BIOGRAPHY OF 12 APOSTLES OF CHRIST

PETER THE APOSTLE - MEMBER OF JESUS' INNER

CIRCLE
Peter the apostle is one of the most prominent characters in the Gospels, a rough and tumble man whose
emotions often got him into trouble, and yet he was clearly one of the favorites of Jesus Christ, who loved
him for his big heart.

Peter's true name was Simon. With his brother Andrew, Simon was a follower of John the Baptist. When
Andrew introduced Simon to Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus renamed Simon Cephas, an Aramaic word meaning
"rock." The Greek word for rock, "petros," became this apostle's new name, Peter. He is the only Peter
mentioned in the New Testament.

His aggressiveness made Peter a natural spokesman for the twelve. Often, however, he spoke before he
thought, and his words led to embarrassment.

Jesus included Peter in his inner circle when he took Peter, James, and John into the house of Jairus,
where Jesus raised Jairus' daughter from the dead (Mark 5:35-43). Later, Peter was among those same
disciples Jesus chose to witness the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9). Those same three saw Jesus' agony
in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:33-42).

Most of us remember Peter for denying Christ three times during the night of Jesus' trial. Following
his resurrection, Jesus took special care to rehabilitate Peter and assure him he was forgiven.

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit filled the apostles. Peter was so overcome that he began to preach to the
crowd. Acts 2:41 tells us 3,000 people were converted that day. Through the remainder of that book, Peter
and John were persecuted for their stand for Christ.

Early in his ministry, Simon Peter preached only to Jews, but God gave him a vision in Joppa of a huge
sheet containing all types of animals, warning him not to call anything made by God impure. Peter
then baptized the Roman centurion Cornelius and his household and understood that the gospel is for all
people.

Tradition says that persecution of the first Christians in Jerusalem led Peter to Rome, where he spread the
gospel to the fledgling church there. Legend has it that the Romans were going to crucify Peter, but he
told them he was not worthy to be executed in the same manner as Jesus, so he was crucified upside
down.

The Roman Catholic Church claims Peter as its first pope.

ANDREW THE APOSTLE

The Apostle Andrew, whose name means "manly," was the first apostle of Jesus Christ. He had
previously been a follower of John the Baptist, but when John proclaimed Jesus "the lamb of God,"
Andrew went with Jesus and spent a day with him.

Andrew quickly found his brother Simon (later called Peter) and told him "We have found the Messiah."
(John 1:41, NIV) He brought Simon to meet Jesus. Matthew notes that Simon and Andrew dropped their
fishing nets and followed Jesus as he was passing by.

The Gospels record three episodes involving the Apostle Andrew. He and three other disciples asked
Jesus about his prophecy that the Temple would be torn down (Mark 13:3-4). Andrew brought a boy with
two fish and five barley loaves to Jesus, who multiplied them to feed 5,000 people (John 6:8-13). Philip
and Andrew brought some Greeks to Jesus who wanted to meet him (John 12:20-22).

It is not recorded in the Bible, but church tradition says Andrew was crucified as a martyr on a Crux
Decussata, or X-shaped cross.

APOSTLE JAMES: FIRST TO DIE FOR JESUS

James was among the first of the twelve disciples. When Jesus called the brothers, James and John were
fishermen with their father Zebedee on the Sea of Galilee. They immediately left their father and their
business to follow the young rabbi. James was probably the older of the two brothers because he is always
mentioned first.
Three times James, John, and Peter were invited by Jesus to witness events no one else saw: the raising of
the daughter of Jairus from the dead (Mark 5:37-47), the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-3), and Jesus'
agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-37).

But James was not above making mistakes. When a Samaritan village rejected Jesus, he and John wanted
to call down fire from heaven upon the place. This earned them the nickname "Boanerges," or "sons of
thunder." The mother of James and John also overstepped her bounds, asking Jesus to grant her sons
special positions in his kingdom.

James' zeal for Jesus resulted in his being the first of the twelve apostles to be martyred. He was killed
with the sword on order of King Herod Agrippa I of Judea, about 44 A.D., in a  general persecution of
the early church.

Two other men named James appear in the New Testament: James, the son of Alphaeus, another of
Christ's chosen apostles; and James, the brother of the Lord, a leader in the Jerusalem church and author
of the book of James.

