The Twelve
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Jesus and His twelve disciples.
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Disciples are supporters, devotees, or students who believe in a cause or the teachings of a leader. The word disciple is translated from the Greek word mathetes, which means one that learns. In the Bible, disciples refer to the followers of Jesus (Matthew 5:1; 8:21; 10:1; 11:1; 20:17), John the Baptist (Matthew 9:14), or the Pharisees (Matthew 22:15-16). Although Jesus had many disciples (Luke 10:1), not just twelve, this piece centers on Jesus' original twelve followers. They traveled with the Messiah, learned at His feet, heard the great sermons, and witnessed the miracles. Jesus prepared them to build the church after His crucifixion.
After Jesus' resurrection and ascension into heaven, the twelve disciples were called apostles.
An apostle is no longer a student. They are a teacher, a proponent, ambassador, messenger, advocate, or missionary. An apostle is a person who believes in an idea or cause and persuades others to follow it. Jesus was the first Christian Apostle (Hebrews 3:1), sent to petition God's cause with mankind. The twelve were given the power to heal the sick and injured and drive out demons (Mark 3:14-15). After the ascension, the apostles built the church in Jerusalem, spread the news of salvation throughout the Roman Empire, and organized the church.
These are the twelve original disciples:
Peter -
This is Jesus' disciple Simon Peter (2 Peter 1:1), also called simply Peter, or Simeon (Acts 15:14), Simon (Matthew 10:2), or Simon Bar-jona (Matthew 16:17) meaning Simon, son of Jonah (Matthew 1:42). The Greek translation for Peter is Petros (meaning rock), the Aramaic is Cephas (John 1:42), and the Latin is Petrus.
Peter, the oldest of the twelve disciples, was born a Jew in Bethsaida (John 1:44) on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee. His father, Jonah, was also called Jona or Jonas (John 21:15-17), and his younger brother was the disciple Andrew (John 1:40; 6:8). Peter was a simple fisherman in Capernaum (Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16) and partnered with James and John (Luke 5:10) when he met Jesus. Bold but uneducated (Acts 4:13), Peter (and Andrew) were the first disciples (Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18) and became part of Jesus' inner circle. Jesus used Peter's home as His base whenever He was in Galilee (as prophesized in Isaiah 9:1-2 and discussed in Matthew 4:13-16).
Peter wrote the First and Second Epistles of Peter (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1), walked on water (Matthew 14:28-31), performed the miracle at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:1-10), witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36; 2 Peter 1:16-18), the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane Garden as He waited for the mob to arrest Him (Mark 14:32-34). It was Peter who drew a sword to prevent Jesus' arrest (John 18:10-13). Yet within hours, he denied knowing the Messiah three times (Matthew 26:69-75; John 18:15-27). After the crucifixion, Peter became the rock on which Jesus built His church (Matthew 16:16-19) and helped spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to Rome. Whenever the Bible lists the twelve disciples/apostles, Peter is always listed first (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19), and Roman Catholics call him their first Pope. Peter was married (Matthew 8:14; Mark 1:30; Luke 4:38) and brought his wife (Concordia) on his missionary journeys (1 Corinthians 9:5).
Although Jesus told Peter he would be crucified when he "shalt be old" (John 21:18-19), the Bible gives us no details of his death. However, the Christian writers Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus (AD 160-220) and Origen Adamantius (AD 185-254) report that Peter was crucified upside down by Nero in Rome circa AD 70, three years after writing 2 Peter. An unverified tradition claims that Peter's wife, Concordia, was also martyred for her faith.
Andrew -
Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist (John 1:40) when he met Jesus and became one of the original twelve disciples. Born in Bethsaida (John 1:44), Andrew was the son of Jonah (also called Jona or Jonas) and the younger brother of Simon Peter (John 6:8). He and Peter were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee when called by Jesus (Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18). It is said that Andrew was crucified in Achaia for refusing to worship pagan gods.
