Who Were the 12 Apostles/Disciples? Facts from the Bible

The twelve disciples, also known as the twelve apostles, were the closest followers of Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry. Chosen by Jesus Himself, these men played a crucial role in spreading His teachings and laying the foundation of the early Christian Church. Coming from diverse backgrounds—fishermen, a tax collector, and even a political zealot—they were ordinary individuals transformed by their encounter with Jesus.

Quick Facts about Jesus's Disciples

Peter (Simon Peter) – A fisherman, one of Jesus' closest disciples, denied Jesus three times but later became a key leader in the early Church.

James (son of Zebedee) – Brother of John, also called "James the Greater" one of the "Sons of Thunder," and the first apostle to be martyred.

John (son of Zebedee) – Brother of James, referred to as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," authored the Gospel of John, and was exiled to Patmos.

Andrew – Brother of Peter, originally a disciple of John the Baptist, known for bringing people to Jesus.

Philip – Introduced Nathanael (Bartholomew) to Jesus and was present at the feeding of the 5,000.

Bartholomew (Nathanael) – Known for his honesty, brought to Jesus by Philip, and possibly preached in India and Armenia.

Matthew (Levi) – A former tax collector who became one of Jesus’ disciples and authored the Gospel of Matthew.

Thomas (Didymus) – Famously doubted Jesus' resurrection until he saw and touched His wounds, later spread the Gospel to India.

James (son of Alphaeus) – Sometimes called "James the Less," little is recorded about him, but he was a faithful follower of Jesus.

Thaddeus (Jude, son of James) – Also called Judas (not Iscariot), asked Jesus a question at the Last Supper and preached after the resurrection.

Simon the Zealot – A former member of the Zealot movement, became a passionate follower of Jesus and spread the Gospel.

Judas Iscariot – Betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver and later took his own life out of guilt.

Matthias – Chosen by the remaining apostles to replace Judas Iscariot, was a witness of Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection.

What’s the Difference Between “Disciple” and “Apostle”?

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia notes a significant difference between “apostle” and another commonly associated word, "disciple," which means "a learner."

The 12 disciples are first called “apostles” in Matthew 10:2. According to John Gill’s Commentary, “they were learners before; now being instructed, they are sent forth to preach publicly, and therefore are called apostles, or messengers.”

Jesus Calls His Disciples

“And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him” (Mark 3:13-19).

Who Were the 12 Apostles

The twelve Apostles were sent into the world for a definite purpose, with explicit instructions from the Lord.

Nationality and Early Life. They were all of the stock of Abraham, and their early lives were spent in their native land (Matthew 4; Matthew 20:1-11).
Their Opportunities. Jesus spake to the multitude in parables, but in secret places He explained everything to His apostles (Matthew 13:33-43; John 14:1-9).
Their Ordination. Jesus called them, ordained them and sent them into the world even as His Father had sent Him (John 15:16; John 17:6-18).
The First Commission. The first time Jesus sent the apostles to preach, He restricted their labors to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 10:6), and their preaching to the simple announcement that the kingdom of God was at hand (Matthew 10:1-7).
The Second Commission. After Jesus had broken down the middle wall between Jew and Gentile by his death on the cross, He gave His apostles a new commission (Ephesians 2:11-16).

According to Matthew, this commission embraced:

the announcement that all authority in heaven and in earth had been given unto Him;
the command to go and teach;
the command to baptize those who were taught;
the command to continue to teach the baptized disciples;
the assurance that He would be with them to the end (Matthew 28:18-20).

According to Mark, it embraced:

the command to preach the gospel to the whole world;
the promise of salvation to those who believe and obey it (Mark 16:15).

According to Luke, it embraced:

the command to preach repentance in His name;
to begin at Jerusalem;
the assurance that the apostles were witnesses of these things (Luke 24:45-48).

According to John, it embraced, under the condition laid down by Jesus, the power to remit and retain sins (John 20:21-23).

What Happened to the Disciples?

After Jesus' resurrection, the twelve apostles went on to spread His message across the world, facing various challenges, miracles, and persecution. Each disciple took a different path, with some traveling to distant lands to preach the Gospel, while others remained closer to Jerusalem. Their faithfulness often led to martyrdom, yet their legacy continues to shape Christianity today.

Simon Peter: Spread the Gospel in Jerusalem and abroad including Antioch. He died by crucifixion, and according to tradition, he asked to die upside-down. His death was prophesied by Jesus in John 21:18.

Thaddeus also called Jude: Crucified at Edessa.

Bartholomew: Said to have translated the Gospel of Matthew, is believed to have been beaten then crucified.

Thomas also called Didymus: Went to Parthia and India, where he is believed to have been martyred.

Simon the Zealot: Went to Africa and may have gone as far north as Britain, where tradition holds he was martyred.

John: Travelled and spread the Gospel till he was sent to Rome. They attempted to boil him in oil which failed so he was banished to Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation.

James the son of Zebedee: His death was the second account of martyrdom in the Bible, James was executed in Jerusalem for his faith, as recounted in Acts 12:1-2.

Philip: Served the cause of Christ until his death in Heliopolis.

Matthew: It is believed much of Matthew’s ministry was in Africa, including modern-day Ethiopia, and that he was killed with a halberd.

James the son of Alphaeus: He served until he was stoned for his faith.

Matthias: Not much is known of his ministry, though tradition holds he was stoned and then beheaded.

Andrew: Preached in what is now the middle east and was crucified.

(Sourced from Biblestudytools.com)

Judas Replaced by Matthias

After betraying Jesus and turning Him over to the religious leaders, Judas eventually committed suicide. The apostles then had to decide whether to replace Judas restoring the number to twelve. The apostles prayed that God would reveal His choice based on the hearts of the men. To surely give the judgment up to God, they renounced authority over the decision: “And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles” (Acts 1:26). Matthias was ordained, and there were twelve apostles once again.