Also known as Nathanael, he is introduced in the Gospel of John 1:45-51. In this passage, his brother Philip tells him that he has found Jesus, the fulfillment of Scripture. Skeptical, Bartholomew replied, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” From a distance, Jesus saw Bartholomew approach and said, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in who there is no deceit!” Bartholomew asked, “How do you know me?” Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Bartholomew was stunned and placed his faith in Jesus. “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” To this, Jesus said, “You will see greater things than these… you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Bartholomew remained with Jesus during his earthly ministry. After Jesus’ Ascension, he was among the disciples present when the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost, empowering them to “go into all the world” baptizing and making disciples. Church tradition says that Bartholomew made some of the farthest apostolic journeys. India, China, and Ethiopia were said to all be locations visited by Bartholomew. Eusebius, in his Ecclesiastical History, recounted that Bartholomew went to India and left behind a copy of the Gospel of Matthew. While in India, Bartholomew was sentenced to death for converting people to Christianity. Tradition says that he was flayed alive in an agonizing death. For this reason, artistic depictions of Bartholomew often show this dedicated apostle triumphantly holding the flaying knife (sometimes along with his own skin) that brought about his martyrdom.
Almighty and everlasting God, you gave your apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach your Word: Grant that your Church may love what he believed and preach what he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.