The Twelve
Contents
The Biblical Data
- Matthew and Mark:
- Simon, whom he named Peter
- James, son of Zebedee
- and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder
- Andrew, Peter's brother
- Philip
- Bartholomew
- Matthew
- Thomas
- James the son of Alphaeus
- Thaddeus
- Simon the Cananean
- Judas Iscariot who betrayed him
Mt 10:2-4 | Mk 3:16-19 | Lk 6:14-16 | Jn | Paul |
---|---|---|---|---|
Simon called Peter | Simon, whom he named Peter | Simon, whom he named Peter | Peter | Kephas, Peter |
his brother Andrew | James, son of Zebedee | Andrew his [Peter's] brother | Andrew (identified as Peter's brother) | |
James, the son of Zebedee | and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder | James | "sons of Zebedee" | |
his brother John | Andrew | John | "sons of Zebedee" | |
Philip | Philip | Philip | Philip | |
Bartholomew | Bartholomew | Bartholomew | Nathanael | |
Thomas | Matthew | Matthew | Not named. | |
Matthew the tax collector | Thomas | Thomas | Thomas | |
James, the son of Alphaeus | James the son of Alphaeus | James the son of Alphaeus | Not named. | |
Thaddeus | Thaddeus | Simon who was called a Zealot | Not named. | |
Simon the Cananean | Simon the Cananean | Judas the son of James | Judas (not Iscariot) | |
Judas Iscariot who betrayed him | Judas Iscariot who betrayed him | Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. | Judas Iscariot | |
Matthias, elected in Acts 1:23-26 |
Mt & Mk | Luke | John | Paul | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Simon Peter | Simon, whom he named Peter | Peter | ||
his brother Andrew | Andrew his brother | Andrew (identified as Peter's brother) | ||
James, the son of Zebedee (Mk: Boanerges (sons of thunder) | James | "sons of Zebedee" | ||
his brother John | John | "sons of Zebedee" | ||
Philip | Philip | Philip | ||
Bartholomew | ||||
Nathanael | ||||
Thomas | Thomas | Thomas the doubter | ||
Matthew the tax collector | Matthew | |||
James, the son of Alphaeus | ||||
Simon the Cananean | Simon, who was called a Zealot | |||
Thaddeus | ||||
Judas the son of James | Judas (not Iscariot) | |||
Judas Iscariot who betrayed him | Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. | Judas Iscariot | ||
Matthias, elected in Acts 1:23-26 |
Liturgical Data
- First Eucharistic Prayer--"The Roman Canon"
- Peter and Paul
- Andrew
- James
- John
- Thomas
- James
- Philip
- Bartholomew
- Matthew
- Simon
- Jude
It is interesting that the prayer promotes Paul to the first rank. He was not one of "the Twelve," and he was converted to Christianity several years after Jesus ascended into Heaven.
Matthias, who was an apostle before Paul was, and who was elected in Acts 1 to take the place of Judas, is not mentioned here. His name does appear in the second half of the prayer among "the apostles and martyrs."
NAB Note on the Twelve Apostles
- When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named apostles.
- Footnote to Lk 6:13:
- "He chose Twelve": the identification of this group as the Twelve is a part of early Christian tradition (see 1 Cor 15:5), and in Matthew and Luke, the Twelve are associated with the twelve tribes of Israel (Lk 22:29–30; Mt 19:28). After the fall of Judas from his position among the Twelve, the need is felt on the part of the early community to reconstitute this group before the Christian mission begins at Pentecost (Acts 1:15–26). From Luke’s perspective, they are an important group who because of their association with Jesus from the time of his baptism to his ascension (Acts 1:21–22) provide the continuity between the historical Jesus and the church of Luke’s day and who as the original eyewitnesses guarantee the fidelity of the church’s beliefs and practices to the teachings of Jesus (Lk 1:1–4). "Whom he also named apostles": only Luke among the gospel writers attributes to Jesus the bestowal of the name apostles upon the Twelve. See note on Mt 10:2–4. “Apostle” becomes a technical term in early Christianity for a missionary sent out to preach the word of God. Although Luke seems to want to restrict the title to the Twelve (only in Acts 4:4,14 are Paul and Barnabas termed apostles), other places in the New Testament show an awareness that the term was more widely applied (1 Cor 15:5–7; Gal 1:19; 1 Cor 1:1; 9:1; Rom 16:7).
Were the apostles baptized by Jesus?
John's gospel, Last Supper: Jesus says that the apostles are clean and do not need to take a bath (or be Baptized?); they only need to have their feet washed. Either He baptized them, which seems doubtful, or the relationship that He had with them cleansed them. That seems more likely to me. But I do not place a lot of weight on my own opinion, such as it is. The apostles may be an exception to the general rule that converts must be baptized.
