Who Were the 12 Apostles?

The Twelve Apostles, sometimes called disciples, were a group of followers chosen by Jesus to share his message, according to the New Testament. Christian writings describe them as important figures in the early Christian movement.

The Gospels name Peter, Andrew, James (son of Zebedee, also called James the Greater), John, Philip, Bartholomew (also called Nathanael), Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus, also called James the Less), Jude (also called Thaddeus), Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot. Acts 1 says Matthias was chosen to replace Judas after his death. Paul is also described as an apostle in the New Testament, but he is not listed among the original 12 named in the Gospels. 

The apostles had three jobs. “They travelled in pairs to towns and villages all around to preach the word of God, heal the sick and cast out evil spirits," writes the BBC. In the New Testament, Ruffin adds, the apostles are described as witnesses who shared the resurrection story with others.

All four gospels in the New Testament—Matthew, Mark, Luke and Johns—and Acts mention the apostles, although some names vary by book. Early Christian writers, including Clement of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch, also wrote about the apostles as real people. Clement’s "Letter to the Corinthians" mentions the apostles Peter and Paul as having faced persecution, making it one of the earliest non-biblical texts to refer to their lives. 

The word “apostle” comes from the Greek apostolos, meaning "one who is sent" or "messenger." However, the words disciple and apostle are not interchangeable, C. Bernard Ruffin writes in The Twelve: The Lives of the Apostles After Calvary.  

According to Ruffin, “disciple” is a broad word for Jesus’ followers, while “apostle” usually refers to someone sent out as a messenger. He adds that not every disciple was an apostle, and not every apostle was part of the group known as “the Twelve.”

Ruffin describes Peter as a leading voice among the apostles. “He was the most outspoken, the most inquisitive, the most courageous, even if heart occasionally came before head,” he writes. 

In Matthew, Jesus is quoted as saying, “You are ‘Rock,’ and on this rock I will build my Church…I will entrust to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” Many Christians interpret this passage as giving Peter a special leadership role, Ruffin notes. 

According to biblical accounts, Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus in exchange for 30 pieces of silver. This led to Jesus’ arrest, trial and crucifixion, which are central events in Christian tradition. The Gospels give different explanations for Judas’ actions, including greed and Satan’s influence. The New Testament also gives different accounts of Judas’ death: Matthew says he returned the silver before committing suicide, while Acts describes a violent death in a field.

The New Testament gives limited details about what happened to the apostles later. “Peter immediately took command of the Christian community,” Ruffin writes, soon leading thousands of followers to join the movement.

In Acts, Herod Agrippa I executes James (son of Zebedee). Other claims about the apostles come from later Christian writings. For example, the third-century Acts of Thomas connects Thomas to missionary travel in Syria and India.