Who are the 12 Apostles?
The 12 apostles of Jesus Christ played a crucial role in the spread of Christianity. They were direct followers—also called students or disciples—of Jesus and were commissioned to proclaim His teachings. In this article, we examine their names, their role in the New Testament, and their significance within the Christian faith.
What is the difference between an apostle and a disciple?
The main difference between an apostle and a disciple lies in their roles and missions. A disciple is a follower and student of Jesus, while an apostle is someone specifically sent out with a mission to proclaim the gospel and lead the church.
The word “disciple” comes from the Latin “discipulus,” which means “student, learner, or follower.” The word “apostle” comes from the Greek “apostolos,” meaning “one who is sent out.” All apostles were first disciples, but not all disciples became apostles.
The calling of the 12 apostles
Jesus chose his 12 apostles from among his disciples and gave them a special task: preaching the gospel and building the church (see Matthew 10:1-4, Mark 3:13-19, Luke 6:12-16). These 12 men came from diverse backgrounds, including fishermen, tax collectors, and political activists.
Where do you find the 12 apostles in the Bible?
Read more about the 12 different apostles and their roles here. Here you will also find Bible texts in which they are mentioned and which Bible books they wrote.
Simon Peter
Andrew
James (son of Zebedee)
John
Philip
Bartholomew (Nathanael)
Matthew (Levi)
Thomas
James (son of Alphaeus)
Thaddeus (Jude or Judas, son of James)
Simon the Zealot
Judas Iscariot
Simon Peter
Simon Peter is often considered the leader of the apostles, as Jesus called him “the rock” on which the church would be built (Matthew 16:18). He denied Jesus three times but was later reinstated and became an important figure in the early church (Luke 22:61-62, John 21:15-19). He wrote the letters 1 and 2 Peter.
Andrew
Andrew is Peter’s brother and a former disciple of John the Baptist. He brought his brother to Jesus (John 1:40-42) and was involved in the miracle of the five loaves and two fish (John 6:8-9).
James (son of Zebedee)
One of two apostles named James, he is also called James the Great (likely referring to his age), and is the brother of John. He was one of the three apostles who accompanied Jesus on the mount of exaltation (Mark 9:2) and became the first apostle to die as a martyr (Acts 12:2).
John
John is the brother of James, known as “the beloved disciple.” He stood under the cross of Jesus (John 19:26-27) and wrote the Gospel of John; 1, 2, and 3 John; and Revelation.
Philip
Philip was personally called by Jesus (John 1:43-46) and asked an important question at the Last Supper (John 14:8-9).
Bartholomew (Nathanael)
Jesus praised Bartholomew as an Israelite without deceit (John 1:47-49).
Matthew (Levi)
Matthew was a former tax collector who was called by Jesus while collecting taxes (Matthew 9:9-13). He wrote the Gospel of Matthew.
Thomas
Known as “Doubting Thomas” because he doubted Jesus' resurrection until he saw his wounds (John 20:24-29).
James (son of Alphaeus)
Also referred to as James the Less to differentiate from James the Great, he is the brother of Jesus (Galatians 1:19). He is considered an important leader in the early church (Acts 15:13-21) and is traditionally considered the author of the Book of James.
Thaddeus (Jude or Judas, son of James)
Thaddeus, also known as Lebbeus, asked Jesus why He would not reveal Himself to the world (John 14:22). He is traditionally considered the author of the letter of Jude.
Simon the Zealot
Simon the Zealot is mentioned by name in the Bible only as one of the twelve apostles Jesus chose to follow Him (Luke 6:15). No specific stories or sayings are attributed to him, and there are few Biblical records of his activities as an apostle. His nickname indicates his zeal for Jewish law.
Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot is the apostle who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16). After his betrayal, he committed suicide (Matthew 27:3-5) and was replaced by Matthias (Acts 1:26).
The significance of the apostles
The apostles were not only the direct witnesses to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, but also the founders of the early church. Their teachings and writings form the foundation of the Christian faith.
Their message lives on today, and their stories still inspire millions of believers worldwide.
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