James -
Another of the original twelve disciples. James was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21; 10:2, Mark 1:19; Luke 5:10) and Salome (Mary's sister), Jesus' cousin, and older brother of the disciple John. Born into a wealthy family, James was a fisherman and a partner with Peter (Luke 5:10) when Jesus called and made him part of His inner circle (along with Peter and John). James was allowed to witness the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36), the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42; Luke 8:49-55), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane as He waited to be arrested (Matthew 26:37; Mark 14:32-34). Jesus nicknamed James and his brother John the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17) and predicted that James would meet a bloody end (Matthew 20:23; Mark 10:38-39). Sure enough, James was the first of the twelve apostles to die (not counting Judas). He was killed by King Herod Agrippa as documented in Acts 12:1-2.
John -
The youngest of the original twelve disciples, John was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21-22; 10:2; Mark 1:19-20; 10:35; Luke 5:10-11) and Salome. He was the younger brother of the disciple James (Matthew 10:2), and a fisherman when called by Jesus. John's mother, Salome, and the Virgin Mary were sisters, making Jesus and John's cousin. John was a Jew, born in Palestine (Bethsaida) into a wealthy family. John was well-connected, knew the high priest (John 18:15), and captained a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee. He believed that John the Baptist was "sent from God" (John 1:6) to pave the way for Jesus. Once he met Jesus, John forsook his wealth, connections, and position to follow the Messiah. Jesus nicknamed John and his brother James the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17). John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; and 21:20 refer to him as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," quite an honor. John is often called the "Apostle of love" for his empathy toward his fellow believers. In his writings, he routinely calls Christians "my dear children" (1 John 2:1). Along with Peter and James, John was part of Jesus' inner circle. He sat next to Jesus, leaning on Him at the Last Supper (John 13:23), and was allowed to witness the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), Jesus praying in Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-34), and the Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36). Unlike the other disciples who ran and hid when Jesus was arrested, John followed Jesus to Calvary, watched the crucifixion, and stayed by Jesus' side until the end. While dying on the cross, Jesus turned over His mother's care to John (John 19:26-27). After the crucifixion, John became a driving force for Christianity. Bold yet uneducated (Acts 4:13), John wrote "The Gospel According to St. John," the Three Epistles of John, and the prophetic "The Revelation of John the Divine." Late in life, the Romans exiled John to the island of Patmos, a Roman penal colony in the Aegean Sea, for preaching the word of God (Revelation 1:9). The Romans eventually freed John and he died an old man around AD 98 in Ephesus. But what a life John led. He traveled with Jesus, saw the miracles, heard the sermons, and witnessed the Messiah's suffering, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. He was the last of the original twelve disciples to die and the only one to die a natural death.
Philip -
From Bethsaida in Galilee (John 1:44; 12:21), Philip was the fourth of the original twelve disciples (John 1:40-43). He immediately brought Bartholomew (also called Nathanael), the fifth disciple, to meet Jesus (John 1:45-46). Although Philip is a Greek name, he was Jewish. We see Jesus test Philip in John 6:5-6 and gently chastise him for his lack of faith in John 14:7-9. "Certain Greeks," asked Philip to introduce them to Jesus (John 12:20-23). After the crucifixion, it's believed that Philip went north to Phrygia in Central Asia Minor to spread the Gospel and that he died at Hieropolis in Syria. Not to be confused with Philip, the evangelist from Caesarea.
Bartholomew -
Also called Nathanael (John 1:45-46). Bartholomew was from Cana in Galilee (John 21:2), He was born into a Jewish family and became the fifth of the original twelve disciples. Jesus described him as being without "guile" (John 1:47). Very little is known of Bartholomew. He is only seen when being recruited by Jesus and when the resurrected Messiah appears to him and six other followers at the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1-2).
Thomas -
Another of the original twelve disciples (Matthew 10:2-3), also called Didymus (Greek for twin). Despite saying he was willing to die with Jesus (John 11:16), Thomas fled with everyone else when Christ was arrested (Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50). When the other disciples told Thomas they had seen the resurrected Jesus, he didn't believe them (John 20:24-25). This is where we get the term "Doubting Thomas." Eight days later, Thomas saw Jesus and was invited by the Messiah to place his finger inside His wounds (John 20:26-29). Thomas saw Jesus again on the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1-2). After that, he became a faithful servant spreading Christianity. Today, the Christians of Malabar, India, regard Thomas as the founder of their church and call themselves the "Thomas Christians."
