The Festival of St. Bartholomew, Apostle
Posted on August 24, 2026 by under
Scripture: St. Luke 22:24-30 (NKJV)
22:24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.
28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Devotion
When we think of the Apostles, which names are we most likely to remember? Paul, certainly. Probably Peter, and also John. Matthew, perhaps, who was also an Evangelist. Bartholomew, though, is less well-known. Scripture does not say as much about what he said and did as it does some of these other Apostles. Bartholomew did not write a book of the New Testament that bears his name.
Yet, St. Bartholomew is greatly honored. He is one of the Twelve, whom Jesus chose to become His disciples and His Apostles, to preach the Good News about life and the forgiveness of sins in His name to the whole world. Like the other Apostles, Bartholomew was called to travel through the world, preaching repentance and salvation in the name of Jesus Christ. In worldly terms, we would probably not say that he is the greatest of the Apostles. God does not always call Christians to be the greatest or the best known; in fact, in these very verses He says that we should serve each other. He also calls us to be faithful to the callings that He gives us, and to trust Him to care about the results. Bartholomew was faithful to His Lord, to the point of death, and as such we can learn from his example.
Collect: O Almighty God, Who hast built Thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Head Cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable unto Thee; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Almighty and Merciful God, of Whose only gift it cometh that Thy faithful people do unto Thee true and laudable service: Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may so faithfully serve Thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain Thy heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
