The Apostles

In the NT the word apostles designate a small group who hold the highest position in the Church and are charged with its most responsible functions. The number seems to echo the 12 tribes of Israel which the Twelve will judge (Mt 19:28; Lk 22:30); the apostles are the foundations of the of the New Israel of the Church. But no replacement is mentioned after the death of James the son of Zebedee . The Twelve was not considered a perpetual institution, since the conditions of membership could not be met except by the first generation of Palestinian Christians. The Twelve are in the first place disciples; but they are chosen by Jesus to be His constant companions, and they are submitted to a full instruction in the truth which He proclaims. They teach and preside over the fellowship of the primitive community. They are witnesses to the resurrection. They speak in the name of Jesus and perform signs and wonders in His name. Theirs is the ministry of the word. They impose hands on the Seven (deacon) to authorize them to care for the distribution of goods. They came identified with Jerusalem as their residence, even after the Jerusalem community was scattered by persecution. With the elders of the Jerusalem Church they formed the supreme legislative body of the Church. The mission of the Twelve is rendered operative by the gift of the Spirit after ascension of Jesus. He (Jesus) said to them, "You (the 12 apostles) have been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything is given in parables so that they may see and not perceive, and hearing, they may hear but not understand." (Mark 4:11-12)

Jesus drew his disciples mainly from the fishermen of Galilee, whose best fishing-grounds were the north-east of the lake, where the Jordan River deposited its silt. He drew his followers from the hardy men who braved the west wind's sudden squalls, funnelled down through the Gulf of Pigeons above Magdala. In a highly-concentrated population, often inflamed by a spirit of nationalism, Jesus went to a trade which had no private wrongs. He called men, not from their dreams, but from work they were content to do from day to day, till something higher should touch them. And so it has come to pass that not the jargons of fanatics and brigands, but the speech of the fishermen and their simple craft has become the language and symbolism of Christianity.

Our Lord gave them the "keys of the kingdom," and by the gift of his Spirit equipped them to be the founders and governors of his church (John 14:16,17,26;;615:26,27; 16:7-15). As representatives of his church, he commissioned them to "preach the gospel to every creature" (Matt. 28:18-20) ). After his ascension, he gave them supernatural gifts, as he promised, enabling them to perform their duties (Acts 2:4; 1 Cor. 2:16; 2:7; 7, 10,13; 2Cor. 5:20; 1 Cor. 11:2).

The names of The Twelve are listed in 4 places in The Bible (Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:12-19, Acts 1:13) with some minor differences due to the various uses of first, family, or nicknames at different times.

The lists agree on Peter (also called Simon Peter), Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon, and Judas Iscariot. The gospels of Matthew and Mark list Thaddeus, while the gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles list Judas the son of James (or the brother of James in some versions of the Bible). After Judas Iscariot killed himself for betraying Jesus, Matthias was chosen to take his place among the 12. This story, told in Acts 1: 21-26, states that an apostle must have accompanied Jesus from the time of Jesus' Baptism until His Ascension into heaven.

Jesus founded "his Church" ((Matt.16:18), and gave her an specific way of government on earth, which is not a "democracy", but rather a "theocracy", like a kingdom on earth.

- The 12 Apostles were not chosen by popular election, rather Jesus picked them up. The leader of the 12, Peter, was also picked up by Jesus (Mat..16:19).

- In the Acts, when one was chosen to substitute Judas, he was not elected by the people, but the 11 Apostles cast lots among two proposed, and the lot fell on Matthias (Act.1:21-26).

Andrew - The First Called

The first Apostle. Fisherman. Brother of Simon Peter. Follower of John the Baptist. Went through life leading people to Jesus, both before and after the Crucifixion. Missionary in Asia Minor and Greece, and possibly areas in modern Russia and Poland. Martyred on an saltire (x-shaped) cross One day, Saint John pointed to Jesus and said "See, the Lamb of God!" Andrew looked over and saw Jesus, and wondered why John was calling him 'the Lamb of God.' Did he mean that this was the One Who was coming, the Messiah? So he went over to listen to Jesus, and followed him for a few days listening and learning. Soon, he realized that Jesus was the Messiah, the promised One Who would lead them all to a new Kingdom of God. Saint Andrew couldn't wait to share the news with his brother and cousins. He ran to Simon Peter saying "Come and see! I have found the Messiah!" and brought his brother to meet Jesus.

Peter

The brother of Andrew. A fisherman from the Sea of Galilee. Considered to be the most impulsive of the group, always ready to speak up, and swing a sword on occasion (e.g. the cutting off of a man's ear at the time of Jesus' arrest - see The Fateful Night). Some traditions hold that he was eventually crucified, upside down, by the Romans. Was a leading apostle of Jesus Christ. He was a leader of the early Christian community in Jerusalem and is a prominent figure in the New Testament. Peter's original name was Simon. Jesus gave him the name Peter, which means rock in Greek. Peter is sometimes called Simon Peter in the New Testament.