Matthew -
Matthew, whose Jewish name was Levi (Luke 5:27), was born in Galilee. The name Matthew means "gift of God." He was the son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14) and was working as a publican (tax collector) for the Romans in Capernaum (Matthew 9:9; Luke 5:27) when he met Jesus. His fellow Jews despised him for working with the Roman occupiers. Matthew left his lucrative job to follow Jesus and celebrated with "a great banquet at his house" (Matthew 9:10; Mark 2:15; Luke 5:29). He then became the Messiah's traveling companion and record keeper, a job he was well suited for as a former tax collector. Although the Bible doesn't say so, biblical scholars credit Matthew as the author of "The Gospel According to Matthew."
Matthew's Gospel is an eyewitness account of what he heard and saw during his years with Jesus. Because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit, "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" is wholly credible. Written sometime between AD 57 and 65 (before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70), the book of Matthew was probably penned in Hebrew and translated into Greek about fifteen years later. Matthew is last mentioned in Acts 1:13 as one of the twelve in the upper room after Jesus' ascension. It is unclear whether Matthew died of natural causes or was killed for his Christian faith.
James -
James was a common name in biblical times. Counting two of Jesus' disciples, there are four James mentioned in the New Testament. This James was one of the original twelve disciples (Matthew 10:1-3; Mark 3:14-18; Luke 6:13-15). He was sometimes called "James the less" (Mark 15:40) or "James the younger" (because he was younger than the other disciple named James). He was the son of Alphaeus (Luke 6:15) and Mary (Mark 15:40) and brother to the disciple Thaddaeus (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13; Jude 1:1), who was also called Jude, Judas or Juda.
Jude -
There were two men named Judas (Greek for Jude) among the original twelve disciples. One was Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus (Matthew 26:47-49; Mark 14:43-46; Luke 6:16; 22:47-48). This Jude was the "brother of James" (Acts 1:13; Jude 1:1) and the author of "The General Epistle of Jude." Jude was also called Juda, or Judas Lebbaeus, surnamed Thaddaeus (Matthew 10:3). Galatians 1:19 tells us that James was Jesus' half-brother; therefore, so was Jude (Acts 1:13). In all, Jesus seems to have had four half brothers, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas (Matthew 13:55). At first, Jude did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah (John 7:5), but eventually he became a believer. Some Bible scholars believe Jude founded the church in Edessa, in Upper Mesopotamia (modern-day southeastern Turkey). The Palestinian historian Eusebius of Caesarea records that the Roman Emperor Domitian ordered the arrest of Jude's grandsons in AD 96 as part of his persecution of Christians. Little else is known about Jude, but it is believed he wrote "The General Epistle of Jude" sometime between AD 65 and 68.
Simon the Canaanite -
Simon was another of the original twelve disciples (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18). He was sometimes called Simon Zelotes (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13) because he was a member of the militarized Zelotes, meaning zealot. Judaism had four factions: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and the Zealots. Unlike the other three factions, the Zealots were fiercely nationalistic and strident defenders of the Mosaic Law. They refused to bend to Gentile (Roman) authority. The Zealots were opposed to paying Roman taxes (Luke 20:22) and sometimes resorted to armed rebellion against Rome. They often conducted terrorist-type raids and assassinated Romans and Jewish leaders who cooperated with the Romans. In part, it was one of their uprisings in AD 70 that led to Jerusalem's destruction at the hands of the Roman army.
Judas Iscariot -
Iscariot is Hebrew for "man of Kerioth," a town in southern Judea. Judas was the son of Simon Iscariot (John 6:71; 12:4; 13:2; 13:26) and one of the original twelve disciples (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:19; Luke 6:16). He is the only one of the twelve who was not a Galilean. Judas was a thief (John 12:6) who joined Jesus and was put in charge of the group's finances (John 13:29). Jesus knew that he would be betrayed and said so several times (Matthew 26:21-25; John 6:70-71; 13:21). Soon after His prophecy, Judas betrayed the Messiah (Mark 14:10; Luke 22:3-4; John 13:2) for "thirty pieces of silver" (Matthew 26:14-16), the price of a slave. He then committed suicide (Matthew 27:5) out of remorse. Whenever the Bible lists the twelve disciples, Judas is always listed last (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:14-19).
