The names of the Twelve Disciples of Jesus in the Bible have come down to us from early church history. Since the time the original 12 Apostles themselves were alive, so too have their names. In fact, those living at the time of Jesus (approximately 27-33 AD) knew and understood who these men were.
Many believe that the 12 men who were disciples of Jesus are: Peter, Andrew, James (son of Zebedee), John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the publican, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite and Judas Iscariot. The fact that Judas committed suicide and Jesus told Judas not to worry about it may shed some doubt that he was a disciple and not a traitor. Explained: 12 disciples of Jesus KJV, Jesus Calls the 12 Disciples.
List of 12 Disciples of Jesus Bible Verse
When Jesus called twelve men to follow him, they answered. They were ordinary men of faith, uneducated commoners, and Jews who dedicated their all to serve Christ. These men received three years of leadership instruction from Jesus. Jesus intended for the disciples to eventually assume leadership roles and continue the mission He had begun.
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It is a known fact about Jesus that He selected common, uncultured men to be his apostles. They were the most ordinary of the ordinary. They were fishermen, farmers, and residents of rural places. Christ deliberately chose most of the men from the outcasts of society, shunning the aristocratic, powerful, and privileged members of society. InGod’s economy, it has always been the case.
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.
You didn’t choose me. I chose you. (John 14:16)
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these:
- The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and
- Andrew his brother; and
- James the son of Zebedee, and
- John his brother;
- Philip and
- Bartholomew (Nathanael);
- Thomas and
- Matthew the tax collector;
- James the son of Alphaeus (James the Less), and
- Thaddaeus (Judas, son of James);
- Simon the Zealot, and
- Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him. (Matthew 10:2-4)
1. Simon Peter
Simon Peter, also known as Simon son of John, was one of the first disciples chosen by Jesus. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus famously declares to Peter, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
2. Andrew
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was also called to be a disciple of Jesus. In John 1:40-42, Andrew brings his brother to Jesus, leading to Peter’s own calling as a disciple.
3. James, son of Zebedee
James, the son of Zebedee, was another of the twelve disciples. In Mark 5:37, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John with him to witness the healing of Jairus’ daughter.
4. John
John, the brother of James, was known as one of Jesus’ closest disciples. In John 13:23, John is described as the disciple whom Jesus loved, indicating the special bond between them.
5. Philip
Philip was another of the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus. In John 1:43-44, Jesus calls Philip to follow him, demonstrating his authority as the Messiah.
6. Bartholomew
Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, was called to be a disciple by Philip. In John 1:45-46, Nathanael expresses skepticism about Jesus, but is quickly won over by Jesus’ knowledge of him.
7. Thomas
Thomas, often referred to as Doubting Thomas, was one of Jesus’ disciples. In John 20:24-29, Thomas doubts the resurrection until he sees and touches Jesus’ wounds, leading him to proclaim, “My Lord and my God!”
8. Matthew
Matthew, also known as Levi, was a tax collector called by Jesus to be a disciple. In Matthew 9:9, Jesus invites Matthew to follow him, demonstrating his willingness to associate with sinners.
9. James, son of Alphaeus
James, the son of Alphaeus, was one of the lesser-known disciples of Jesus. Little is known about James from the Bible, but he is included in the list of the twelve disciples in Matthew 10:3.
10. Thaddaeus
Thaddaeus, also known as Judas, son of James, was another of the twelve disciples. In Luke 6:16, Thaddaeus is listed as one of the disciples called by Jesus.
11. Simon the Zealot
Simon the Zealot, also known as Simon the Cananaean, was a disciple of Jesus. In Luke 6:15, Simon is listed as one of the twelve disciples, likely in reference to his former affiliation with the Zealots, a political movement.
12. Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot was the infamous disciple who betrayed Jesus. In Matthew 26:14-16, Judas agrees to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, leading to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion.
Names Of The 12 Disciples Of Jesus In The Bible
If you’ve ever wondered what the names of the 12 disciples of Jesus in the Bible were, wonder no longer.
