The Twelve Disciples

The Twelve Disciples were a group of Jesus Christ’s closest followers, chosen by him to learn and spread his teachings. The group played a crucial role in the formation and development of early Christianity. These twelve individuals were called upon to be witnesses to Jesus’ ministry, resurrection, and teachings. The Twelve Disciples are mentioned in the New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts. The events involving the disciples took place circa 30 AD, during the time of Jesus’ public ministry.

Background of The Twelve Disciples

The Twelve Disciples were a diverse group of men, most of whom were fishermen or from other ordinary professions. Jesus called each of them to follow him and be part of his inner circle during his ministry. This group was distinct from the larger crowd of Jesus’ followers, and their close relationship with Jesus gave them unique insights into his teachings and a special authority to spread the Gospel after his death and resurrection.

The Twelve Disciples

1. Simon Peter: Also known as Peter, he was a fisherman and the brother of Andrew. Peter is considered the leader of the disciples and later became one of the key figures in the establishment of the early Christian church (Matthew 4:18-19).
2. Andrew: The brother of Simon Peter, also a fisherman, and the first disciple called by Jesus (Matthew 4:18-20).
3. James the Greater (James the Brother of John): The son of Zebedee, he was a fisherman and the brother of John. He was part of the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples, present at significant events such as the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9).
4. John (John the Apostle): The son of Zebedee and brother of James the Greater, he is the author of the Gospel of John and several other New Testament books (John 21:24).
5. Philip (Philip the Apostle): From Bethsaida, Philip introduced Nathanael (Bartholomew) to Jesus (John 1:43-51).
6. Bartholomew / Nathanael: Introduced to Jesus by Philip, he is known for his initial skepticism about Jesus, which was quickly dispelled upon meeting him (John 1:45-51).
7. Matthew / Levi (Matthew the Apostle): A tax collector, he left his profession to follow Jesus and is the author of the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 9:9-13).
8. Thomas: Known as “Doubting Thomas” due to his initial disbelief in Jesus’ resurrection until he personally witnessed the risen Christ (John 20:24-29).
9. James the Less (James the son of Alphaeus): The son of Alphaeus, he is often referred to as James the Less to distinguish him from James the Greater (Mark 15:40).
10. Thaddaeus / Lebbaeus / Judas son of James: Little is known about Thaddaeus, but he is listed as one of the Twelve Disciples in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark (Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18).
11. Simon the Zealot: A member of the Zealot party, a Jewish nationalist group, Simon was called by Jesus to be one of his disciples (Matthew 10:4, Mark 3:18).
12. Judas Iscariot: The betrayer of Jesus, he later committed suicide, and his position among the Twelve was eventually filled by Matthias (Matthew 26:14-16, Acts 1:15-26).

Biblical Timeline