The Twelve Disciples of Jesus Christ

The Gospels record that Jesus chose twelve disciples to follow him and learn from him. We know much about some of these men, while others remain obscure.  Here are twelve men who changed the world:

Simon – The most prominent of the twelve disciples, Simon was renamed ‘Cephas’ or ‘Peter’ by Jesus – a name meaning ‘rock’. He was the son of Jona, a fisherman from Bethsaida with a zealous and impetuous nature. Peter was married and was noted for his strong Galilean accent. Peter was the first disciple to make a full-throated confession of Jesus as the Christ, and he was adamant that he would stand with Jesus to the end, even if it meant death. It was Peter who walked on water toward Jesus before starting to sink. But it was also Peter who rebuked Jesus for the idea of a suffering Messiah, and who denied him three times at his trial (even after making an initial brave stand with a sword during the arrest). This betrayal caused great grief to Peter, who was subsequently restored by Jesus and went on to become a firm, passionate preacher of the Gospel. According to tradition, Peter was eventually crucified on an upside-down cross outside of Rome because of his faithful witness to Christ. According to tradition, Peter is the firsthand source behind the Gospel of Mark. You can learn more about Peter HERE.

James – There were two disciples with this name, but the son of Zebedee and Salome is also known as ‘James the Great’ or ‘James the Elder.’ Along with his brother John, he was named ‘Boanerges’ by Jesus, meaning ‘Sons of Thunder’ – evidently a reference to his energetic and bold personality. James was a fisherman, probably from a family of modest wealth, and he was part of Jesus’ inner circle. He was the first disciple to be martyred, killed with the sword by King Herod Agrippa.

John – Brother of James the Elder, John was also a fisherman and son of Zebedee and Salome. He also gained the title ‘Boanerges’ with his brother, and was part of Jesus’ inner circle, with James and Simon Peter. In his writings, he referred to himself as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved.’ After the resurrection, John and Peter evidently spent much time together. In his later life, tradition says that John lived in Ephesus, apart from some time spent on the Isle of Patmos during exile for his beliefs. John wrote the Gospel of John and the letters of First, Second, and Third John, before dying a natural death in old age.

Andrew – Brother of Simon Peter, son of Jona, and resident of Bethsaida, Andrew was responsible for bringing his brother Peter to Jesus. Andrew was a fisherman and disciple of John the Baptist before following Jesus. Little is known of him, though tradition states that he was crucified on an X-shaped cross.

Philip – Philip was also from the city of Bethsaida, and he was responsible for bringing Nathanael to Jesus. He is not the same as ‘Philip the Evangelist.’ According to tradition, Philip was crucified for his preaching.

Nathanael – Also known as Bartholomew (‘Son of Tolmai’), Nathanael was from Cana of Galilee. He was commended by Jesus as ‘An Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit.’ According to tradition, he was flayed alive, then either crucified or beheaded.

Matthew – A former tax collector, Matthew was also known as Levi. Son of Alphaeus, he hosted a great feast for Jesus after his calling. He wrote the Gospel of Matthew, and according to tradition was martyred, although the accounts don’t agree on the method.

Thomas – Known as ‘Didymus’ or ‘The Twin,’ we know little about him. He seemed to be brave but generally pessimistic, and he refused to accept the idea of Jesus’ resurrection until Jesus personally appeared to him. When he saw him, he responded to him as ‘My Lord and My God.’ According to tradition, he was killed by a spear.

James – The other James, ‘the Little’ or ‘the Lesser,’ he was the son of Alphaeus (and hence, perhaps the brother of Matthew). There is controversy about whether he is the same as ‘James the Just.’ By linking the two, we have a better understanding of him. It is possible that he was a relative of Jesus. He was a leading apostle in the church in Jerusalem, and probably chaired the Jerusalem Council. He wrote the Epistle of James and, according to tradition, was martyred by stoning.

Thaddaeus – Also known as ‘Judas the son of James,’ ‘Lebaeus’ (KJV), and ‘Judas not Iscariot.’ He was the author of the Epistle of Jude and may have been a relative of Jesus. According to tradition, he was hewed to death with an axe.

Simon – Not the same as Simon Peter, he is referred to as ‘Simon the Zealot.’ Evidently, he was a member of the fanatical sect of religious extremism known as ‘zealots’ prior to his discipleship. According to tradition, he was martyred, but the accounts don’t agree on how.

Judas Iscariot – The most notorious disciple, his name ‘Iscariot’ means ‘Man of Kerioth,’ evidently referring to his birthplace. His father’s name was Simon. He was held in high regard by the other disciples, even having control of the money-bag of Jesus. He was secretly a thief, and ultimately betrayed the Lord for thirty pieces of silver. Overcome with remorse, he killed himself, apparently by hanging himself on a tree, which then broke due to his weight and resulted in his body falling and mangling. After his death, the remaining eleven apostles chose Matthias to be his replacement. Matthias had been a follower of Jesus, but little else is known of him. According to tradition, Matthias was also martyred, though we don’t know how.