Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” (John 14:4-5) Thomas didn’t want to be left behind. After Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus and committed suicide, he was replaced by Matthias (Acts 1:15-26). This article is part of our People from the Bible Series featuring the most well-known historical names and figures from Scripture. They serve together as leaders in Re-Engage at Watermark Community Church, Dallas, Texas. They were Jews, uneducated commoners, and simple men of faith who gave up everything to be followers of Christ. The 12 Apostles were the foundation of Jesus’ church and many of them wrote portions of the Bible. Very little is told us in the Sacred Text concerning the history of Judas Iscariot beyond the bare facts of his call to the Apostolate, his treachery, and his death. The disciples, sometimes called apostles, of Jesus, came from a variety of backgrounds. He was beaten, crucified, and beheaded. Several were killed for their beliefs. Twelve men responded to the call. The term is sometimes also applied to others, especially Paul, who was converted to Christianity after Jesus’ death. Apostle, any of the 12 disciples chosen by Jesus Christ. Also known as Simon, Simon Peter, or Cephas (Rock), Peter was a gregarious, natural leader, and an obvious spokesperson for the twelve. They were known for taking extra money from the people of Israel to pay off the Romans and to pad their own pockets. When Judas betrayed Jesus and killed himself, the apostles appointed Matthias to take his place. (1 Cor. Peter is well known for denying Christ three times after Christ was arrested. Learn about them, and how Apostles of today are testifying of Christ. The next day he calls his disciples to him and chooses 12 of his disciples as apostles. Nevertheless, with Matthias replacing Judas (verse 26), Luke refers to them as a renewed group of 12 (Acts 6:2; see also 6:6; 4:33; 5:18, 29; 15:2; 16:4). Twelve Apostles. Most early tradition says that Judas, son of James, a few years after Pentecost, took the gospel north to Edessa. The Twelve Apostles (Early Disciples Of Jesus) Have you ever wondered what happened to the Twelve Apostles (the early disciples of Christ Jesus?) The commissioning of the Twelve Apostles is an episode in the ministry of Jesus that appears in all three Synoptic Gospels: Matthew 10:1–4, Mark 3:13–19 and Luke 6:12–16. Why would they ordain another apostle to fill in the place of a deceased one if they were not planning to keep having apostles, is the real question. He enjoyed every privilege Christ affords. The 12 apostles, also referred to as the 12 disciples or simply “the Twelve,” were Jesus Christ’s 12 closest followers. Jael in the Bible - 5 Powerful Lessons from Her Story, 4 Things You May Not Know About Abraham in the Bible, 5 Things to Know About Luke from the Bible, 20 Facts You May Not Know About Moses from the Bible, The Life of Ruth - 5 Essential Faith Lessons, 6 Things You Didn’t Know About Paul from the Bible, John the Baptist: 6 Powerful Truths from His Life, 3 Things You Didn’t Know About Mary (Mother of Jesus). Many wonder how the 12 apostles died, but The New Testament tells of the fate of only two of the apostles: Judas, who betrayed Jesus and then went out and hanged himself, and James the son of Zebedee, who was executed by Herod about 44 AD . 4. And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named apostles. She is passionate about God’s redemptive work in the lives of those who suffer with physical and emotional pain. Tags apostles, crucifixions, Gospel, Jesus, missionaries, missions ← Was the Great Commission given only to the eleven disciples? But all apostles are disciples (that somewhat depends on how you define Paul the Apostle). Simon: The First Disciple (aka St. Peter) Simon (known as Peter): Peter (also referred to as Saint … (Mark 14:33), James was the first disciple to be martyred (he was beheaded) and the only disciple to have their martyrdom recorded in Scripture. Many wonder how the 12 apostles died, but The New Testament tells of the fate of only two of the apostles: Judas, who betrayed Jesus and then went out and hanged himself, and James the son of Zebedee, who was executed by Herod about 44 AD . St.  James is also known as James the Lesser or James the Younger. petros, petra; Aram. Jael in the Bible - 5 Powerful Lessons from Her Story Jesus’ plan was to eventually have the disciples take over and carry on the work He had started. And I say to thee: That thou art Peter [Kipha, a rock], and upon this rock [Kipha] I will build my church [ekklesian], and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The fiery enthusiasm he once had for Israel was now expressed in his devotion to Christ.” -Twelve Ordinary Men. Maybe this is why he is referred to as James the Less in Mark 15:40. rock) by Jesus of Nazareth, also known as Simon bar Jonah and Simon bar Jochanan (Aram.) kēf; Engl. (John 14:16), Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew (Nathanael); Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus (James the Less), and Thaddaeus (Judas, son of James); Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him. Tradition strongly suggests that Thomas started the Christian church in India. In Scripture, James is listed before his younger brother John, yet he remains somewhat obscure except for the fact he is part of Jesus’ inner three. Jesus said to them, "But whom do you say that I am?" Occupations of the 12 Disciples - Unknown Not all the occupations of the 12 disciples are known. In order for there