrate the second passover – eg: a concession in the law of Moses for people who happened to be unclean at the first passover. The priests were unable to enter, and had to stay outside the main public area.
Notice, though, that the apostles are taken an beaten by the Sanhedrin and commanded not to speak in Jesus’ name – but they are not executed – at a later date. This is repeated several times: but it only occurs when they speak publicly.
It is not necessary that they be in fear of their lives from the actual authorities.
There is, however, the fear of a Mob – once Jesus is condemned to death.
St. Paul, the regular Jewish people attempted to kill at the temple for something he didn’t even do. eg: he was attacked because of his association with someone considered “unclean” who entered the temple – perhaps in the part he was legally entitled to , or perhaps he penetrated farther; racial bias was the root cause.
We know so little about certain of the apostles that there is nothing to go on regarding their motives; But – some of them, we do know their history.
Matthew, for example, was a tax collector. By the comon Jew, he would be considered a traitor and despised in any event. Once the followers of christ were subjected to doubt – he would have had a double fear of mobs.
Others of the twelve may have had their faith totally shaken; for Jesus is condemned to death – something many did not understand was part of the scriptures; Remember, Jesus prayed for Peter that his faith not fail – and said to him, that after the predicted betrayal, once he has returned to his senses, that he should strengthen the others of the twelve.
Peter was to be the foundational Rock to whom the other apostles were secured in the storm that followed the scandal of Jesus’ death. It is the trial of Faith that is the most heavily stressed: Satan wishes to sift you like wheat…(The more expensive of the grains)
It is on the last supper’s eve, remember, that Jesus first institutes the new passover which is the same night he is taken prisoner; The most difficult to understand of the teachings of Christ was given to them – his body – before his capture. Their faith was being severly tried; all the scriptures were teaching of this event; and it took an understanding of all these scriptures to grasp the meaning.
Some of the disciples, on the road to Emmaeus – were given the explanation after his resurrection; eg: How and why this death had to be. That alone is enough to suggest that many of them were bewildered by the events; and did not have time to think the problem through. Fear is natural in even an intimidation scenario where doubts abound and death isn’t the main threat.
Consider also: Peter, James, and John were the three that had more evidence than the rest. It is these three that he showed his glory on Mt. Tabor; Two of them showed up at his trial. The eldest, and the youngest of the twelve.
It is more a puzzle to me that James is never mentioned than any of the others – for James had witnessed enough to have a foundation for overcoming doubts.
Peter began to follow Jesus, even though Jesus told him he would deny him.
His was the harder decision; He who wondered at the supper whom the betrayer would be; with his fear peaked, and James and John asking for the the throne through their mother. Zebedee’s son’s.
It would be expected, that since John was a brother to James – that whatever “in” John had would be shared by his brother.
There is also one other speculative possibility, and that is that there is a theological reason of some kind (fulfillment of scripture) that the others would not have been there. I am uncertain of exactly what this would be; but it might also be that any apostles who had been there were only on the fringes of the crowd. Peter and his writer Mark were not there; Matthew was not there; Luke is still a Gentile. So the only one who was an eyewitness of the evangelists would be John.
If the others did not speak up about where they were; it would never have been recorded. Notice: some of the twelve don’t show up in tradition about ANYTHING they did; nor are they recorded in scripture. Yet we know they existed.
To the OP: I think it does explain why they were not persecuted actively – although it doesn’t explain all their actions.
Something to ponder…
(PS. If you saw Kevin & wife Serena, it would likely have been at St. Joseph’s. They do go to St. Vincent’s, but I am not certain that it is very often. You have good parishes, anyhow! – Though they said St. Joseph’s had changed quite a bit in the last 5 years or so… one of the Priests was a bit caustic toward the extra pious…
normal stuff…
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