The Twelve Apostles

 Come, let's get to know the inspirational lives of the Twelve Apostles (and then some more)

Credit: Believers Eastern Church 

The word "Apostle" is derived from the Greek "Apostello" which translates to “to send forth” or “to dispatch”, to spread the Gospel (literally 'good news' that Jesus is our saviour). 

The twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ were hand-picked by him. 'You didn’t choose me. I chose you. (John 15:16) And again, "It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named apostles." (Luke 6:12-13). We find the names of the disciples in the Gospel books of Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:14-19 and Luke 6:13-16. 

Why Twelve Apostles? In the Bible, certain numbers, like three, seven, twelve and forty, have a special meaning. The number twelve in Scripture symbolizes the perfection of governance. It represents the twelve tribes of Israel (formerly Jacob) to whom Yahweh had promised deliverance. Christ chose twelve of his disciples to be his inner circle, his Apostles, whom he endowed with special powers and responsibilities to govern his Church. The Twelve Apostles of Christ are therefore symbolic of God's new kingdom achieved by the salvation of the Cross.

What did the twelve Apostles have in common? They were Jews, uneducated, even unrefined, commoners from rural areas and were a motley group of fishermen, farmers, and even a tax collector. Christ purposely passed over the religious rabbis, elite, aristocratic, and influential men of society because God exalts the humble and lays low the proud and mighty. These simple men of faith gave up everything to become followers of Christ. Jesus spent three years training them to be leaders of the Church and following his resurrection from the dead, the Lord fully commissioned the Apostles (Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:15) to advance God's kingdom and carry the Gospel message to the corners of the world. On the Feast of the Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on them empowering them to cast out demons and forgive sins. 

Let's take a closer look at each of these twelve fearless Apostles

The Apostle Simon Peter

Simon Peter son of Jonas, also known as Cephas (also Kephas, Greek for rock). He was given the name Peter (from the Latin Petros for rock), by Christ himself (Matthew 16:15-18). 

Simon was the elder brother of the Apostle Andrew and one of Jesus’ three main disciples (along with James and John) - these three were present when Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead (Mark 5:22-43), and witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration on the Mount of Olives (Matthew 17:1-9), and were in the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus. (Mark 14:33-49). 

Peter was a fisherman from Bethsaida, a town near the Sea of Galilee. He was the only married Apostle (Luke 4:38). He is prominently featured in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. He is known for his bold and impulsive nature (jumping out of the boat to meet Jesus only to start sinking due to lack of faith), as well as his eventual leadership within the early Christian community growing to become along with St Paul the Evangelist, into one of the most prominent leaders of the early church. Considered to be the first Pope according to Roman Catholic tradition.  It was he who first preached the Gospel on the Day of Pentecost, resulting in 3000 members being added to the Church that day. 

His death was prophesied by Jesus (John 21:17-19) and he was condemned to die by crucifixion in 66 AD during the Great Fire of Rome in the reign of Emperor Nero, he chose to be crucified upside down believing himself unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus (Peter is well known for denying Christ three times after Christ was arrested). His remains can be found in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. 

Since the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, a liturgical feast to honour the martyrdom in Rome of the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, is observed on 29 June, we can assume he was martyred around the same time as Paul was being beheaded. 

The Apostle Andrew

Andrew son of Jonas, also known as the “Protokletos” or the First-Called, was Simon Peter’s brother, and like his brother was also a fisherman from Bethsaida, a town near the Sea of Galilee. 

According to the Gospel, Andrew, and John, the Son of Zebedee and Salome were present when John the Baptist said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:35-42). Andrew left John the Baptist to be the first disciple Jesus called, and not only brought Peter to Jesus, but he told him Jesus was the Messiah. In John’s account of the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1–14), Andrew is the disciple who finds the boy with five loaves of bread and two fish. 

After the Day of Pentecost, he travelled north from Jerusalem, eventually bringing the good news to what is now Russia and the western regions of the former Soviet Union. He later travelled through modern-day Turkey, establishing the church in Byzantium (later Constantinople) and Greece where he was martyred in the Greek city of Patras at around 69 AD by crucifixion on an X-shaped cross, now known as the saltire, which is the symbol of Scotland Andrew was crucified. Just like his brother Peter, he didn’t consider himself worthy of dying the same way as Jesus. His remains can be found in the Cathedral of Amalfi in Amalfi, Italy. 