to be other apostles, we would have to tear down the building again and add to the foundation. Matthew 10:1-5. A Thief. Many Christian churches today base the authority of religious leaders on their supposed connections to the original apostles. According to the list occurring in each of the Synoptic Gospels (Mark 3:13-19, Matthew 10:1-4, Luke 6:12-16), the Twelve chosen by Jesus near the beginning of his ministry, those whom also He named Apostles, were . In (1 Cor 9:5), Paul also mentions that “other apostles” and “the brothers of the Lord” had wives. St John's Feast Day is 27 December. Almost nothing. Many of Jesus' disciples ended up traveling to spread the word of Jesus and to build churches in other areas. He wrote more about love than any other New Testament author. These three Apostles alone were admitted to be present at the miracle of the raising of Jairus's daughter, at the Transfiguration, and the Agony in Gethsemani. It is possible that these disciples had learned the fishing trade as young men. The text states that their initial instructions were to heal the sick and drive out demons. Who was Peter in the Bible & Why Was He So Important? And Jesus answering said to him,  "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. The Apostles answered, "Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets." → Guest post by Roger Thoman: 5 pitfalls of missions. Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. He was a passionate preacher and shared the gospel boldly and was a significant contributor to the early church. Apostle, any of the 12 disciples chosen by Jesus Christ. And we know who it was who sent Jesus … But here’s what National Geographic has to say about it: And it answers many of those questions. After the Jesus of Damascus visited Paul on a road outside Damascus, Paul rushed to Jerusalem to see the 12 Apostles … Therefore, he is the patron saint of desperate cases. He was a valuable team member. But he chose 12 men specifically and commissioned them to be his disciples. When later Christ appeared at the Lake of Genesareth John was also the first of the seven disciples present who recognized his Master standing on the shore (John, xxi, 7). Additional Biblical evidence exists … (Luke 6:12-13). (Mark 2:16). (Luke 4:38) His wife was known to travel with him when he was on mission. Simon was probably a political activist in his younger years. The 12 apostles, also known as the 12 disciples, left their mark on Christianity as the closest followers of Jesus Christ. He was exiled to the island of Patmos under Domitian, but after his death, John was allowed to return to Ephesus where he governed churches in Asia until his death at about  A.D. 100. (John 1:45) They were close companions and possibly studied the Old Testament together. Just before James, the son of Zebedeee, was beheaded by Herod (Acts 12:1-2), Jesus selected a man named Saul (later called Paul) to be his apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:1-22). Google worked with the Royal Academy of Arts in London to … Because being married was so important in Jewish culture, it is logical to … He was the older of the two brothers and the only married disciple. His mother’s name is Mary (Mark 15:40) and he has a brother named Joseph (Matthew 27:56). 5 Things to Know About Luke from the Bible Some speculate around the same time as Paul was being beheaded. He was an outspoken skeptic to the point of being known as a pessimist. His encounter and call by Jesus is not recorded in Scripture. 7 months ago. We begin with perhaps the most well-known of Jesus’ apostles, and that would be Peter. The Best Way White Christians Can Respond to Racial Tensions, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright © 2021, Crosswalk.com. With a willing mind, joyfully and desirously, I come to you, being a scholar of Him which did hang on you, because I have always been your lover and yearn to embrace you.”, There is some evidence that Zebedee was a man of affluence. When he joined Jesus, he remained zealous, but with allegiance to Jesus rather than political revolution. Who was Melchizedek and Why was He so Important? Of the original 12 apostles, Judas Iscariot had already committed suicide (Matthew 27:1–5) and is not even mentioned by name in Acts; the remaining 11 are named only once (Acts 1:13). Were the 12 apostles all Jewish? A heart for evangelism, he was anxious to tell Nathanael the One foretold by Moses and the prophets had been found. Nathanael may have preached in India and translated the book of Matthew into their language. 3. The original Twelve Apostles of Jesus in the New Testament of the Bible were Andrew, Bartholomew, James, James the lesser or younger, John, Matthew, Judas, Peter, Philip, Simon, Thomas and Thaddaeus. Google worked with the Royal Academy of Arts … This drew forth a protest from the Pharisees whom Jesus rebuked in these consoling words:  "I came not to call the just, but sinners.". They are also instructed to "take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse, but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics," and that if any town rejects them they ought to shake the dust off their feet as they leave, a gesture which some scholars think was meant as a contem… @servantofWiser There are indeed 13. 