The names of the 12 disciples of Jesus in the Bible are: Andrew (brother of Simon Peter), Bartholomew (son of Tolmai), James son of Alphaeus (also called “James the Less”), John (the son of Zebedee), Philip, Thomas, Matthew (also called “Levi”), James son of Alphaeus (also called “James the Less”), Thaddaeus or Judas son of James, Simon the Zealot, Jude or Judas Iscariot (brother of James).
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The Bible tells us that Jesus chose twelve ordinary people to be His disciples, but He told them they would do extraordinary things. In the Gospel of Matthew 10:2-4, we see their names listed and what an eclectic bunch they were! There was Simon Peter, who was a fisherman from Bethsaida. There was Andrew, also a fisherman from Bethsaida and the brother of Simon. Then there were James and John, sons of Zebedee (also fishermen), who lived in Galilee near the Sea of Tiberias (aka the Sea of Galilee). Lastly, there was Philip from the city of Bethsaida (another fisherman) who lived in Galilee. These four fishermen worked together in a partnership with their fathers and went wherever their business took them.
Simon, also known as Peter
Simon Peter was a fisherman and a disciple of Jesus. He became the leader of the early church, which means he was leading people in their faith. In fact, we still have churches today that are named after him!
He’s also known for being one of the first people to be martyred (killed because he believed in Jesus), so he’s considered an important figure in Christianity.
But what impresses me most about Simon Peter is how Jesus describes him: “You are Peter/Rock” (Matthew 16:17). Just like every other person God created has value and purpose, so does Simon Peter—and all those who follow his example as disciples of Christ today!
Jesus Calls the 12 Disciples
1.Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.
2 And he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
3 He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money; and do not have two tunics apiece.
4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that city.
5 Whatever town you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay with him until you depart.
6 Wherever they do not receive you or listen to your words, as you go out of that house or that town shake off the dust from your feet.
7 Amen I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”
8 Then he set out from there and went into their synagogue;
9 behold a man was there whose hand was withered. And they asked him saying: Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? That they might accuse him.
10 But he said to them: What man among you who has one sheep.
Jesus called the Twelve and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over evil spirits. They went to the towns of Galilee, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere. When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you really the Messiah?” Jesus told them, “Go back and tell John what you hear and see:
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” As they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John:
“What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are found in palaces. But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you — and more than a prophet! This is he about whom it is written: ‘See I am sending my messenger ahead of.
Andrew
- Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter.
- Andrew was a fisherman.
- Andrew was the first disciple to follow Jesus after he left his father’s house.
- Andrew was the first disciple to bring his brother Simon Peter to Jesus, who would become one of Jesus’ closest disciples and leaders in the early church.
James and John
James and John were the sons of Zebedee, and were fisherman. They were called Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”. They were the first to follow Jesus after his baptism. They were with Jesus at the Transfiguration.
Philip
Philip was from Bethsaida and was married with four daughters (John 1:44). He is one of the first apostles to meet Jesus when he came down from Galilee (John 1:43) and one of the first apostles to witness some of his miracles, including turning water into wine (John 2:1-11). While Philip was one of Jesus’ closest friends, he was not known for having many personal encounters with him during his ministry.
This is why it’s so significant that Philip was able to witness two important events in Christ’s life: The Transfiguration and the crucifixion. In both cases, Peter asked him what he felt about these events, indicating that Philip had a unique perspective on them as someone who knew Christ personally but did not experience them firsthand himself
Bartholomew
Bartholomew is a name of Aramaic origin, meaning “son of Talmai”. He was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. Bartholomew is also known as Nathanael or Nathaniel in the Gospel of John.
Bartimeus (Greek: Βαρτιμήυ) was an Israelite who lived during Jesus’ ministry to Galilee, and sought healing from him. He was blind and had been so since he was born. Bartimeus could not see his own blindness, but his friends knew it by looking at him and noticing that he stumbled on the way and fell often as he walked along (Mark 10:46).
Bartholomew’s brother Philip baptized Bartholomew after they became followers of Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry (John 1:43).