We celebrate the feast day of St Andrew, also called Andrewmas, on November 30th.

The Apostle James the Greater

James the Greater was the son of Zebedee and Salome and was one of Jesus’ three main disciples, along with his brother John and the Apostle Simon Peter - these three were present when Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead (Mark 5:22-43), and witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration on the Mount of Olives (Matthew 17:1-9), and were in the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus. (Mark 14:33-49). 

James was a fisherman before Jesus called him.  James along with his brother John were both known for being men of intense passion and fervour, asking Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven to destroy a Samaritan village which failed to show them hospitality (Luke 9:54-56 / Mark 3:17). Because of this Jesus nicknamed them "Boanerges" or the Sons of Thunder. 

James was the first to be martyred and is the only disciple whose martyrdom is recorded in the Bible (Acts 12:1-2). He was martyred by Herod Agrippa I, who had him beheaded in Jerusalem around AD 44, to win favour with the Jewish population who were alarmed at the growing number of Christians. His remains can be found in Saint James Church in Compostela, Spain. 

We celebrate the feast day of St James, also known as James Day, on July 25th.

The beloved Apostle John

John the beloved disciple (not to be confused with John the Baptist), was the son of Zebedee and the third disciple considered to be part of Jesus’ “inner circle” with his brother James and the Apostle Simon Peter - these three were present when Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead (Mark 5:22-43), and witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration on the Mount of Olives (Matthew 17:1-9), and were in the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus. (Mark 14:33-49). Like James, Peter, and several other disciples, John was a fisherman. 

John along with his brother James were both known for being men of intense passion and fervour, asking Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven to destroy a Samaritan village which failed to show them hospitality (Luke 9:54-56 / Mark 3:17). Because of this Jesus nicknamed them "Boanerges" or the Sons of Thunder. 

He is referred to as the 'beloved disciple of Christ' and was the only Apostle, who was present at the crucifixion, stood with the Blessed Virgin, and was given her as his own mother by the Lord, and then took her into his house (John 19:25-27). 

Tertullian, a Christian writer from the late second century, wrote that before the Emperor Domitian banished John to Patmos, he had him brought into a coliseum and dunked in a vat of boiling oil. When he emerged unharmed, the entire coliseum was amazed and many converted to Christianity. This is why some of the ancient icons depict St. John in a vat of boiling oil.  

He is said to be the author of the Gospel according to St John (In art, Saint John the author of the Gospel is often depicted as an eagle, symbolizing "the height he rose to in his Gospel.) and the Book of Revelation, written on the island of Patmos around 90-95 AD. According to tradition, John was exiled to the island of Patmos under Domitian, but after his death, John was allowed to return to Ephesus where he governed churches in Asia until his death from old age in 98 AD, a rare (and possibly unique) feat among the apostles, most of whom were martyred. His remains can be found in the Basilica of Saint John in Ephesus, Turkey.

We celebrate the Feast of St John the Beloved twice each year, on 8 May for St John the Apostle and on 27 December for St John the Evangelist. It is right to have two feasts, for he was both an apostle and an evangelist – each of these being a significant vocation.

The Apostle Philip

Philip the Apostle, like Peter and Andrew, came from Bethsaida, a town near the Sea of Galilee (John 1:44). Later, when some Greek men from Bethsaida wanted to see Jesus, they came to Philip first, presumably because they knew he was from the same town as them (or possibly because he spoke Greek the best - after all Philip is a Greek name, not a Hebrew one). 

Philip’s most notable moment in the Gospel is bringing Nathanael (also Bartholomew) to Jesus. Philip is known for his practicality and scepticism, as seen in his interaction with Jesus before the feeding of the multitude. Jesus tests Philip by asking him where they should buy bread to feed the crowd of 5,000 people (John 6:5–7). Philip asks Jesus to show them God the Father, and Jesus responds by saying “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:6–10). 

Tradition holds he went to preach the Gospel in Asia and Greece, along with his sister Mariamne, the Apostle John and the Apostle Bartholomew. It is said that while he was preaching in a Greek city called Hierapolis (also Heliopolis in modern-day Turkey), the wife of the Roman Proconsul believed the Gospel and became a Christian. This enraged the Proconsul so much that he had Philip brutally put to death. The date of his martyrdom during the reign of Emperor Domitian is said to be around 80 AD by crucifixion or by being hung upside down. His remains can be found in the Holy Apostles Basilica in Rome.

