The Twelve.
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Jesus and His twelve disciples.
By American illustrator Joseph Harry Anderson (1906-1996).
By American illustrator Joseph Harry Anderson (1906-1996).
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), and the Pharisees (Matthew 22:15-16). Jesus had many disciples (Luke 10:1), not just twelve. This piece centers on Jesus' original twelve disciples. 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 the 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 good news of salvation throughout the Roman Empire, and organized the church.
These are the twelve Disciples:
Peter -
Peter was the oldest of the twelve disciples. He was also called Simon Peter (2 Peter 1:1), Simeon (Acts 15:14), Simon Bar-jona (Matthew 16:17), meaning Simon, son of Jonah (Matthew 1:42), or just Simon (Matthew 10:2). The Greek translation for Peter is Petros (meaning rock), the Aramaic is Cephas (John 1:42), and the Latin is Petrus. Peter was born in Bethsaida (John 1:44) on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee. His father, Jona, was also called Jonah or Jonas (Matthew 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 partners 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 part of Jesus' inner circle. Whenever Jesus was in Galilee, He used Peter's home as His base. Peter wrote the First and Second Epistles of Peter (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1). He 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 as He waited to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34). Peter rose before the mob to resist Jesus' arrest (John 18:10-13), yet within hours, he denied even knowing Him three times (Matthew 26:69-75). 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 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 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 Emperor Nero in Rome about AD 70, approximately three years after writing 2 Peter.
Andrew -
A follower of John the Baptist who became one of the original twelve disciples (John 1:40). From Bethsaida, Andrew was Jonas's son and a fisherman with his brother Peter (John 6:8) when Jesus called them to become the first disciples. It is said that Andrew was crucified in Achaia for refusing to worship pagan gods.
James -
James was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:19) and Salome (Mary's sister), Jesus' cousin, and older brother of the disciple John. Born into a wealthy family, James was a fisherman and partner with Peter (Luke 5:10) when Jesus called and made him part of His inner circle (along with Peter and John). He 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 (Matthew 26:37; Mark 14:32-34). Jesus nicknamed James and his brother John the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17). Jesus predicted that James would meet a bloody end (Matthew 20:23; Mark 10:38-39), and sure enough, James was the first of the twelve apostles to die (excluding Judas), killed by King Herod as documented in Acts 12:1-2.
John -
John was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21-22; Mark 1:19-20; 10:35; Luke 5:10-11) and Salome, the younger brother to the disciple James (Matthew 10:2), and a fisherman on the sea of Galilee when called by Jesus. John's mother Salome and the Virgin Mary were sisters, making Jesus and John cousins. John was a Jew, born in Palestine (Bethsaida) into a wealthy family, was well connected, and knew the high priest (John 18:15). He first learned about Jesus from John the Baptist. He captained a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee but gave up everything to follow the Messiah. Jesus nicknamed John and his brother James the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17), and John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; and 21:20 refer to him as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," quite an honor. Along with Peter and James, John was part of Jesus' inner circle. He was allowed to witness the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), the Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while waiting to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34). Unlike the other disciples who ran and hid when Jesus was arrested, John followed Christ to Calvary, witnessed the crucifixion, and stayed by Jesus' side until the end. While dying on the cross, Jesus entrusted His mother's care to John (John 19:26-27). It is believed that Mary lived and traveled with John until her death. 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 his life, the Romans exiled John to the island of Patmos, a penal colony in the Aegean Sea fifty miles offshore from Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey), for preaching the word of God (Revelation 1:9). He was eventually freed and 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, witnessed the suffering, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. He was the last of the 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 was sent 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.
Bartholomew -
Also called Nathanael (John 1:45-46). From Cana in Galilee (John 21:2), Bartholomew 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 (John 1:45-51) and a second time when the resurrected Messiah appears to him and six other followers.
