Who Were the Twelve Apostles?
Who Were the Twelve Apostles? The twelve apostles were the men Jesus chose as His closest followers and commissioned to spread the gospel: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot (later replaced by Matthias).
Key verse: Matthew 10:2-4 (KJV)
The twelve apostles were the men Jesus chose as His closest followers and commissioned to spread the gospel: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot (later replaced by Matthias).
The twelve apostles were the men Jesus chose as His closest followers and commissioned to spread the gospel: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot (later replaced by Matthias).
"Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him." — Matthew 10:2-4 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
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The Biblical Answer
Jesus chose twelve men from His larger group of followers to serve as apostles — His sent ones. They came from diverse backgrounds: fishermen (Peter, Andrew, James, John), a tax collector (Matthew), a zealot (Simon), and others. They witnessed Jesus' ministry, miracles, death, and resurrection firsthand. After Judas Iscariot's betrayal and death, the remaining eleven chose Matthias to restore their number. At Pentecost, the apostles received the Holy Spirit and began proclaiming the gospel with power. They performed miracles, established churches, and most died as martyrs for their faith. Peter became a leader of the Jerusalem church. John wrote a Gospel, three epistles, and Revelation. James was the first apostle martyred. Thomas traveled to India. Paul, though not one of the original twelve, was later called as an apostle to the Gentiles. The apostles laid the foundation of the Christian church through their eyewitness testimony and writings.
Key Scripture References
"Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him."
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone."
Frequently asked questions
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Related Questions
Who Was the Apostle Paul?
Paul was a former persecutor of Christians who had a dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus and became the greatest missionary and theologian of the early church.
Who was the Apostle Peter?
Peter was a fisherman called by Jesus to be one of the twelve apostles, who became the leading spokesman of the early church despite famously denying Jesus three times.
Who was John the Baptist?
John the Baptist was the prophetic forerunner of Jesus who prepared the way for Christ's ministry by preaching repentance and baptizing in the Jordan River.
Who Was Melchizedek in the Bible?
Melchizedek was a mysterious king of Salem and priest of the Most High God who blessed Abraham and received tithes from him.
Who Was Abraham in the Bible?
Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation, called by God from Ur of the Chaldees, and known as the 'father of faith.'
Deep Dive Commentary
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