Pairs of Apostles
- Andrew and Peter, sons of Jonah
- James and John, sons of Zebedee
- James and Judas, sons of Alphaeus
- Philip and Nathaniel
- Matthew and Thomas Didymus
- Judas and Simon the Zealot
Later:
- Timothy and Paul
- Luke and Silas
Concordance search
- Matthew 10:2
- δὲ δώδεκα ἀποστόλων τὰ ὀνόματά
- of the twelve apostles are these:
- Mark 3:14
- οὓς καὶ ἀποστόλους ὠνόμασεν ἵνα
- ones and apostles he calls that
- Mark 6:30
- συνάγονται οἱ ἀπόστολοι πρὸς τὸν
- The apostles gathered together
- Luke 6:13
- οὓς καὶ ἀποστόλους ὠνόμασεν
- He also named as apostles:
- Luke 9:10
- ὑποστρέψαντες οἱ ἀπόστολοι διηγήσαντο αὐτῷ
- When the apostles returned,
- Luke 11:49
- προφήτας καὶ ἀποστόλους καὶ ἐξ
- to them prophets and apostles, and [some] of them they will kill
- Luke 17:5
- εἶπαν οἱ ἀπόστολοι τῷ κυρίῳ
- The apostles said to the Lord,
- Luke 22:14
- καὶ οἱ ἀπόστολοι σὺν αὐτῷ
- He reclined [at the table], and the apostles with Him.
- Luke 24:10
- πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ταῦτα
- these things to the apostles.
- John 13:16
- αὐτοῦ οὐδὲ ἀπόστολος μείζων τοῦ
- nor [is] one who is sent greater
- Acts 1:2
- ἐντειλάμενος τοῖς ἀποστόλοις διὰ πνεύματος
- given orders to the apostles whom
- Acts 1:26
- τῶν ἕνδεκα ἀποστόλων
- to the eleven apostles.
- Acts 2:37
- τοὺς λοιποὺς ἀποστόλους Τί ποιήσωμεν
- and the rest of the apostles, Brethren,
- Acts 2:42
- διδαχῇ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ τῇ
- They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching
- Acts 2:43
- διὰ τῶν ἀποστόλων ἐγίνετο
- through the apostles.
- Acts 4:33
- μαρτύριον οἱ ἀπόστολοι τοῦ κυρίου
- power the apostles were giving
- Acts 4:35
- πόδας τῶν ἀποστόλων διεδίδετο δὲ
- and lay them at the apostles' feet,
- Acts 4:36
- ἀπὸ τῶν ἀποστόλων ὅ ἐστιν
- Barnabas by the apostles (which
- Acts 4:37
- πόδας τῶν ἀποστόλων
- and laid it at the apostles' feet.
- Acts 5:2
- πόδας τῶν ἀποστόλων ἔθηκεν
- of it, he laid it at the apostles' feet.
- Acts 5:12
- χειρῶν τῶν ἀποστόλων ἐγίνετο σημεῖα
- At the hands of the apostles many
- Acts 5:18
- ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀποστόλους καὶ ἔθεντο
- hands on the apostles and put
- Acts 5:29
- καὶ οἱ ἀπόστολοι εἶπαν Πειθαρχεῖν
- But Peter and the apostles answered,
- Acts 5:40
- προσκαλεσάμενοι τοὺς ἀποστόλους δείραντες παρήγγειλαν
- and after calling the apostles in, they flogged
- Acts 6:6
- ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ προσευξάμενοι
- before the apostles; and after praying,
- Acts 8:1
- πλὴν τῶν ἀποστόλων
- and Samaria, except the apostles.
- Acts 8:14
- ἐν Ἰεροσολύμοις ἀπόστολοι ὅτι δέδεκται
- Now when the apostles in Jerusalem
- Acts 8:18
- χειρῶν τῶν ἀποστόλων δίδοται τὸ
- the laying on of the apostles' hands,
- Acts 9:27
- πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστόλους καὶ διηγήσατο
- of him and brought him to the apostles and described
- Acts 11:1
- δὲ οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ
- Now the apostles and the brethren
- Acts 14:4
- σὺν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις
- and some with the apostles.
