BQA12
THE TWELVE APOSTLES
1. Simon Peter
Simon, who is called Peter. Fisherman, Impetuous, generous-hearted, affectionate man that he was, he was a born leader. Martyred in Rome by the Roman authorities as prophesized by Jesus in John 21:18-19. Peter was crucifixion, at his request, upside down about AD 67
As the leader of the Church he presided over the first Great Council in Jerusalem in 49AD (Acts 15). Jn 1:41-2; Mt. 4:18; Mk 1:16; Lk 5; Mt. 10:1-4; Mk 3:16; Lk 6:14; Mt 14:29; Mt 16:16-22; 17:1-4; Jn 6: 68; 13:37; Lk 22:31-4; 24:12,34; Jn 21:7-19; Acts 1:13-22; 2:14-40; 3:11-4:31; 5:27-329:32-11:18; 12:1-19; 15:7-12; Gal 2:9; 1 & 2 Peter.
2. Andrew
Andrew, his brother. He was introduced to Jesus by John the Baptist (John 1:36, 40), then brought his brother Peter to Him. He made it his business thereafter to bring men to Jesus. Brother of Simon-Peter and worked in the fishing business with Simon and the Zebedee brothers. Preached the Gospel in Asia Minor, Armenia, and Scythia (southern Russia); and possible Greece. Date of martyrdom unknown. Stoned and crucified in Scythia? on an X shaped cross.
Jn 1:40-44; Mt 4:18; 10:2; Mk 1:16, 29; 3:18; 13:3; Lk 6:14; Jn 6:8; 12:22; Acts 1:13
3. James
James, the son of Zebedee, who was later killed by Herod (Acts 12:2)—the first of the twelve to die as a martyr. Fisherman; business partner of Simon-Peter; brother of John and son of Zebedee and Salome. Jesus called the Zebedee brothers the “Sons of Thunder.” James preached the Gospel in Sardinia and in Spain. Mt. 4:21; 10:2; 10:2; Mk 1:19, 29; 10:41; 14:33; Lk 9:28, 54; Acts 1:13;12:2
First Apostle to be martyred Acts 12:1-2. Beheaded by King Herod Agrippa I around 44 AD
4. John
John, his brother. Also, a son of Zebedee, he was the disciple whom Jesus loved. We are indebted to him for the Fourth Gospel, three Epistles, and Revelation. Fisherman and business partner of Simon-Peter; brother of James; close friend of Andrew. Preached the Gospel in Asia Minor. Imprisoned on the penal colony of Patmos where he received the final revelation of Jesus Christ to the Church. The only Apostle to die of old age. His long life was prophesized by Jesus in John 21:20-23. Tradition places his death about AD 90-96 AD. His tomb is at Ephesus in modern Turkey.
Jn 1:38-39; Mt 4:21;10:2; 17:1; Mk 10:35’41; 13:3; 14:33; Lk 9:28, 49, 54; 22:8; Jn 1:36?; 13:23; 18:16?;19:26; 20:1-8, 12; ; 21:7, 20-25 Acts 1:13; 3:1-11; 4:1-23; 8:14-25; Gal 2:9; Rev 1:1, 4, 9, 22:8
5. Philip
Philip. A citizen of Bethsaida, he brought Nathanael to Jesus. He is not to be confused with Philip the Evangelist, in the book of Acts. From the same home town as Peter and Andrew, Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee. This Jewish Apostles has an entirely Greek name meaning “lover of horses”. Like Peter, Andrew, James and John he was first introduced to Jesus at the sight of John the Baptist’s baptisms (John 1:43) where he immediately brought his friend Nathaniel to Jesus. According to tradition he preached the Gospel 20 yrs in Scythia (southern Russia). It is also believed that he preached in Phrygia (Turkey), Galatia, and in Gaul (France). Martyred and is buried at the Turkish city of Hieropolis according to the letters of Papias, 2nd century Bishop of Hieropolis.
Mt 10:3; Mk 3:18; Lk 3:1; 6:14; Jn 1:43-48; 6:5-7; 12:21-22; 14:8-9; Acts 1:13
6. Bartholomew
Bartholomew. Believed to be the same as Nathanael, the Israelite in whom Jesus found no guile (John 1:47). Bartholomew and Thaddaeus are travelled to Armenia, performing many miracles and for sowing the first seeds of Christianity in Armenia. Both also traveled and preached in what is today modern Iraq and Iran. They are patron saints of Armenia where their shrines are still venerated today. Tradition says that he preached also in Greece and India. Suffered martyrdom in Armenia by being flayed alive.