After Jesus' resurrection and ascension into heaven, the twelve disciples were called apostles.
An apostle is no longer a student. They are a teacher, a proponent, ambassador, messenger, advocate, or missionary. An apostle is a person who believes in an idea or cause and persuades others to follow it. Jesus was the first Christian Apostle (Hebrews 3:1), sent to petition God's cause with mankind. The twelve were given the power to heal the sick and injured and drive out demons (Mark 3:14-15). After the ascension, the apostles built the church in Jerusalem, spread the news of salvation throughout the Roman Empire, and organized the church.
These are the twelve original disciples:
Peter -
This is Jesus' disciple Simon Peter (2 Peter 1:1), also called simply Peter, or Simeon (Acts 15:14), Simon (Matthew 10:2), or Simon Bar-jona (Matthew 16:17) meaning Simon, son of Jonah (Matthew 1:42). The Greek translation for Peter is Petros (meaning rock), the Aramaic is Cephas (John 1:42), and the Latin is Petrus.
Peter, the oldest of the twelve disciples, was born a Jew in Bethsaida (John 1:44) on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee. His father, Jonah, was also called Jona or Jonas (John 21:15-17), and his younger brother was the disciple Andrew (John 1:40; 6:8). Peter was a simple fisherman in Capernaum (Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16) and partnered with James and John (Luke 5:10) when he met Jesus. Bold but uneducated (Acts 4:13), Peter (and Andrew) were the first disciples (Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18) and became part of Jesus' inner circle. Jesus used Peter's home as His base whenever He was in Galilee (as prophesized in Isaiah 9:1-2 and discussed in Matthew 4:13-16).
Peter wrote the First and Second Epistles of Peter (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1), walked on water (Matthew 14:28-31), performed the miracle at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:1-10), witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36; 2 Peter 1:16-18), the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane Garden as He waited for the mob to arrest Him (Mark 14:32-34). It was Peter who drew a sword to prevent Jesus' arrest (John 18:10-13). Yet within hours, he denied knowing the Messiah three times (Matthew 26:69-75; John 18:15-27). After the crucifixion, Peter became the rock on which Jesus built His church (Matthew 16:16-19) and helped spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to Rome. Whenever the Bible lists the twelve disciples/apostles, Peter is always listed first (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19), and Roman Catholics call him their first Pope. Peter was married (Matthew 8:14; Mark 1:30; Luke 4:38) and brought his wife (Concordia) on his missionary journeys (1 Corinthians 9:5).
Although Jesus told Peter he would be crucified when he "shalt be old" (John 21:18-19), the Bible gives us no details of his death. However, the Christian writers Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus (AD 160-220) and Origen Adamantius (AD 185-254) report that Peter was crucified upside down by Nero in Rome circa AD 70, three years after writing 2 Peter. An unverified tradition claims that Peter's wife, Concordia, was also martyred for her faith.
Andrew -
Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist (John 1:40) when he met Jesus and became one of the original twelve disciples. Born in Bethsaida (John 1:44), Andrew was the son of Jonah (also called Jona or Jonas) and the younger brother of Simon Peter (John 6:8). He and Peter were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee when called by Jesus (Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18). It is said that Andrew was crucified in Achaia for refusing to worship pagan gods.
James -
Another of the original twelve disciples. James was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21; 10:2, Mark 1:19; Luke 5:10) and Salome (Mary's sister), Jesus' cousin, and older brother of the disciple John. Born into a wealthy family, James was a fisherman and a partner with Peter (Luke 5:10) when Jesus called and made him part of His inner circle (along with Peter and John). James was allowed to witness the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36), the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42; Luke 8:49-55), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane as He waited to be arrested (Matthew 26:37; Mark 14:32-34). Jesus nicknamed James and his brother John the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17) and predicted that James would meet a bloody end (Matthew 20:23; Mark 10:38-39). Sure enough, James was the first of the twelve apostles to die (not counting Judas). He was killed by King Herod Agrippa as documented in Acts 12:1-2.