May 3rd is the feast day of Saint Philip and Saint James the Less.

The Apostle Bartholomew aka Nathanael

Bartholomew or Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Bartholomew’s name most likely comes from the Aramaic name, "Bar-Talmai", meaning “son of Talmai.”  Nathanael is only mentioned in the Gospel of John, but most biblical scholars agree that this is another name for Bartholomew.  

When Philip first tells  Nathanael about Jesus (John 1:45-50), he’s sceptical: “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”. But after seeing Jesus demonstrate his divinity by telling him he was sleeping under a fig tree, he says: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel”. 

Tradition holds that he preached in India and Armenia and was martyred while serving the people of Albinopolis (also Alban), Armenia. The most popular narrative is also the most gruesome: Bartholomew was allegedly flayed alive and then beheaded. Most art therefore portrays the apostle wearing his skin, or in the less grotesque portraits, holding a flaying knife. His remains can be found in Saint Bartholomew Church in Rome.

We celebrate the Feast of St Bartholomew on August 24th.

The Apostle Thomas

Thomas (or Didymus, which is Greek for twin although there is no mention of the other twin): Often remembered as "Doubting Thomas" due to his initial disbelief in Jesus' resurrection until he physically saw and touched Jesus' wounds. 

He is known for his boldness and willingness to follow Jesus even unto death. Thomas is mentioned in John 11:14-25. Lazarus had just died and the disciples feared for the life of Jesus and themselves if they were to go back to Bethany. Thomas speaks up. “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” Here we see the character quality of courage and loyalty to Christ, a quality not often attributed to Thomas. 

Tradition holds that he preached for 20 years in India where he is credited with starting the Church in the state of Kerala, India that survives to this day. He was martyred there. Syrian Christian tradition specifies that this took place on July 3, 72 AD. And The Acts of Thomas (apocryphal) says he was martyred via spears in Mylapore, India - where a Church stands today. His remains can be found in the Basilica of Saint Thomas the Apostle in Ortona, Italy.

We celebrate the Feast of St Thomas on July 3rd.

Apostle Matthew the Levi

Matthew the Publican (Matthew 10:2-4) or the Levi, son of Alphæus, was a publican or tax collector from Capernaum, an important point where import taxes were collected. Tax collectors were reviled as a symbol of Roman oppression in first-century Judaism. To make matters worse, tax collectors notoriously made their money by saying people owed Caesar more than they did and then skimming the extra off the top—and there was nothing anyone could do about it. As a result, tax collectors were right up there with prostitutes as examples of the worst sinners. 

Yet Matthew was called by Jesus himself to become an Apostle (Matthew 9:9), presenting a powerful example of how God partners with all kinds of people—even those you’d least expect—to accomplish his purposes. Immediately after calling Matthew to follow him, Jesus has dinner at Matthew’s house, and “many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.” Rather than flout any Mosaic law, Jesus was eating with sinners to demonstrate God’s mercy and to mend the brokenness that came with being treated like social and religious outcasts. 

Matthew is traditionally credited with writing the Gospel of Matthew, one of the three synoptic Gospels that quotes heavily from the Old Testament to emphasize Jesus' fulfilment of the prophecies. 

After Jesus' resurrection, Matthew is said to have preached in Judea before bringing the gospel to Ethiopia and Egypt. Then he travelled to Parthia (modern-day Iran) and eventually, he went to Ethiopia to spread the gospel. There, he was successful in winning many to Christ. But Fulvian (also Hertacus), the ruler of the region, decided to kill him and so commanded his soldiers to set Mathew on fire. The traditions state that though St. Mathew died, his body was not consumed by the fire so he was killed with a halberd. It is said that later Fulvian, Matthew’s persecutor, repented of his sins and became a Christian, going on to even renounce his worldly titles and then become a presbyter who strengthened the Church in Ethiopia. His remains can be found in the Cathedral of Salerno in Salerno, Italy.

Like St John, we celebrate the feast of St Matthew on two separate occasions.  On 9 May we celebrate the Feast of St Matthew the Apostle and on 16 November the Feast of St Matthew the Evangelist. It is right to have two feasts, for he was both an apostle and an evangelist – each of these being a significant vocation.

Apostle James the Less

James, son of Alphæus (Matthew 10:2-4), is also known as James the Less or James the Just to distinguish him from James the Greater, the brother of John. 