31 Powerful Quotes by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Amazing Children's Choir Sings 'I Can Only Imagine', A Prayer for Peace in Confusing Times - Your Daily Prayer - January 19, Courage for the Days Ahead - New Year Devotional - January 18, 6 Major Differences between Christianity and the American Dream, 10 Encouraging Bible Verses about Not Giving Up. The genealogies of the original 12 disciples of Jesus were most important to the scholars of the day. Many scholars identify him with Nathaniel. The Bible Story of Queen Esther In addition, seventy (or seventy-two, depending on the source used) people are sent out in pairs to prepare the way for Jesus (Luke 10). Although a Jew, we only know him by his Greek name, Philip. Do any denominations rank the apostles? St.  Philip may have been a disciple of John the Baptist and is mentioned as one of the Apostles in the lists of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and in Acts. The Life of Ruth - 5 Essential Faith Lessons In all four lists the names of Peter and Andrew, James and John form the first group, a prominent and chosen group; especially Peter, James, and John. Tags apostles, crucifixions, Gospel, Jesus, missionaries, missions ← Was the Great Commission given only to the eleven disciples? Mark 6:7–13 states that Jesus initially sent out these twelve in pairs (cf. He said, “Oh, cross most welcome and longed for! The Gospel of Thomas focuses much more on Jesus as the hidden mystery, and even includes a “Confession” story much like the one in the Gospel of Mark (8:27) in which Jesus asks his disciples who they think he is: [13] “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Compare me to something and tell me what I am like.’ Jesus is not an apostle in the same sense as his own apostles were. But he was a man of fierce loyalties, amazing passion, courage, and zeal. It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. Except for a few details about his family, there is nothing more mentioned about him in Scripture. In it Clement had referred to two classes of heretics,--without giving their names,--one of which encouraged all sorts of license, while the other taught celibacy. Who Were the 12 Disciples and What Should We Know about Them? – MR. TOODLE-OO'D Mar 30 '15 at 15:08 The Bible doesn’t tell us what he did prior to becoming an apostle. He was not from Galilee--that much is known. Only two persons (other than Jesus) were given that honor: Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11). The Bible Story of Joseph Footnotes: [847] A chapter intervenes between the quotation given by Eusebius just above and the one which follows. Initially He selected 12 to accompany Him, also known as apostles (Mark 3:14-19) and later appointed other seventy (Luke 10:1). The Lord Jesus had many followers during His earthly ministry, and many more have chosen to do so in the centuries following. Mt 10:5–42, Lk 9:1–6) to towns in Galilee. The names of Jesus… Just before the Passion, Jesus answered Philip's query to show them the Father. The following is a list of the Apostles (or Desciples), the twelve original followers of Jesus Christ. After they died, their authority was taken from the earth. While journeying along with His Apostles, Jesus asks them:  "Whom do men say that the Son of man is?" The list of disciples are mentioned in Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:13-16 and Acts 1:13. → Guest post by Roger Thoman: 5 pitfalls of missions. 2:7). Who Were the 12 Disciples (Apostles) & What We Know about Them What do we know about Philip? There are many books out there on the subject of the apostles but it is difficult to tell where the author got his information.. Simon: called Peter (Grk. Can Loved Ones in Heaven Look Down on You? Christ purposely passed over the elite, aristocratic, and influential men of society and chose mostly the men from the dregs of society. The names appear in different orders in the other gospels. “The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. The 12 Apostles were the foundation of Jesus’ church and many of them wrote portions of the Bible. Known as the “disciple Jesus loved,” he was also a part of the inner three. The original twelve disciples/apostles are listed in Matthew 10:2–4, “These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.” Finally, keep in mind that even if, as it seems, none of the twelve Apostles was Jewish, Jesus seems to have had other followers (disciples) who were not Jewish — presumably, people such as the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:21–28) and the Roman centurion (Matthew 8:5–13). Jesus during his earthly ministry, had many followers (See Luke 10:1, Jesus sent 72 disciples). Simon: called Peter (Grk. Jude is invoked in desperate situations because his New Testament letter stresses that the faithful should persevere in the environment of harsh, difficult circumstances, just as their forefathers had done before them. Article Images Copyright ©. It is significant that he is never mentioned without some reference to his great betrayal. 