John -
The youngest of the original twelve disciples, John was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21-22; 10:2; Mark 1:19-20; 10:35; Luke 5:10-11) and Salome. He was the younger brother of the disciple James (Matthew 10:2), and a fisherman when called by Jesus. John's mother, Salome, and the Virgin Mary were sisters, making Jesus and John's cousin. John was a Jew, born in Palestine (Bethsaida) into a wealthy family. John was well-connected, knew the high priest (John 18:15), and captained a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee. He believed that John the Baptist was "sent from God" (John 1:6) to pave the way for Jesus. Once he met Jesus, John forsook his wealth, connections, and position to follow the Messiah. Jesus nicknamed John and his brother James the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17). John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; and 21:20 refer to him as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," quite an honor. John is often called the "Apostle of love" for his empathy toward his fellow believers. In his writings, he routinely calls Christians "my dear children" (1 John 2:1). Along with Peter and James, John was part of Jesus' inner circle. He sat next to Jesus, leaning on Him at the Last Supper (John 13:23), and was allowed to witness the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), Jesus praying in Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-34), and the Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36). Unlike the other disciples who ran and hid when Jesus was arrested, John followed Jesus to Calvary, watched the crucifixion, and stayed by Jesus' side until the end. While dying on the cross, Jesus turned over His mother's care to John (John 19:26-27). After the crucifixion, John became a driving force for Christianity. Bold yet uneducated (Acts 4:13), John wrote "The Gospel According to St. John," the Three Epistles of John, and the prophetic "The Revelation of John the Divine." Late in life, the Romans exiled John to the island of Patmos, a Roman penal colony in the Aegean Sea, for preaching the word of God (Revelation 1:9). The Romans eventually freed John and he died an old man around AD 98 in Ephesus. But what a life John led. He traveled with Jesus, saw the miracles, heard the sermons, and witnessed the Messiah's suffering, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. He was the last of the original twelve disciples to die and the only one to die a natural death.
Philip -
From Bethsaida in Galilee (John 1:44; 12:21), Philip was the fourth of the original twelve disciples (John 1:40-43). He immediately brought Bartholomew (also called Nathanael), the fifth disciple, to meet Jesus (John 1:45-46). Although Philip is a Greek name, he was Jewish. We see Jesus test Philip in John 6:5-6 and gently chastise him for his lack of faith in John 14:7-9. "Certain Greeks," asked Philip to introduce them to Jesus (John 12:20-23). After the crucifixion, it's believed that Philip went north to Phrygia in Central Asia Minor to spread the Gospel and that he died at Hieropolis in Syria. Not to be confused with Philip, the evangelist from Caesarea.
Bartholomew -
Also called Nathanael (John 1:45-46). Bartholomew was from Cana in Galilee (John 21:2), He was born into a Jewish family and became the fifth of the original twelve disciples. Jesus described him as being without "guile" (John 1:47). Very little is known of Bartholomew. He is only seen when being recruited by Jesus and when the resurrected Messiah appears to him and six other followers at the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1-2).
Thomas -
Another of the original twelve disciples (Matthew 10:2-3), also called Didymus (Greek for twin). Despite saying he was willing to die with Jesus (John 11:16), Thomas fled with everyone else when Christ was arrested (Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50). When the other disciples told Thomas they had seen the resurrected Jesus, he didn't believe them (John 20:24-25). This is where we get the term "Doubting Thomas." Eight days later, Thomas saw Jesus and was invited by the Messiah to place his finger inside His wounds (John 20:26-29). Thomas saw Jesus again on the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1-2). After that, he became a faithful servant spreading Christianity. Today, the Christians of Malabar, India, regard Thomas as the founder of their church and call themselves the "Thomas Christians."
