Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles, long identified with the Nathanael of John's Gospel, the man Jesus called an Israelite in whom there was no deceit. The Gospels tell us almost nothing more of him; he is named in every list of the Twelve and then falls silent. Ancient tradition sends him east to preach in Mesopotamia, India, and above all Armenia, where he is honored as the apostle who first brought the faith and where, the tradition says, he was flayed alive for it.