Apostles/Disciples

The twelve men chosen by Jesus as His special disciples. A disciple is someone who learns from someone else. These twelve were with Jesus during His three years of teaching, traveling, and healing. The list includes Peter, Andrew, James the son of Zebedee, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Thaddeus, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. After Judas killed himself, Matthias replaced him.

After Jesus returned to heaven, the disciples became known as apostles. The word apostle means “one chosen and sent” and was later also applied to Paul.

Although the original twelve apostles were the closest followers of Jesus, they did not really understand His mission until after the resurrection. They were frightened and disappointed when He was crucified. They did not expect Him to rise again, but after He did and after the Holy Spirit came, the apostles became leaders and teachers of the first-century church. Most of them later died for their faith in Jesus.