Mt 10:3; Mk 3:18; Lk 6:14; Acts 1:13
7. Thomas
Thomas, also called Didymus, meaning “twin.” Commonly known as “Doubting Thomas,” his doubts gave way to a magnificent confession of Christ (John 20:28). Preached the Gospel to the Jews of Mesopotamia including Babylon in modern Iraq, in Asia Minor; later preached in Parthia [what had been the Persian empire] and in India reaching all the way to Kerala the Malabar coast of southwest India in AD 52. Later when Jews who fled Judea after the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 arrived in India, he led many Jews into the New Covenant Church. He is considered the Father of the Church in India. Indian Christians still make pilgrimages to shrines that remember Thomas the Saint Thomas mount in Chennai. Martyred by the sword while praying at the altar of his Church in India. The traditional burial site atop St Thomas Mount in Chennai India has been venerated for at least 1,500 years.
Mt 10:3; Mk 3:18; Lk 6:15; Jn 11:16; 14:5; 20:24-28; 21:2; Acts 1:13.
8. Matthew
Matthew. The former tax collector who wrote this Gospel. The tax collector and publican whose tax office was located in Capernaum. As a Levite he was the only member of the ministerial priesthood of the Old Covenant who was called to be one of the 12. Matthew is believed to have spread the Gospel in Parthia [Persia] and into Ethiopia south of the Caspian Sea, Egypt and Macedonian Greece. Martyred in Egypt or Persia? Either by the sword or spear. He is the only Apostle mentioned in the Jewish Talmud. The Babylonian Talmud (Sanhedrin 43a) records his trial and execution. His tomb is believed to be in Salerno, Italy.
Mt 9:9-10; 10:3; Mk 3:18; Lk 6:15; Acts 1:13
9. James
James, the son of Alphaeus. Little else is definitely known about him. Not to be confused with James who was not an apostle but was the writer of the Epistle of St. James, and half brother of Jesus. James son of Alphaeus preached the Gospel in Syria and founded the Church in Syria. Martyred by stoning, date is unknown.
Mt 10:3; Mk 3:18; 15:40; Lk 6:15; Acts 1:13
10. Lebbaeus
Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus. He is also known as Judas the son of James (Luke 6:16). His only recorded utterance is found in John 14:22. He first preached in Samaria, then in Idumea, Lybia, Syria and Mesopotamia before traveling to Edessa in Asia Minor to preach the Gospel. Along with Bartholomew he founded the Church in Armenia. He suffered martyrdom in Armenia.
Mt 10:3; Mk 3:18; Lk 6:16; Jn 14:22; Acts 1:13
11. Simon the Canaanite
Simon, the Canaanite, whom Luke calls the Zealot (Luke 6:15). A revolutionary against the Roman Empire. Believed to have preached the Gospel in Cyrene, other areas of North Africa including Egypt. Later traveling as far as Britian before returning to preach in Persia. Martyred by crucifixion either in the Persian city of Suanir or in Roman Britain in AD 61.
Mt 10:4; Mk 3:18; Lk 6:15; Acts 1:13
12. Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of our Lord. He was from the town of Kerioth mentioned in Joshua 15:25 and that his name should be rendered ish Kerioth = “man of Kerioth”. Jesus identified him in John 6:70 as “a devil”. He was the treasurer of the group, but he stole from the collection. Simon-Peter testified that it was foretold that Judas would betray Jesus in Acts 1:15-20.
One of the prophecies is found in Ps. 41:9 “Even my trusted friend on whom I relied, who shared my table, takes advantage of me [lifts his heel against me].” The more literal translation “lifts his heel” is a Biblical link to the curse on the Serpent in Genesis 3:15 “It [she, he] will brush your head and you will strike its heel” identifying Judas as a “seed of the serpent”. Christian tradition records that he hanged himself from the corner of the Temple wall and when the rope broke with his weight he fell and his body burst asunder on the rocks below. Mt 27:5; Acts 1:18-19 Jn 12:6; Mt 10:4; 26:14-16, 25, 47-49; 27:3-10; Mk 3:19; 14:10-11, 43-45; Lk 6:16; 22:3-6, 47, 48; Jn 12:4-6; 13:2, 21-30; 18:2, 3, 5; Acts 1:16. Ps 69:25; 109:8; Zech. 11:12-13; Jer. 32:6-15.
©alexanderthomas.org
Sources:
The Pulpit Commentary
Believers Bible Commentary
CSB Ancient Faith Study Bible
Stromata, Clement of Alexandria; Ante-Nicene Fathers: Volume 2; # 49
Church History, Bishop Eusebius, Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers, vol I
The Search for the Twelve Apostles, William S. McBirnie, Ph.d, [Tyndale House Publishers, 1973].
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 43a
Excerpts and Epistles of St. Clement of Rome, The Clementina [Clementine Homilies], Anti Nicene Fathers, vol, 8