In a passage from the New Testament, Jesus is portrayed as saying to Peter:

"And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matt. 16:18-19). Early life. Peter, a Jew by birth, was born in Bethsaida, a town in Palestine on the east bank of the River Jordan. The apostle Andrew was his brother, and the apostle Philip also came from Bethsaida. Peter later moved to the nearby town of Capernaum on the bank of the Sea of Galilee, where he became a fisherman. The New Testament portrays him as warm, generous, stubborn, and impulsive. He was married and may have had children.

Peter and Andrew met Jesus while they were fishermen. Jesus said to the brothers, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Mark 1:17). Peter and Andrew left their homes and joined Jesus on His travels.

Life as an apostle. Stories in the New Testament reflect Peter's importance in the Christian community as a close friend of Jesus and His followers. Peter, along with the apostles James and John, is said to have witnessed the Transfiguration (see Transfiguration). Jesus also talked with Peter about religious matters. When Jesus asked the apostles about His identity, Peter replied, "Thou art the Christ" (Mark 8:29). The Gospels suggest that Peter understood Jesus and His significance only after the Resurrection. Before the Crucifixion, Peter denied three times that he knew Jesus. Peter later wept in repentance (Mark 14:72). Peter was one of the first witnesses of the Resurrection listed by Saint Paul (I Cor. 15:5). After the Resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter in a vision. This vision and the faith in Jesus that it produced is the foundation of Christianity.

After the Resurrection, Peter became an authority among the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. He probably served as a peacemaker between conservative Aramaic-speaking Jews led by James and the more liberal Greek-speaking Jews led by Paul. Peter is sometimes called the "Apostle to the Jews."

John - Zebedee

He was the brother of the apostle James. With James, he was one of the first disciples to be called by Jesus. According to Mark 3: 17, Jesus called John and James the "sons of thunder," apparently because of their rashness. John is usually associated with Peter and James as one of a select, inner group of disciples. In Gal. 2: 6-10, Saint Paul called John a "pillar" of the church. The Acts of the Apostles reports that John was arrested with Peter because of his preaching in Jerusalem.

John is traditionally regarded as the New Testament author of the fourth Gospel, the three Epistles of John, and the Book of Revelation. But many Biblical scholars believe that these works, or some of them, were written by his followers, not by John. John has often been considered the "beloved disciple" mentioned in the fourth Gospel, but scholars are unsure of this reference.

James - Zebedee - (the Greater)

James was the older brother of John. He was the first of The Twelve to be martyred.

James is often called James the Greater to distinguish him from another apostle, James the Less. James the Greater was the brother of the apostle John. With John, he was one of the first disciples called to follow Jesus. James and John were fishermen who lived along the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus called the brothers the "sons of thunder" (Mark 3:17), apparently because of their rashness. James plays a significant part in all four Gospels. He was the first of the apostles to be martyred. Of all the apostles, his martyrdom is the only one reported in the New Testament. Acts 12: 2 states that King Herod Agrippa I had him killed in the early A.D. 40's.

According to later tradition, the bones of James were taken to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. As a result, the town became an important pilgrimage center during the Middle Ages.

Philip of Bethsaida

Philip. From Bethsaida, as were Andrew and Peter. Eventually martyred, possibly at Hierapolis.

He is prominent in the Gospel of John and was one of the first to be called as an apostle. He was present at the miracle of the feeding of the multitude (John 6:5-7). When a group of Greeks wanted to see Jesus, they approached Philip for an introduction (John 12:20-22). At the Last Supper, Philip asked to see the Father. Jesus replied, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:8, 9). This special interest in Philip indicates that he was highly regarded by the author of the Gospel of John. Philip should not be confused with Philip the Evangelist, who is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles.

According to later tradition, Philip preached in Asia Minor (now Turkey), where he was martyred.

Bartholomew

He was one of the disciples to whom Jesus appeared at the Sea of Tiberias after His resurrection. He was also a witness of the Ascension. He is listed among the apostles in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke and in the Acts of the Apostles, but nowhere else in the New Testament. Bartholomew is sometimes thought to be Nathanael, a follower of Jesus mentioned in the Gospel of John. According to later Christian tradition, Bartholomew preached in India, Ethiopia, Persia, Asia Minor, and Armenia. He is also said to have written a Gospel. One report tells that Bartholomew was martyred in Armenia by flaying (having his skin stripped off). He is sometimes pictured as carrying his own skin.

