Who Were the Apostles of Jesus?

Jesus gathered 12 devoted men to help him spread the gospel. These men became known as the Disciples, or Apostles, of Christ. Their commitment to evangelism continued well after Jesus' departure, and they are largely responsible for the rapid growth of the early church.

Names

The 12 Apostles were Peter, Matthew, Andrew, Thomas, John, James son of Zebedee, James son of Alphaeus, Philip, Bartholomew, Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot.

Alternate Names

Prior to meeting Jesus, Peter's name was Simon. James son of Alphaeus is often referred to as James the Less, while James son of Zebedee is referred to as James the Greater. Bartholomew may also be the Nathanial mentioned in the Gospel of John.

Backgrounds

Though little is known about the Apostles' early lives, the Bible mentions that Peter, Andrew, James son of Zebedee and John were fishermen. Matthew was a tax collector.

The 13th Apostle

Judas Iscariot died (either by hanging himself or fatally falling down) after Christ's crucifixion. Following the resurrection and ascension of Christ, the remaining apostles elected Matthias to replace Judas.

Deaths

John was the only Apostle to die of natural causes. Aside from Judas, the others were, according to tradition, crucified, beheaded or pierced with a blade.

References

• The Catholic Encyclopedia

Resources

• The 12 Disciples