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 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). His skepticism is where we get the term "Doubting Thomas." Eight days later, Thomas saw Jesus and was invited to place his finger inside His wounds (John 20:26-29). Thomas saw Jesus again on the Sea of Galilee (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 -
He was also called Levi (Luke 5:27). Matthew (meaning gift of God) was born a Jew in Galilee. He was the son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14) and was working as a tax collector for the Romans in Capernaum (Matthew 9:9; Luke 5:27) when Jesus called him. Immediately after answering Jesus' call, Matthew "held a great banquet at his house" (Matthew 9:10; Mark 2:15; Luke 5:29), then became the Messiah's traveling companion and record keeper. Although the Bible doesn't say so, biblical scholars credit Matthew as the author of "The Gospel According to Matthew." Matthew is last-named in Acts 1:13 as one of the twelve in the upper room after Jesus' ascension. It is uncertain whether Matthew died of natural causes or was killed for his Christian faith.
James -
Sometimes called James the Less or James the younger (because he was younger than the other disciple named James). James 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 -
Also called Juda, or Judas Lebbaeus surnamed Thaddaeus (Matthew 10:3). He was the author of "The General Epistle of Jude" (Jude 1:1) and brother to James the Less (Acts 1:13). At first, Judas did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah (Mark 6:3), but eventually, he became a follower. Some Bible scholars believe Judas founded the church in Edessa, in Upper Mesopotamia (modern-day southeastern Turkey). Jesus had two disciples named Judas, this one, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him (Luke 6:16; John 14:22).
Simon the Canaanite -
Simon was sometimes called Simon Zelotes (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). So named because Simon was a member of the Zelotes, meaning zealot. Judaism had four factions; Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and the Zealots. Unlike the other factions, the Zealots were fiercely nationalistic and strident defenders of the Mosaic Law who refused to bend to Gentile (Roman) authority. The Zealots were opposed to paying Roman taxes (Luke 20:22) and periodically resorted to armed rebellion against Rome. They often conducted terrorist-type attacks and assassinated Romans or Jewish leaders who cooperated with the Romans. In part, one of their uprisings in AD 70 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 predicted that he would be betrayed (Matthew 26:21-25; John 6:70-71; 13:21), and soon after His prophecy, Judas sold out the Messiah (Mark 14:10; Luke 22:3-4; John 13:2) for "thirty pieces of silver" (Matthew 26:14-16). 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 the 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 good news of salvation throughout the Roman Empire, and organized the church.
These are the twelve Disciples:
Peter -
Peter was the oldest of the twelve disciples. He was also called Simon Peter (2 Peter 1:1), Simeon (Acts 15:14), Simon Bar-jona (Matthew 16:17), meaning Simon, son of Jonah (Matthew 1:42), or just Simon (Matthew 10:2). The Greek translation for Peter is Petros (meaning rock), the Aramaic is Cephas (John 1:42), and the Latin is Petrus. Peter was born in Bethsaida (John 1:44) on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee. His father, Jona, was also called Jonah or Jonas (Matthew 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 partners 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 part of Jesus' inner circle. Whenever Jesus was in Galilee, He used Peter's home as His base. Peter wrote the First and Second Epistles of Peter (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1). He 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 as He waited to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34). Peter rose before the mob to resist Jesus' arrest (John 18:10-13), yet within hours, he denied even knowing Him three times (Matthew 26:69-75). 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 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 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 Emperor Nero in Rome about AD 70, approximately three years after writing 2 Peter.
Andrew -
A follower of John the Baptist who became one of the original twelve disciples (John 1:40). From Bethsaida, Andrew was Jonas's son and a fisherman with his brother Peter (John 6:8) when Jesus called them to become the first disciples. It is said that Andrew was crucified in Achaia for refusing to worship pagan gods.
James -
James was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:19) and Salome (Mary's sister), Jesus' cousin, and older brother of the disciple John. Born into a wealthy family, James was a fisherman and partner with Peter (Luke 5:10) when Jesus called and made him part of His inner circle (along with Peter and John). He 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 (Matthew 26:37; Mark 14:32-34). Jesus nicknamed James and his brother John the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17). Jesus predicted that James would meet a bloody end (Matthew 20:23; Mark 10:38-39), and sure enough, James was the first of the twelve apostles to die (excluding Judas), killed by King Herod as documented in Acts 12:1-2.