Thomas
If you’re a fan of the Bible, you’ve probably heard of Thomas. He was one of the twelve disciples and is often known as Didymus, which means “twin”, or less commonly, Judas (Judah), which means “praise”.
Thomas was a fisherman from Galilee who lived near Bethsaida. (John 11:1) He may have been one of the first to follow Jesus after hearing his message about his upcoming death and resurrection. This is supported by Mark 5:37 which says that when Jesus’ disciples returned from their missionary travels in Palestine around 30 A.D., they found their homes occupied by others so they had no place to stay except with Thomas who invited them into his house to rest until they could find somewhere else to live.
(Mark 5:39-44)
When Jesus appeared again after His death and resurrection, Thomas was not present because he did not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead until he saw Him with his own eyes; it seems that even then he still didn’t fully understand just how powerful God’s love really is! In fact, when others told him what had happened during those days while he wasn’t around yet again they weren’t able to convince him either even though everyone else believed what was being said; this made them angry at Thomas so much so that Peter got up out of bed where he had been sleeping after having walked all night long trying unsuccessfully explain things for himself -and for everyone else too but especially for himself since explaining things always helps make people feel better about themselves if nothing else helps make them feel better!!
12 disciples of Jesus KJV
The twelve apostles were the primary disciples of Jesus Christ, the central figure in Christianity. The word “apostle” comes from the Greek word apostolos meaning “messenger”.
The term is used in Acts and the Epistles of the New Testament to denote those sent on a mission. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, he recruited twelve disciples to travel with him and learn from his teachings. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to the eleven remaining disciples and commissioned them to go forth and baptize all nations in his name. In addition, he instructed them to spread the word that he was risen from death and would return soon (Matthew 28:20).
According to tradition, after Pentecost, Christians numbered about 120 apostles (Acts 1:15). The Twelve Apostles are believed by some historians to have been followers of John the Baptist who later became disciples of Jesus. The Gospels state that Jesus gave them power over unclean spirits and abilities to cure diseases (Mark 3:14–15).
The original Twelve Apostles include Peter and Andrew; James son of Zebedee; John son of Zebedee; Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew (also called Levi); Simon-Peter’s brother.
Matthew
Matthew was a tax collector, who became one of the first disciples of Jesus Christ. He was also one of the 12 apostles and he wrote the first gospel.
Matthew is a Jewish name that means “gift from God.” It appears in both Old and New Testaments as well as many other places throughout history including:
- The book of Matthew
- A disciple named Matthew in The Quran (Muslim holy book)
James, son of Alphaeus
James, son of Alphaeus was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to all four Gospels. He is also known as James the Less, or the Little. According to etymological research, it is likely that he was called this because he was younger than some others in his group. The name James is derived from the Hebrew Ya’akov and means “he who supplants”.
James did not have much of a story in the bible. He only appeared once in some accounts and had no mentionable impact on Jesus’ ministry or teachings. In fact, most religious scholars today agree that his place among those who followed Christ was only symbolic—that he represented those who would follow him later when they became disciples themselves (1 Corinthians 15:7).
Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus or Judas, son of James. Aka Jude and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus and killed himself.
Jude was the brother of James and a disciple of Jesus. He also wrote one of the books in the Bible, called Jude. In fact, he was so devoted to Christ that he’s often referred to as “Jude, the Beloved” because of his exceptional devotion to God. The apostle Paul called him “a servant of Christ Jesus.”
Simon the Zealot – also known as Simon the Canaanite and/or Simon the Cananaean)
- Simon the Zealot – also known as Simon the Canaanite and/or Simon the Cananaean)
Simon was a member of the tribe of Levi, one of twelve apostles who followed Jesus during his ministry. He is often called “the Zealot,” which refers to his political beliefs. The Jewish people were divided into two factions: those who wanted to obey God’s laws without question (the Pharisees), and those who believed that God gave them permission to fight back against their oppressors (Zealots). While many Jews in this time period followed Jesus’ teachings, there were many others who thought he should be more forceful in his opposition to Rome’s rule over Israel. These people began calling themselves “Zealots” because they felt that it was their duty as Jews to fight back against Roman occupation using whatever means necessary—including violence.