APOSTLE JOHN: 'THE DISCIPLE JESUS LOVED'

The Apostle John had the distinction of being a beloved friend of Jesus Christ, writer of five books of the
New Testament, and a pillar in the early Christian church.

John and his brother James, another disciple of Jesus, were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee when Jesus
called them to follow him. They later became part of Christ's inner circle, along with the Apostle Peter.
These three (Peter, James, and John) were privileged to be with Jesus at the raising of Jairus' daughter
from the dead, at the transfiguration, and during Jesus' agony in Gethsemane.
On one occasion, when a Samaritan village rejected Jesus, James and John asked if they should call down
fire from heaven to destroy the place. That earned them the nickname Boanerges, or "sons of thunder."

A previous relationship with Joseph Caiaphas allowed John to be present in the high priest's house during
Jesus' trial. On the cross, Jesus entrusted the care of his mother, Mary, to an unnamed disciple, probably
John, who took her into his home (John 19:27). Some scholars speculate that John may have been a
cousin of Jesus.

John served the church in Jerusalem for many years, then moved to work in the church at Ephesus. An
unsubstantiated legend holds that John was taken to Rome during a persecution and thrown into boiling
oil but emerged unhurt.

The Bible tells us that John was later exiled to the island of Patmos. He supposedly outlived all of the
disciples, dying of old age at Ephesus, perhaps about A.D. 98.

John's Gospel is strikingly different from Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the three Synoptic Gospels, which
means "seen with the same eye" or from the same viewpoint.

John continually emphasizes that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, sent by the Father to take away
the sins of the world. He uses many symbolic titles for Jesus, such as the Lamb of God, resurrection, and
the vine. Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus uses the phrase "I am," unmistakably identifying himself
with Jehovah, the Great "I AM" or eternal God.

Although John does not mention himself by name in his own gospel, he refers to himself four times as
"the disciple Jesus loved."

PHILIP THE APOSTLE - FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST

Philip the Apostle was one of the earliest followers of Jesus Christ. Some scholars speculate that Philip
was first a disciple of John the Baptist because he lived in the region where John preached.

Like Peter and Peter's brother Andrew, Philip was a Galilean, from the village of Bethsaida. It's probable
they knew one another and were friends.

Jesus issued a personal call to Philip: "Follow me." (John 1:43, NIV). Leaving his old life behind, Philip
answered the call. He may have been among the disciples with Jesus at the wedding feast in Cana, when
Christ performed his first miracle, turning water into wine.

Philip recruited the skeptical Nathanael (Bartholomew) as an apostle, leading Jesus to reveal that he

supernaturally saw Nathanael sitting under a fig tree, even before Philip called him.
In the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus tested Philip by asking him where they could buy bread
for so many people. Limited by his earthbound experience, Philip replied that eight months' wages would
not be enough to buy each person one bite.

The last we hear of Philip the Apostle is in the book of Acts, at Jesus' ascension and the Day of
Pentecost. Another Philip is mentioned in Acts, a deacon and evangelist, but he is a different person.

Tradition says Philip the Apostle preached in Phrygia, in Asia Minor, and was martyred there at
Hierapolis.

NATHANAEL IN THE BIBLE, THE 'TRUE ISRAELITE

Nathanael was one of the original twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. Very little is written about him in the
Gospels and the book of Acts. What we do learn about him comes primarily from an unusual encounter
with Jesus Christ in which the Lord declared that Nathanael was a model Jew and a man of integrity open
to the work of God.

Nathanael in the Bible

Also Known as: Bartholomew

Known for: Nathanael has the distinction of being the first recorded person to confess belief in Jesus as
the Son of God and Savior. When Nathanael accepted Jesus' call, he became his disciple. He was a
witness to the resurrection and the Ascension of Jesus Christ and became a missionary, spreading the
gospel.
MATTHEW THE APOSTLE, EX-TAX COLLECTOR
Matthew the apostle had been a dishonest tax collector driven by greed until Jesus Christ chose him as a
disciple. Also called Levi, Matthew was not a stand-out character in the Bible; He is only mentioned by
name in the lists of apostles and in the account of his calling. Matthew is traditionally identified as the
author of the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew, whose father was Alphaeus (Mark 2:14), was named Levi before his call by Jesus. We don't
know whether Jesus gave him the name Matthew or whether he changed it himself, but it is a shortening
of the name Mattathias, which means "gift of Yahweh," or simply "the gift of God."