3. Where are the tombs of Jesus' original 12 Apostles. “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” (John 11:16 NASB) Here we see the character quality of courage and loyalty to Christ, a quality not often attributed to Thomas. And Jesus said to him, Follow Me.” (John 1:43). Philip was present at the miracle of the loaves and fishes, when he engaged in a brief dialogue with the Lord, and was the Apostle approached by the Hellenistic Jews from Bethsaida to introduce them to Jesus. Simon Peter. Who Were the 12 Disciples of Jesus? It is believed that most of the apostles died in the middle or late 1st century. He was trained and used by Christ in a powerful way to further the Kingdom of God. They later settled in a home together in the town of Capernaum. You can connect with Ally on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. All of the Apostles but Judas were beatified. She writes for The Mighty.com, Publishous.com, and PublishousNow.com. (Matthew 26:15), “The other eleven apostles are all great encouragements to us because they exemplify how common people with typical failings can be used by God in uncommon, remarkable ways. 3 Things You Didn’t Know About Mary (Mother of Jesus) As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, Follow Me! Andrew died a martyr’s death. Matthias was one of the seventy disciples of Jesus, and had been with Him from His baptism by John to the Ascension (Acts 1:21-22). James and John were both known for being men of intense passion and fervor. Thomas and Bartholomew (Nathanael) may have been fishermen, who joined the other five disciples, returning to their profession after Jesus’ crucifixion (John 21:2-3). According to the list occurring in each of the Synoptic Gospels (Mark 3:13-19, Matthew 10:1-4, Luke 6:12-16), the Twelve chosen by Jesus near the beginning of his ministry, those whom also He named Apostles, were . Peter’s name is mentioned far more in the New Testament than any other of the disciples. “And you know the way where I am going. After the Judas' betrayal of Jesus and death, Matthias, a long-time follower of Jesus but not one of the 12 apostles, was chosen to replace Judas. Yet he remained in unbelief and went into a hopeless eternity.” Twelve Ordinary Men. He was not a dominant person next to his outspoken brother. (John 6:70-71), The Traitor. So after a bit of researching, we came up […] He died a martyr’s death in Rome during the reign of Nero. Who was Melchizedek and Why was He so Important? The traditional symbol of Judas is a club and tradition says he was clubbed to death for his faith. John’s first mention of Thomas is in John 11:16. Emmylou Harris Moved To Tears After Band Performs Tribute Song. in Michelangelo's Last Judgment) as flayed and holding in his hand his own skin. On account of this latter legend, he is often represented in art (e.g. 3 replies on “The fate of the original 12 apostles?” Dan B. says: December 31, 2011 at 10:32 am. Judas Iscariot, the Traitor, and His Replacement. (John 1:40-42) It is thought that they became spiritual followers of Jesus at this time. 9:5) His assignment was to bring the Gospel to the circumcised. Jesus Christ selected the 12 apostles from among his early followers to become his closest companions. Do any denominations rank the apostles? He was not an original apostle of Jesus. All rights reserved. Peter and Andrew were early followers of John the Baptist. John and Andrew were the initial two people called to be disciples by Christ (John 1:35 - 39). Jesus is an apostle of a higher sort. Philip was stoned and crucified in Hierapolis, Phrygia. The Lord Jesus Christ had many disciples. Then came Peter (also called Simon or Simon Peter, verses 40 - 42), followed by Philip (verses 43 to 44) and then Nathanael (Bartholomew - verse 45). The disciple Peter had his root name from “Petros” which interprets as “rock.” He used … That’s how it has always been in God’s economy. Here they are in alphabetical order with a summary of each one. He gave Christ three years of his life, but he certainly didn’t give Him his heart, and Jesus knew this. He was called by Jesus Himself and brought Nathanael to Christ. Two disciples, Joseph, called Barabbas, and Matthias were selected, and lots were drawn, with the result in favor of Matthias, who thus became associated with the eleven Apostles. However, the bible interpretation of disciple is beyond a mere learner; it extends to being an advocate of the instructor’s doctrines. The original 12 apostles of Jesus Christ have sacrificed and given so much of their lives in advocating Christ’s Gospel. Here was a man who drew as close to the Savior as it is humanly possible to be. A Thief. kēf; Engl. Only two persons (other than Jesus) were given that honor: Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11). Also known as Bartholomew, Nathanael came from Cana in Galilee. Hircanus the king had him killed with a spear. The Twelve Apostles:  Timid Men who Won the World. His devotion to Christ is further displayed when Jesus told the disciples that He was going to go away and prepare a place for them. We have compiled these articles to help you study those whom God chose to set before us as examples in His Word. Also known as Jude, Thaddeus, and Lebbaeus, Judas lived in obscurity as one of the Twelve. They were the commonest of the common. Andrew isn’t mentioned much in the Bible—and there’s even less information available about the circumstances of his death. They are apostles of Jesus Christ (that is, sent by Jesus Christ). In other words, to the exact events which Christians believe Jesus appeared on Earth to fulfill. The names of Jesus' 12 disciples are: He was ordained after Christ's death and resurrection. And hearing this, Jesus said to them, It is not those who are healthy that need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. The history of the apostles does start in the books of the Bible. Simon said:  "Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God." And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Ally is a former Director of Ministry to Women and former board member for Thrive Ministry. He is the son of Alphaeus (Luke 6:15). Judas is best known for betraying Jesus to Roman soldiers with a kiss. Once Peter was introduced to Jesus they left John and became followers of Christ.