The Twelve Apostles

The word “apostle” means simply a “sent-forth one,” or an “envoy”, that is, someone sent out as a
representative on a mission of service. Do you know how many apostles Jesus had, or the names of any
of them? Their work – Luke 9:1,2,7
Jesus was baptised in October 29CE. Lets see what happened shortly after, in Dec 29CE.
John 1:35-37, 40-42 Andrew and an un-named person (probably John); Simon-Peter.
Andrew: The brother of Peter, son of Jonah. He was a fisherman, from Galilee, in northern Israel.
Very little is said in the Bible about him, but he was a former disciple of John the Baptiser, and was
keen to follow Jesus, so he was obviously a spiritual man.
Tradition: Served as an apostle for 44 years. Preached in Greece and maybe Armenia; He was impaled
in Greece in 74CE.
Peter: Also known as Simon and Cephas. The brother of Andrew, son of Jonah. He was a fisherman,
from Galilee. He was definitely married. He was a bold and impulsive character; very quick to speak and
act. He became one of the most prominent apostles. Travelled far and wide: Samaria, Syria, Judea.
Eventually went to Babylon.
Tradition: Served as an apostle for 35 years. He was impaled, upside-down in c.65/66CE. (Compare
John 21:15,18,19)
John: The brother of James and son of Zebedee. He was a fisherman in his fathers fishing business, in
Galilee. He had also been a disciple of John the Baptiser. Also given the surname Bo-aner'ges, which
means "son of thunder". Mark 3:17. Probably because he was bold, zealous and dynamic, even explosive.
Compare Luke 9:54. Along with Peter, he became one of the most prominent apostles.
He was a cousin of Jesus. Being so close, he was the apostle that Jesus loved. John 13:23; 20:2
Travelled far and wide around the Roman Empire. Eventually ended up in Ephesus.
Tradition: He died in Ephesus of natural causes, having served as an apostle for nearly 70 years, in
100CE. Last of the twelve to die.
John 1:43-45 Philip and Nathaniel
Philip: Friend of Nathanael (Bartholomew). From Galilee and was possibly a fisherman. Quite possibly he
was married (many traditions and ancient writers talk about his family). Verse 43 said “Jesus found
Philip” which suggests Jesus knew him and went to look for him (perhaps he had been another disciple
of John the Baptiser). Very limited information about him in the scriptures, but from the few
references to him, he appears to be a more reserved character.
Tradition: Served as an apostle for 23 years. Went to preach in Turkey. He was impaled in c.53CE
Nathanael: Also known as Bartholomew, friend of Philip. Possibly a fisherman, from Galilee.
John 1:47 (“No deceit”) Jesus had looked into Nathanael’s heart, and found him to be a man of
exceptional faith and honesty.
Tradition: Served as an apostle for 22 years. Went to preach in Armenia. He was skinned alive and then
either impaled or beheaded in 52CE.

At this time none of these five became permanent associates of Jesus.

Dec 30CE
Matt 4:18-22 Peter, Andrew, James and John.
James: The brother of John and son of Zebedee. Cousin of Jesus. Also named Bo-aner'ges, ("son of
thunder"). He was a fisherman in his fathers fishing business, in Galilee. May have stayed near to
Judea, although tradition claims he travelled to Spain. He was the first of the apostles to be executed.
Acts 12:1,2
James was probably beheaded, in 44 CE, by Herod Agrippa, having served as an apostle for 14 years.

Now they became his permanent followers. Unsure if Philip and Nathaniel joined permanently at this stage.
March 31CE.
Matt 9:9 Matthew
Matthew: Was also known as Levi. A tax collector in Galilee, but evidently not greedy and deceitful as
many of them were. Wrote the first Gospel account of Jesus. Some claim he is the brother of another
apostle, ‘James the Less’, as they both have a father named Alphaeus, who was Jesus uncle (Josephs
brother). This is uncertain, but if true he was also a cousin of Jesus.
Tradition: Served as an apostle for 29 years. Went to preach in Ethiopia. He was killed by sword in 60CE.

June 31CE. Mark 3:13-19

Thomas: Possibly a fisherman or a carpenter, from Galilee. Sometimes unfairly called “doubting
Thomas” because he asked to see physical proof of the resurrected Jesus. John 20:24,25. But see
also John 11:14-16. Also known as “The Twin” (Greek = Didymus – verse 16 footnote), so he may have
had a twin brother or sister.
Tradition: Served as apostle for either 21 or 41 years. Went to preach in India. Death: He was killed by
a spear in 52 CE or 72CE.

James, son of Alphaeus: Alphaeus was Jesus uncle (Josephs brother), so James was the cousin of
Jesus. Also called "James the Less", either because he was shorter than the other James, or he was
younger than him. Mark 15:40. Possibly a tax collector, or a farmer, probably from Galilee. Some claim
he is the brother of Matthew, as mentioned above (see ‘Matthew’)
Tradition: Served as an apostle for 29 years. Went to preach in Egypt. He was stoned and beaten to
death in 60 CE.

Thaddaeus: Also known as Judas. Probably from Galilee. Original occupation unknown.
Tradition: Served as an apostle for 41 years. Went to preach in Persia and Armenia, with Simon the
Canaanean. He was impaled or shot with arrows in 72CE.

Simon the Canaanean: Also known as “the zealous one”. Luke 6:15. Obviously an enthusiastic
character. Probably from Galilee. Original occupation unknown.
Tradition: Served as an apostle for 43 years. Went to preach in Persia and Armenia, with Thaddaeus.
He was impaled in 74CE.

Judas Iscariot: The disciple who later betrayed Jesus. “Iscariot” means “Man From Kerioth,” so it
identifies Judas as being from the Judean town of Kerioth-hezron. All the other apostles were from
Galilee in northern Israel, whilst Judas was the only apostle from Judea, in southern Israel. Original
occupation unknown, but it has been suggested he was a tax collector or a tanner (making leather
from animal skins).
He served as an apostle for only two years. But after only one year, in March 32CE, Jesus detected
the beginning of his wrong course. John 6:64,70,71.
He hanged himself after his betrayal of Jesus. Matt 27:5. He was then replaced by Matthias as an
apostle a short time after Jesus' resurrection. Acts 1:23-26.