The Gospel of Matthew states that Matthew was working as a tax collector when he was called to follow Jesus. However, the Gospels of Mark and Luke state that the tax collector's name was Levi. Some scholars have suggested that Levi was Matthew's second name. These scholars also suggest that all of the Gospels refer to the same person.

Matthew has traditionally been regarded as the author of the first Gospel, perhaps written in Hebrew or Aramaic. Many modern scholars, however, believe that Matthew was not the author and that this Gospel was originally written in Greek. According to tradition, Matthew preached in Africa and Persia, where he was martyred.

He is mentioned often in the Gospel of John, where he is also called Didymus, which means the Twin in Greek. Thomas encouraged the apostles to go with Jesus into Judea, despite the danger of persecution (John 11:16). When Jesus spoke of His death and Resurrection at the Last Supper, Thomas wanted to know how he and the other apostles could follow Him (John 14:5). Thomas is also known as "Doubting Thomas" because he refused to believe the report of Jesus' Resurrection unless he could touch His wounds (John 20:24, 25). When Jesus allowed him to feel His hands and His side, Thomas became a believer, saying, "My Lord and my God" (John 20:26-29).

According to tradition, Thomas preached in Parthia or India. He was reportedly martyred in India.

He was one of the apostles listed in the Gospel of Luke as the son of James, or the brother of James in some versions of the Bible. However, the lists in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark mention Thaddeus or Libbeus in place of Jude. Biblical scholars believe that Jude, Thaddeus, and Libbeus are all the same person.

Jude is sometimes known as Judas. However, he should not be confused with Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus, or with Jude (also called Juda or Judas), the brother of Jesus. Some scholars believe that he is the Judas mentioned in the Gospel of John. Many Biblical scholars believe he is not the Jude who wrote the Epistle of Jude, the 26th book of the New Testament.

According to later tradition, Jude preached and died in Persia. He may have worked with the apostle Simon the Zealot.

He is often called James the Less to distinguish him from another apostle, James the Greater. Tradition has associated James the Less with James the Younger, mentioned in Mark 15: 40, and also with James the "brother of the Lord," a prominent figure in the Acts of the Apostles. However, many Biblical scholars believe that they are three different people. James the Less is mentioned in all four lists of the apostles in the New Testament. He is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible.

His name appears only in the four lists of the 12 apostles in the New Testament. Simon is called Zelotes, a Greek word meaning The Zealot, in Luke 6: 15 and Acts 1: 13. In Matthew 10: 4 and Mark 3: 18, he is called the Cananaean, probably the Aramaic equivalent of Zealot. This title indicates he may have been associated with radical Jewish revolutionaries known as the Zealots. According to later tradition, Simon preached the Gospel in Egypt. He then traveled with Saint Jude to preach in Persia, where both were said to have been martyred.

Was the apostle who betrayed Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Matthew reports that Judas received 30 pieces of silver for betraying Jesus. The betrayal occurred when Judas identified Jesus with a kiss. The Gospel of John emphasizes that Jesus knew Judas would betray Him.

Scholars have speculated about what information Judas gave authorities when he betrayed Jesus. Most assume that it was information telling where Jesus could be arrested. Judas' motives for the betrayal were, perhaps, greed (Matthew 26:14-16) or the influence of Satan (Luke 22:3-6 and John 13:2, 27).

There are two Biblical versions of Judas' death. The Gospel of Matthew reports that he returned the betrayal money and then hanged himself. The Acts of the Apostles tells that Judas bought a field with the money and then fell in the middle of it and died. Later tradition says that Judas hanged himself on the Judas tree, giving the tree its name. Some traditions attempt to present Judas favorably either by stating that he acted according to God's plan, or that he believed he could make Jesus prove He was the Messiah.

Matthias (Gk. From Heb. “gift of Jehova”). The twelfth apostles of Jesus elected to fill the gap left by the death of the traitor Judas to bring the number back up to twelve. Matthias was one of the seventy disciples of Jesus and had been with Him from His baptism by John to the Ascension (Acts i, 21, 22). In the presence of some 120 disciples of Jesus, the Apostle Peter outlined the brief ministry of Judas Iscariot among the twelve and recorded his violent death. Peter then called for the replacement among the men who had been associated with the first disciples, from the baptism of John to the ascension of Jesus. It was important that there should be twelve apostles, to witness the fact of the resurrection of Jesus. There had to be twelve to correspond to the twelve tribes of Israel. The necessary qualification were his human witness of the resurrection of his divine selection, so two certain witnesses were proposed of which one was chosen by lot, after earnest prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The two candidates were Justus Barsabbas and Matthias, the lot fell on Matthias; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles. He was stoned, then beheaded at Colchis in 80 AD.