On the same day Jesus invited Matthew to follow him, Matthew threw a great farewell feast in his home
in Capernaum, inviting his friends so they could meet Jesus too. From that time on, instead of collecting
tax money, Matthew collected souls for the kingdom of God.

Despite his sinful past, Matthew was uniquely qualified to be a disciple. He was an accurate record keeper
and keen observer of people. He captured the smallest details. Those traits served him well when he wrote
the Gospel of Matthew some 20 years later.

By surface appearances, it was scandalous and offensive for Jesus to pick a tax collector as one of his
closest followers since they were widely hated by the Jews. Yet of the four Gospel writers, Matthew
presented Jesus to the Jews as their hoped-for Messiah, tailoring his account to answer their questions.
THOMAS THE APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST
Thomas the apostle was one of Jesus Christ's original twelve disciples, specially chosen to spread the
gospel after the Lord's crucifixion and resurrection. The Bible also calls Thomas "Didymus" (John 11:16;
20:24). Both names mean "twin," although we aren't given the name of Thomas' twin in Scripture.

Two important stories paint a portrait of Thomas in the Gospel of John. One (in John 11) shows his
courage and loyalty to Jesus, the other (in John 20) reveals his human struggle with doubt.

Thomas was not present when the risen Jesus first appeared to the disciples. When told by the others, "We
have seen the Lord," Thomas replied that he would not believe it unless he could actually touch Jesus'
wounds. Jesus later presented himself to the apostles and invited Thomas to inspect his wounds.

Thomas was also present with the other disciples at the Sea of Galilee when Jesus appeared to them again.

Although it is not used in the Bible, the nickname "Doubting Thomas" was given to this disciple because
of his disbelief about the resurrection. People who are skeptical are sometimes referred to as a "Doubting
Thomas."
JAMES THE LESS: THE OBSCURE APOSTLE OF CHRIST
The Apostle James, son of Alphaeus, was also known as James the Less or James the Lesser. He's not to
be confused with James the Apostle, the first Apostle and the brother of Apostle John.

A third James appears in the New Testament. He was the brother of Jesus, a leader in the Jerusalem
church, and writer of the book of James.

James of Alphaeus is named in each listing of the 12 disciples, always appearing ninth in the order.
The Apostle Matthew (called Levi, the tax collector before becoming a follower of Christ), is also
identified in Mark 2:14 as the son of Alphaeus, yet scholars doubt he and James were brothers. Never in
the Gospels are the two disciples connected.

James the Lesser

The title "James the Lesser" or "the Little," helps to distinguish him from the Apostle James, son of
Zebedee, who was part of Jesus' inner circle of three and the first disciple to be martyred. James the
Lesser may have been younger or smaller in stature than Zebedee's son, as the Greek
word mikros conveys both meanings, less and small.

Although scholars argue this point, some believe James the Lesser was the disciple who first witnessed
the risen Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:7:

Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. (ESV)

Beyond this, Scripture reveals nothing more about James the Lesser.
 SIMON THE ZEALOT: A MYSTERY APOSTLE
Simon the Zealot, one of Jesus Christ's twelve apostles, is a mystery character in the Bible. We have one
tantalizing bit of information about him, which has led to ongoing debates among Bible scholars.

Scripture tells us almost nothing about Simon. In the Gospels, he is mentioned in three places, but only to
list his name with the twelve disciples. In Acts 1:13 we learn that he was present with the eleven apostles
in the upper room of Jerusalem after Christ had ascended to heaven.

In some versions of the Bible (such as the Amplified Bible), Simon is called Simon the Cananaean, which
is from the Aramaic word for zealot. In the King James Version and New King James Version, he is
called Simon the Canaanite or Cananite. In the English Standard Version, New American Standard
Bible, New International Version, and New Living Translation he is called Simon the Zealot.

To confuse things further, Bible scholars argue over whether Simon was a member of the radical Zealot
party or whether the term simply referred to his religious zeal. Those who take the former view think
Jesus may have chosen Simon, a member of the tax-hating, Roman-hating Zealots, to
counterbalance Matthew, a former tax collector, and employee of the Roman empire. Those scholars say
such a move by Jesus would have shown that his kingdom reaches out to people in all walks of life.