Little is known about him from the Gospels, but he is mentioned among the list of Apostles. He may have been the author of the Epistle of James. 

Traditionally, he is believed to have gone on missionary journeys throughout Judea, Edessa, Gaza, and Eleutheropolis, proclaiming the Gospel, healing all sorts of sickness and disease, and converting many to the path of salvation. It is said that he was crucified by pagans in the Egyptian city of Ostrachina. Others say he may been martyred in Jerusalem by stoning or clubbing at age 98. His remains can be found at the Holy Apostles Basilica in Rome.

May 3rd is the feast day of Saint James the Less and Saint Philip.

Apostle Judas Thaddeus

Judas Thaddaeus or Lebbæus, son of James (Matthew 10:2-4), is sometimes referred to as "Judas, not Iscariot" to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot. By some accounts, he was the brother of St Simon the Zealot.

Thaddaeus is mentioned in the Gospels  (Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:18) but not extensively. 

The traditional symbol of Judas is a club and tradition says he was clubbed to death for his faith in Eddesa (now Beirut, Lebanon) in around either 65 AD or 80 AD. His remains can be found at Saint Peter’s Basilica.

The Feast Day for Saint Jude and Saint Simon, both brothers and Apostles is October 28th.

Apostle Simon the Zealot

Simon the Zealot, also Simon the Caananite (Matthew 10:2-4) - Little is known about Simon's background and by some accounts he was the brother of St Judas Thaddeus.

As for his title "the Zealot" - some suggest that he may have been associated with the Zealot movement, who were bent on revolution and looking for a Messiah to violently overthrow Rome. Or he may have simply been zealous for the Mosaic Law. Or zealous for Jesus and his teachings, because according to one tradition, he was the bridegroom at the wedding where the Savior performed His first miracle. After witnessing the miracle of the water which had been turned into wine, he left his home, parents and bride to follow Christ. The Bible doesn’t tell us what “the Zealot” signified, so no one can say for sure. 

Tradition holds that he preached in various regions, including Egypt, Pontus, Mesopotamia and Persia, and after preaching on the west coast of Africa, Simon went to England where he ended up being crucified either in 65 AD or 74 AD. According to another tradition he was tortured and crucified in Abkhazia, Georgia. His remains can be found at the Altar of the Crucifixion in Vatican City.

The Feast Day for Saint Simon and Saint Jude Thaddeus, both brothers and Apostles is October 28th.

Apostle Judas Iscariot

Judas Iscariot (Matthew 10:2-4) is infamously known for betraying Jesus to the Sanhedrin, with a kiss in the Garden of Gethsemane for a mere thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16). 

During the Last Supper, Jesus claims one of the disciples will betray him, and then tells Judas, “What you are about to do, do it quickly” (John 13:21-27). 

After Jesus' arrest and subsequent crucifixion, Judas committed suicide, according to the Gospel accounts. The chief priests then used the money to buy a potter’s field (presumably the field Judas hung himself in), because it was blood money, so they couldn’t put it in the treasury (Matthew 27:6-10). The name of Judas Iscariot has become synonymous with treachery.

What about the other prominent names mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles?

Apostle Matthias

Matthias wasn’t one of the original members of the Twelve appointed by Jesus. Instead, he was appointed by the apostles (Acts 1:26) to replace Judas Iscariot, so that there would be twelve in number. 

All we know about Matthias from Scripture is that he met Peter’s requirements for selecting a new member of the Twelve :

• He’d followed Jesus since his baptism by John the Baptist.
• He witnessed Jesus’ ascension to heaven.

To choose someone to replace Judas, about 120 believers nominated two people (Matthias and Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus), and then they cast lots - a principle the Israelites used to discern God’s will, seek his wisdom, or learn the truth.

After the Day of Pentecost, St. Matthias continued to preach the Gospel at Jerusalem and Judea together with the other Apostles. From Jerusalem, he went with the Apostles Peter and Andrew to Syrian Antioch and was in the Cappadocian city of Tianum and Sinope. Here the Apostle Matthias was locked into prison, from which he was miraculously freed. He continued preaching the Gospel in the areas around Macedonia, Georgia and even Ethiopia. The Apostle Matthias later returned to Judea and continued preaching the Gospel and performing miracles, thus bringing many to faith in Christ. This enraged the Jewish leaders who arrested him and later stoned him to death in around 63 AD. 