John -
John was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21-22; Mark 1:19-20; 10:35; Luke 5:10-11) and Salome, the younger brother to the disciple James (Matthew 10:2), and a fisherman on the sea of Galilee when called by Jesus. John's mother Salome and the Virgin Mary were sisters, making Jesus and John cousins. John was a Jew, born in Palestine (Bethsaida) into a wealthy family, was well connected, and knew the high priest (John 18:15). He first learned about Jesus from John the Baptist. He captained a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee but gave up everything to follow the Messiah. Jesus nicknamed John and his brother James the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17), and John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; and 21:20 refer to him as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," quite an honor. Along with Peter and James, John was part of Jesus' inner circle. He was allowed to witness the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), the Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while waiting to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34). Unlike the other disciples who ran and hid when Jesus was arrested, John followed Christ to Calvary, witnessed the crucifixion, and stayed by Jesus' side until the end. While dying on the cross, Jesus entrusted His mother's care to John (John 19:26-27). It is believed that Mary lived and traveled with John until her death. 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 his life, the Romans exiled John to the island of Patmos, a penal colony in the Aegean Sea fifty miles offshore from Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey), for preaching the word of God (Revelation 1:9). He was eventually freed and 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, witnessed the suffering, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. He was the last of the 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 was sent 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.
Bartholomew -
Also called Nathanael (John 1:45-46). From Cana in Galilee (John 21:2), Bartholomew 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 (John 1:45-51) and a second time when the resurrected Messiah appears to him and six other followers.
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 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). His skepticism is where we get the term "Doubting Thomas." Eight days later, Thomas saw Jesus and was invited to place his finger inside His wounds (John 20:26-29). Thomas saw Jesus again on the Sea of Galilee (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 -
He was also called Levi (Luke 5:27). Matthew (meaning gift of God) was born a Jew in Galilee. He was the son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14) and was working as a tax collector for the Romans in Capernaum (Matthew 9:9; Luke 5:27) when Jesus called him. Immediately after answering Jesus' call, Matthew "held a great banquet at his house" (Matthew 9:10; Mark 2:15; Luke 5:29), then became the Messiah's traveling companion and record keeper. Although the Bible doesn't say so, biblical scholars credit Matthew as the author of "The Gospel According to Matthew." Matthew is last-named in Acts 1:13 as one of the twelve in the upper room after Jesus' ascension. It is uncertain whether Matthew died of natural causes or was killed for his Christian faith.
James -
Sometimes called James the Less or James the younger (because he was younger than the other disciple named James). James 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 -
Also called Juda, or Judas Lebbaeus surnamed Thaddaeus (Matthew 10:3). He was the author of "The General Epistle of Jude" (Jude 1:1) and brother to James the Less (Acts 1:13). At first, Judas did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah (Mark 6:3), but eventually, he became a follower. Some Bible scholars believe Judas founded the church in Edessa, in Upper Mesopotamia (modern-day southeastern Turkey). Jesus had two disciples named Judas, this one, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him (Luke 6:16; John 14:22).
Simon the Canaanite -
Simon was sometimes called Simon Zelotes (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). So named because Simon was a member of the Zelotes, meaning zealot. Judaism had four factions; Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and the Zealots. Unlike the other factions, the Zealots were fiercely nationalistic and strident defenders of the Mosaic Law who refused to bend to Gentile (Roman) authority. The Zealots were opposed to paying Roman taxes (Luke 20:22) and periodically resorted to armed rebellion against Rome. They often conducted terrorist-type attacks and assassinated Romans or Jewish leaders who cooperated with the Romans. In part, one of their uprisings in AD 70 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 predicted that he would be betrayed (Matthew 26:21-25; John 6:70-71; 13:21), and soon after His prophecy, Judas sold out the Messiah (Mark 14:10; Luke 22:3-4; John 13:2) for "thirty pieces of silver" (Matthew 26:14-16). 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).