Looking at the first chapter of John, the reader learns that Nathanael is introduced to Jesus by Philip who accompanies Jesus on a visit to Nathanael's home town of Cana.

According to John 1:47 Jesus' first words on meeting Nathanael were: "This man is a true Israelite... There is no guile in him."

This meeting between Jesus and Nathanael is the only known meaningful reference to Nathanael in the Bible. He is mentioned briefly by John again after the Resurrection, where he is one of the fishermen that Jesus directs to a miraculous catch of fish.

In his later life the writers Jerome and Chrysostom talk of Batholomew preaching in the region of Lycaonia in central Asia and then in Armenia.

The firmest traditions about Bartholomew's field of activities place him in India.

Both Eusebius and Jerome spoke of a scholar by the name of Pantanaeus, who, at the request of a native community there, was sent to India by Demetrius, bishop of Alexandria around AD180. When Pantanaeus arrived, it is recorded that he found a copy of the Gospel of Matthew, written in Hebrew which had reportedly been brought there by the Apostle Bartholomew.

The Apostolic Acts of Abdias provides us with information/myth about Bartholomew's work in India and describes him to the reader in great detail. As well as descriptions of his height and appearance, we are also told that he wore the same clothing for twenty six years without change and that he prayed a hundred times a day and a hundred times each night.

He is also described in the text as a friendly and cheerful man as well as a person who "knows all languages."

This account of his life also details his downfall and eventual death at the hands of a local ruler.

According to legend, he cured the daughter of the local king, Polymius, of her madness and the king subsequently granted Bartholomew the right to preach freely in his territory.

The Apostolic Acts of Abdias tells us that locals worshipped a goddess by the name of Astaroth. In a competition with the local priesthood, Bartholomew assembled a large crowd in front of an image of the goddess and challenged the deity to show itself. Instead the statue shattered and an angel appeared. The angel revealed the exercised demon-deity to the crowd. The goddess, totally black, "sharp faced" and breathing fire and brimstone, was bound in chains by the angel and sent away. The king, amazed at what he had just seen, was immediately baptised along with many of his subjects.

This miracle, though, was not enough to protect Bartholomew. The king's brother, Astriagis heard of the baptisms and declared war on the Christian community. Bartolomew was beaten with clubs, skinned alive and then finally beheaded. Scholars date his death at around AD62

Bartholomew is usually represented by a knife because he was flayed to death with one.

According to tradition, Bartholomew is buried in the Church of Bartholomew on the Tiber Island in Rome.

I am interested in knowing more about bankrolling the Bartholomew record. Please send me some information. I believe my song/music is fitting for release as part of the Bartholomew record. Please send me some information on how I submit my creation.