St Paul the Evangelist

What about St Paul the Evangelist? Wasn't he also an apostle, even if he was not one of the original Twelve?

Paul — also known by his Hebrew name Saul — is easily one of the most widely-known biblical figures. Although not one of the original Twelve Apostles, he was ordained by the Resurrected Christ as an apostle to the Gentiles during the seminal 'Road to Damascus' encounter. [Visit Conversion of St Paul]

He wrote most New Testament books, and he often appears on lists of the most influential Missionaries who have ever lived, spreading the Gospel throughout the known world, especially to Gentiles. As is recorded in the Book of Acts by his companion, St. Luke, St. Paul extensively travelled with the message of the Gospel all through Europe and Asia Minor, eventually ending with his missionary journey to Rome. 

Emperor Nero blamed the Christians for The Great Fire of Rome. Therefore Paul was arrested, bound in chains in the Mamertine Prison and condemned to beheading, which took place outside the Aurelian Walls, along the Ostiense Way, most likely between the years 65 and 67, around the same time as Simon Peter. Tradition states that being a Roman citizen instead of being crucified he was beheaded with a sword. Statues of St Paul often show him holding a sword.

The solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, a liturgical feast to honour their martyrdom in Rome is observed on 29 June

 

St Luke the Evangelist

What about Luke the Evangelist, who was also known as Luke the Physician and Saint Luke? 

St Luke is the traditional author of both the Gospel of Luke [Visit The Four Gospels] and the Acts of the Apostles. He accompanied Sts. Paul and Peter on their journeys and wasn’t one of the Twelve, and most scholars wouldn’t consider him an apostle. 

We celebrate the Feast of St Luke on October 18th.

St Mark the Evangelist

What about St Mark the Evangelist, who is commonly believed to also be a man named John Mark, the traditional author of the Gospel of Mark [Visit The Four Gospels]?

John Mark was a travelling companion of Paul and Barnabus but is not considered an Apostle.

Interestingly, when Peter escapes from prison in Acts 12:6-12, he flees to John Mark’s mother’s house, which was an important gathering place for the early Christians. So Peter and John Mark likely crossed paths, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they developed a lasting relationship as a result.

We celebrate the Feast of St Luke on April 25th.

"Christ’s Appearance to Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection" by Alexander Ivanov from 1835

What about Mary Magdelene, also known as the Apostle to the Apostles?

From the New Testament, one can conclude that Mary came from Magdala, a village on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. 

According to the Gospel of Luke 8:1-3, she was one of three women of means who was healed by Christ and became a disciple. "Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means." (Luke 8:1-3).

When almost all, except John the beloved disciple, abandoned Jesus in the hour of crucifixion, Mary of Magdala was one of the women, along with Mother Mary and Mary the mother of Salome, who stayed with him. 

According to John 20:1-18, Mary Magdelene was also present at the tomb on Easter morning. Not only that, she was the first person to whom Jesus appeared after his resurrection and the first tasked by Jesus to preach the "Good News" of the Resurrection to the other Apostles - earning the moniker "Apostle to the Apostles". These are among the few specific assertions made about Mary Magdalene in the Gospels. 

Accounts that conflate Mary Magdelene with a prostitute or adulteress have been largely discredited by Biblical Scholars.

We celebrate the Feast of St Mary Magdelene on July 22nd.

References:

1. Nelson, R. (2021, June 4). Who were the 12 Apostles? The complete guide. OverviewBible. Retrieved February 2, 2024, from https://overviewbible.com/12-apostles
2. Holland, A. (2023, December 9). Who were the 12 disciples? Names and importance of each apostle. Crosswalk.com. Retrieved February 2, 2024, from https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/who-were-the-12-disciples-and-what-should-we-know-about-them.html
3. Fairchild, M. (2020, November 9). Get to know the 12 Apostles of Jesus. Learn Religions. Retrieved February 2, 2024, from https://www.learnreligions.com/the-apostles-701217
4. What Happened to the Apostles after the Book of Acts? (2023, December 5). Believers Eastern Church. Retrieved February 2, 2024, from https://www.bec.org/what-happened-to-the-apostles-after-the-book-of-acts/
5. Ryan, G. (2018, May 3). The 12 Apostles: The meaning behind their names, how they died, and where their relics are located. uCatholic. Retrieved February 2, 2024, from https://ucatholic.com/blog/the-12-apostles-the-meaning-behind-their-names-how-they-died-and-where-their-remains-are/