- Acts 14:14
- δὲ οἱ ἀπόστολοι Βαρνάβας καὶ
- But when the apostles Barnabas
- Acts 15:2
- πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστόλους καὶ πρεσβυτέρους
- up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders
- Acts 15:4
- καὶ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ τῶν
- by the church and the apostles and the elders,
- Acts 15:6
- τε οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ
- The apostles and the elders
- Acts 15:22
- ἔδοξε τοῖς ἀποστόλοις καὶ τοῖς
- it seemed good to the apostles and the elders,
- Acts 15:23
- αὐτῶν Οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ
- and they sent this letter by them, The apostles and the brethren
- Acts 16:4
- ὑπὸ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ πρεσβυτέρων
- which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders
- Romans 1:1
- Χριστοῦ κλητὸς ἀπόστολος ἀφωρισμένος εἰς
- called [as] an apostle, set apart
- Romans 11:13
- ἐγὼ ἐθνῶν ἀπόστολος τὴν διακονίαν
- as I am an apostle of Gentiles,
- Romans 16:7
- ἐν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις οἳ καὶ
- among the apostles, who
- 1 Corinthians 1:1
- ΠΑΥΛΟΣ κλητὸς ἀπόστολος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
- called [as] an apostle of Jesus
- 1 Corinthians 4:9
- ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ἐσχάτους ἀπέδειξεν
- has exhibited us apostles last of all,
- 1 Corinthians 9:1
- οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος οὐχὶ Ἰησοῦν
- Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen
- 1 Corinthians 9:2
- οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος ἀλλά γε
- I am not an apostle, at least
- 1 Corinthians 9:5
- οἱ λοιποὶ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ
- as the rest of the apostles and the brothers
- 1 Corinthians 12:28
- ἐκκλησίᾳ πρῶτον ἀποστόλους δεύτερον προφήτας
- first apostles, second
- 1 Corinthians 12:29
- μὴ πάντες ἀπόστολοι μὴ πάντες
- All are not apostles, are they? All
- 1 Corinthians 15:7
- εἶτα τοῖς ἀποστόλοις πᾶσιν
- then to all the apostles;
- 1 Corinthians 15:9
- ἐλάχιστος τῶν ἀποστόλων ὃς οὐκ
- the least of the apostles, and not fit
- 1 Corinthians 15:9
- ἱκανὸς καλεῖσθαι ἀπόστολος διότι ἐδίωξα
- to be called an apostle, because
- 2 Corinthians 1:1
- ΠΑΥΛΟΣ ἀπόστολος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
- Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus
- 2 Corinthians 8:23
- ἀδελφοὶ ἡμῶν ἀπόστολοι ἐκκλησιῶν δόξα
- you; as for our brethren, [they are] messengers of the churches,
- 2 Corinthians 11:5
- τῶν ὑπερλίαν ἀποστόλων
- inferior to the most eminent apostles.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13
- μετασχηματιζόμενοι εἰς ἀποστόλους Χριστοῦ
- disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 12:11
- τῶν ὑπερλίαν ἀποστόλων εἰ καὶ
- to the most eminent apostles, even
- 2 Corinthians 12:12 N-GMS
- σημεῖα τοῦ ἀποστόλου κατειργάσθη ἐν
- The signs of a TRUE apostle were performed
- Galatians 1:1
- ὑμῶν ΠΑΥΛΟΣ ἀπόστολος οὐκ ἀπ'
- Paul, an apostle (not [sent] from men
- Galatians 1:17
- πρὸ ἐμοῦ ἀποστόλους ἀλλὰ ἀπῆλθον
- to those who were apostles before
- Galatians 1:19
- δὲ τῶν ἀποστόλων οὐκ εἶδον
- any other of the apostles except
- Ephesians 1:1
- ΠΑΥΛΟΣ ἀπόστολος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
- Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus
- Ephesians 2:20
- θεμελίῳ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ προφητῶν
- on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
- Ephesians 3:5
- τοῖς ἁγίοις ἀποστόλοις αὐτοῦ καὶ
- to His holy apostles and prophets
- Ephesians 4:11
- τοὺς μὲν ἀποστόλους τοὺς δὲ
- some [as] apostles, and some
- Philippians 2:25 N-AMS
- ὑμῶν δὲ ἀπόστολον καὶ λειτουργὸν
- who is also your messenger and minister
- Colossians 1:1
- ΠΑΥΛΟΣ ἀπόστολος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
- Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ
- 1 Thessalonians 2:6
- ὡς Χριστοῦ ἀπόστολοι
- as Christ's apostles
- ΠΑΥΛΟΣ ἀπόστολος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus
- 1 Timothy 2:7
- κῆρυξ καὶ ἀπόστολος ἀλήθειαν λέγω
- a preacher and an apostle (I am telling
- 2 Timothy 1:1
- ΠΑΥΛΟΣ ἀπόστολος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
- Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus
- 2 Timothy 1:11
- κῆρυξ καὶ ἀπόστολος καὶ διδάσκαλος
- a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.
- Titus 1:1
- δοῦλος θεοῦ ἀπόστολος δὲ Ἰησοῦ
- of God and an apostle of Jesus
- Hebrews 3:1
- κατανοήσατε τὸν ἀπόστολον καὶ ἀρχιερέα
- Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest
- 1 Peter 1:1
- ΠΕΤΡΟΣ ἀπόστολος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
- Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
- 2 Peter 1:1
- δοῦλος καὶ ἀπόστολος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
- a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus
- 2 Peter 3:2
- τῆς τῶν ἀποστόλων ὑμῶν ἐντολῆς
- and Savior [spoken] by your apostles.
- Jude 1:17
- ὑπὸ τῶν ἀποστόλων τοῦ κυρίου
- that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord
- Revelation 2:2
- λέγοντας ἑαυτοὺς ἀποστόλους καὶ οὐκ
- themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found
- Revelation 18:20
- καὶ οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ
- and you saints and apostles and prophets,
- Revelation 21:14
- τῶν δώδεκα ἀποστόλων τοῦ ἀρνίου
- of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
References