Early Christian traditions describe the regions where the apostles carried the gospel after the Resurrection. While not all details are recorded in Scripture, these traditions reflect how the early church understood the spread of Christianity.
| Disciple | Region/Mission Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Peter | Rome | Led the church in Rome and was martyred there under Nero. |
| Andrew | Greece / Asia Minor | Traditionally preached in Greece and was martyred in Patras. |
| James (son of Zebedee) | Jerusalem | Earliest martyr among the apostles; executed by Herod (Acts 12:2). |
| John | Ephesus | Lived and ministered in Ephesus; traditionally the only apostle to die of old age. |
| Philip | Phrygia (Asia Minor) | Associated with Hierapolis in modern Turkey. |
| Nathanael (Bartholomew) | Armenia / India traditions | Early traditions place his ministry in Armenia and possibly India. |
| Matthew | Ethiopia / Persia traditions | Traditions differ on whether he ministered in Ethiopia or Persia. |
| Thomas | India | Strong tradition that he brought Christianity to India. |
| James (son of Alphaeus) | Syria traditions | Little is recorded; traditions place his ministry in Syria. |
| Thaddaeus (Judas son of James) | Syria / Edessa | Associated with early Christian work in Edessa. |
| Simon the Zealot | Persia | Often paired with Thaddaeus in Persian mission traditions. |
| Paul | Asia Minor, Greece, Rome | Missionary journeys across the Roman world; eventually imprisoned and martyred in Rome. |