Matthew -
Matthew, whose Jewish name was Levi (Luke 5:27), was born in Galilee. The name Matthew means "gift of God." He was the son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14) and was working as a publican (tax collector) for the Romans in Capernaum (Matthew 9:9; Luke 5:27) when he met Jesus. His fellow Jews despised him for working with the Roman occupiers. Matthew left his lucrative job to follow Jesus and celebrated with "a great banquet at his house" (Matthew 9:10; Mark 2:15; Luke 5:29). He then became the Messiah's traveling companion and record keeper, a job he was well suited for as a former tax collector. Although the Bible doesn't say so, biblical scholars credit Matthew as the author of "The Gospel According to Matthew."
Matthew's Gospel is an eyewitness account of what he heard and saw during his years with Jesus. Because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit, "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" is wholly credible. Written sometime between AD 57 and 65 (before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70), the book of Matthew was probably penned in Hebrew and translated into Greek about fifteen years later. Matthew is last mentioned in Acts 1:13 as one of the twelve in the upper room after Jesus' ascension. It is unclear whether Matthew died of natural causes or was killed for his Christian faith.
James -
James was a common name in biblical times. Counting two of Jesus' disciples, there are four James mentioned in the New Testament. This James was one of the original twelve disciples (Matthew 10:1-3; Mark 3:14-18; Luke 6:13-15). He was sometimes called "James the less" (Mark 15:40) or "James the younger" (because he was younger than the other disciple named James). He was the son of Alphaeus (Luke 6:15) and Mary (Mark 15:40) and brother to the disciple Thaddaeus (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13; Jude 1:1), who was also called Jude, Judas or Juda.
Jude -
There were two men named Judas (Greek for Jude) among the original twelve disciples. One was Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus (Matthew 26:47-49; Mark 14:43-46; Luke 6:16; 22:47-48). This Jude was the "brother of James" (Acts 1:13; Jude 1:1) and the author of "The General Epistle of Jude." Jude was also called Juda, or Judas Lebbaeus, surnamed Thaddaeus (Matthew 10:3). Galatians 1:19 tells us that James was Jesus' half-brother; therefore, so was Jude (Acts 1:13). In all, Jesus seems to have had four half brothers, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas (Matthew 13:55). At first, Jude did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah (John 7:5), but eventually he became a believer. Some Bible scholars believe Jude founded the church in Edessa, in Upper Mesopotamia (modern-day southeastern Turkey). The Palestinian historian Eusebius of Caesarea records that the Roman Emperor Domitian ordered the arrest of Jude's grandsons in AD 96 as part of his persecution of Christians. Little else is known about Jude, but it is believed he wrote "The General Epistle of Jude" sometime between AD 65 and 68.
Simon the Canaanite -
Simon was another of the original twelve disciples (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18). He was sometimes called Simon Zelotes (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13) because he was a member of the militarized Zelotes, meaning zealot. Judaism had four factions: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and the Zealots. Unlike the other three factions, the Zealots were fiercely nationalistic and strident defenders of the Mosaic Law. They refused to bend to Gentile (Roman) authority. The Zealots were opposed to paying Roman taxes (Luke 20:22) and sometimes resorted to armed rebellion against Rome. They often conducted terrorist-type raids and assassinated Romans and Jewish leaders who cooperated with the Romans. In part, it was one of their uprisings in AD 70 that led to Jerusalem's destruction at the hands of the Roman army.
Judas Iscariot -
Iscariot is Hebrew for "man of Kerioth," a town in southern Judea. Judas was the son of Simon Iscariot (John 6:71; 12:4; 13:2; 13:26) and one of the original twelve disciples (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:19; Luke 6:16). He is the only one of the twelve who was not a Galilean. Judas was a thief (John 12:6) who joined Jesus and was put in charge of the group's finances (John 13:29). Jesus knew that he would be betrayed and said so several times (Matthew 26:21-25; John 6:70-71; 13:21). Soon after His prophecy, Judas betrayed the Messiah (Mark 14:10; Luke 22:3-4; John 13:2) for "thirty pieces of silver" (Matthew 26:14-16), the price of a slave. He then committed suicide (Matthew 27:5) out of remorse. Whenever the Bible lists the twelve disciples, Judas is always listed last (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:14-19).
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