Another odd aspect of Simon's appointment was that the Zealots generally agreed with the Pharisees, as
far as legalistic observance of the commandments. Jesus frequently clashed with the Pharisees over their
strict interpretation of the law. We might wonder how Simon the Zealot reacted to that.

The Zealot party had a long history in Israel, formed by men who were passionate about obeying the
commandments in the Torah, especially those that banned idolatry. As foreign conquerors imposed their
pagan ways on the Jewish people, the Zealots sometimes turned to violence.

One such offshoot of the Zealots was the Sicarii, or daggermen, a group of assassins who tried to cast off
Roman rule. Their tactic was to mingle in crowds during festivals, slip up behind a victim, then kill him
with their Sicari, or short curved knife. The effect was a reign of terror that disrupted the Roman
government.

In Luke 22:38, the disciples tell Jesus, "See, Lord, here are two swords." When Jesus is arrested in the
Garden of Gethsemane, Peter draws his sword and cuts off the ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant.
It's not a stretch to assume that the second sword was owned by Simon the Zealot, but ironically he kept it
hidden, and instead Peter was the one who turned to violence.
THADDEUS: THE APOSTLE WITH MANY NAMES
Compared to more prominent apostles in Scripture, little is known about Thaddeus in the Bible. Part of
the mystery stems from him being called by several different names, including Thaddeus, Jude, Judas,
and Thaddaeus. 

One thing we know for certain, as one of the twelve apostles, Thaddeus was a close friend and follower of
Jesus Christ. His name means "gift of God" in Greek and is derived from a Hebrew word meaning
"breast."

Some have argued that there are two or more different people represented by Thaddeus' four names, but
most Bible scholars agree that these various names all refer to the same person. In lists of the Twelve, he
is called Thaddeus or Thaddaeus, a surname for the name Lebbaeus (Matthew 10:3, KJV), which means
“heart” or “courageous.”

The picture is confused further when he is called Judas. But he is distinguished from Judas Iscariot in
John 12:22. Some Bible scholars suggest Thaddeus authored the epistle of Jude; however, a more widely
accepted position is that Jude, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote the book. 

Historical Background

Little is known of Thaddeus' early life, other than he likely was born and raised in the same area of
Galilee as Jesus and the other disciples—a region which is now part of northern Israel, just south of
Lebanon. One tradition has him born into a Jewish family in the town of Paneas. Another tradition holds
that his mother was a cousin of Mary, mother of Jesus, which would make him a blood relation to Jesus.

We also know that Thaddeus, like other disciples, preached the gospel in the years following the death of
Jesus. Tradition holds that he preached in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Libya,
possibly alongside Simon the Zealot.

Church tradition claims that Thaddeus founded a church at Edessa and was crucified there as a martyr.
One legend suggests his execution occurred in Persia. Because he was executed by an ax or club, these
weapons are often shown in artworks depicting Thaddeus. After his execution, his body is said to have
been brought to Rome and placed in St. Peter's Basilica, where his bones remain to this day, interred in
the same tomb with the remains of Simon the Zealot.

Armenian Christians, for whom St. Jude is the patron saint, believe that Thaddeus' remains are interred in
an Armenian monastery. 

JUDAS ISCARIOT - BETRAYER OF JESUS CHRIST

Judas Iscariot is remembered for one thing: his betrayal of Jesus Christ. Even though Judas showed
remorse later, his name became a symbol for traitors and turncoats throughout history. His motive seemed
to be greed, but some scholars speculate political desires lurked beneath his treachery.

Believers can benefit from thinking about Judas Iscariot's life and considering their own commitment to
the Lord. Are we true followers of Christ or secret pretenders? And if we fail, do we give up all hope, or
do we accept his forgiveness and seek restoration?

Judas was a common name in first-century Judaism meaning "praise the Lord." The last name, "Iscariot,"
signifies "man of Kerioth," a town in the south of Judea. This means Judas was the only one of the twelve
not from Galilee. Of the Synoptic Gospels, Mark's reveals the least about Judas, attributing his actions to
no particular motive. Judas is simply the one who handed Jesus over to the chief priests. Matthew's
account gives more detail and paints Judas as an unscrupulous man. Luke goes even further, saying
that Satan entered into Judas.

One of Jesus' original 12 disciples, Judas Iscariot traveled with Jesus and studied under him for three
years. Like the other 11 disciples, Judas was called and sent by Jesus to preach the  gospel of the kingdom
of God, cast out demons, and heal the sick.