- Simon was from Cana in Galilee, an area known for being particularly hot-headed when it came time to stand up for what they believed in.*
Matthias – elected to replace Judas Iscariot after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was a tax collector and one of the 70 disciples who witnessed the resurrection.
The 12 disciples were ordinary men that God used to spread his gospel.
You know the names of Jesus’ disciples, and you’ve probably heard that they were ordinary men. But what does it mean to say these men were “ordinary”?
It’s important to understand that when we talk about the disciples being “ordinary,” we’re not saying that they were lowly or common. This doesn’t mean that these men were bad people or unworthy of God’s favor; on the contrary, all 12 of them are saints with a special place in heaven thanks to their faithfulness.
In fact, many of them had very good jobs before becoming followers of Jesus and later apostles: Matthew was a tax collector, Peter was a fisherman (and still is), John was a fisherman who also used his boat as an ambulance for local fishermen during storms and accidents at sea; Andrew was a fisherman as well; James and John both worked as day laborers (unskilled workers); Philip was an evangelist who traveled around teaching new believers how to live out their faith in everyday life; Bartholomew had some sort of trade business related with fabrics or clothes—we aren’t sure exactly what he did for work but he may have been involved with making clothing like tailors do today; Thomas earned money by working in construction projects building houses for families or government buildings like libraries and schools; Thaddeus/Lebbaeus/Judas son Of James also made money off his skills as a builder but he often traveled abroad wherever there was need for skilled workers like himself
Jesus Christ is a great example of how we should live our lives. We should follow in his footsteps by being unselfish and loving everyone else like he did.
The 12 disciples of Jesus, as mentioned in the Bible, are:
- Simon Peter: He was a fisherman and considered the leader among the disciples. Jesus gave him the name Peter, which means “rock,” and he played a significant role in spreading the teachings of Jesus.
- Andrew: He was the brother of Peter and also a fisherman. Andrew is known for introducing Peter to Jesus and for his role in bringing others to Jesus.
- James, son of Zebedee: He was one of the sons of Zebedee and the brother of John. James was part of the inner circle of disciples and witnessed significant events like the Transfiguration.
- John: He was the brother of James and also part of the inner circle of disciples. John is known as the disciple whom Jesus loved and is credited with writing the Gospel of John and several epistles.
- Philip: He was one of the earliest disciples chosen by Jesus. Philip is known for bringing Nathanael to Jesus and for his role in the feeding of the multitude.
- Bartholomew (Nathanael): He is often identified with Nathanael, who was skeptical about Jesus but eventually became his disciple. Bartholomew is mentioned alongside Philip in the Gospel accounts.
- Thomas: He is famously known as “Doubting Thomas” because of his initial disbelief in Jesus’ resurrection. Thomas is known for his strong faith after encountering the risen Jesus.
- Matthew (Levi): He was a tax collector before becoming a disciple of Jesus. Matthew is credited with writing the Gospel of Matthew and is often associated with financial matters.
- James, son of Alphaeus: He is sometimes referred to as “James the Less” to distinguish him from James, the son of Zebedee. Not much is known about him, but he is mentioned in the list of disciples.
- Thaddaeus (Judas, son of James): He is also known as Lebbaeus or Judas, son of James. Thaddaeus is mentioned in the list of disciples but not extensively in the Gospel accounts.
- Simon the Zealot: He is sometimes identified as Simon the Cananaean or Simon the Zealot. Simon is believed to have been associated with the Zealot movement, which sought to overthrow Roman rule.
- Judas Iscariot: He is infamous for betraying Jesus to the religious authorities for thirty pieces of silver. After his betrayal, Judas died by suicide.
These disciples had various assignments on earth, primarily to learn from Jesus, witness his teachings and miracles, and eventually spread the message of the Gospel after Jesus’ resurrection. They were chosen to be close companions of Jesus and played significant roles in the early Christian movement.