Who Were The 12 Apostles

The twelve apostles were Jesus of Nazareth’s original twelve followers and closest companions who, according to the New Testament, carried out his missionary work and established the Christian Church after his death. Although their names are often used in Christian tradition to refer to any group of twelve people, the biblical account of the apostles is only found in the four gospels.
The apostles were, in order of being named, Peter, Andrew, James the Greater, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the Lesser, Thaddaeus (also known as Jude the Apostle), Simon, and Judas Iscariot.
Peter, also known as Simon bar Jonah, is considered by many to be the leader and rock of the apostles. As one of the most prominent figures, his ministry as an apostle included preaching and evangelizing to crowds, organizing mission trips, and writing letters that were later included in the New Testament. Peter has been given the title "Prince of the Apostles" and is recognized as the first Pope of the Catholic Church.
Andrew was a fisherman who, after hearing Jesus’s message, introduced his brother, Peter, to Jesus. He traveled with Jesus throughout Galilee, was present at Jesus’s crucifixion, and preached with Peter after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Not much else is known about Andrew, though he is remembered for his leadership within the apostles and is venerated as the patron saint of Scotland, Russia, and Romania.
James the Greater, the son of Zebedee, was also a fisherman like his brother, John, and father, Zebedee. He was chosen as an apostle by Jesus at the same time as his brother and is remembered for his martyrdom. He proclaimed his faith even at the face of death, begging his persecutors to allow him to die singing praises of God. He is known as a symbol of hope and distant travel for Catholics and is the patron saint of Spain.
John, the son of Zebedee, was the "beloved disciple" who was believed to have been the closest to Jesus. He accompanied Jesus at important events such as the wedding at Cana, the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the crucifixion. During Jesus’s last hours on the cross, it was to John that Jesus entrusted his mother Mary. After Jesus’s death, John became a leader of the Christian community in Jerusalem and went on to author five books of the New Testament.
Philip was an apostle chosen by Jesus, who introduced Nathanael (also known as Bartholomew) to Jesus. He was one of Jesus’s most trusted followers and was noted for his leadership and missionary work. He is remembered as the patron Saint of friendship and is venerated in the Catholic Church.
Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, was chosen to be an apostle by Philip. He traveled with the apostles and is believed to have preached in India and Mesopotamia. Very little is known of Bartholomew’s life and ministry.
Thomas, also known as Didymus, was chosen to be an apostle by Jesus and was renowned for his ambition and faith. Thomas was one of the underlying supporters behind Jesus’s teachings and believed that Jesus’s authority came from heaven. He is remembered for his testimony at Jesus’s resurrection, for which he is known as doubting Thomas.
Matthew, also known as Levi, was a tax collector who was chosen by Jesus to be one of the apostles. He is remembered for being one of the evangelists and writing the first book of the New Testament, the Gospel of Matthew.
James the Lesser (and son of Alphaeus) was a brother of another apostle, Joseph, and was chosen to be an apostle by Jesus. Little is known of James’s ministry, though it is believed that he was martyred in Jerusalem in 62 A.D.
Thaddaeus (also known as Jude the Apostle) is believed to have been the brother of James the Lesser and was chosen to be an apostle. He accompanied Peter and John to Jerusalem, preached preaching, and became a martyr at the hands of King Agbar I of Edessa in Syria.
Simon (also called the Zealot) was an activist who fought against the Roman Empire and followed Jesus. He is believed to have preached in Persia and India and was martyred in Persia in 65 A.D.
Judas Iscariot was a follower of Jesus who betrayed the savior and, ultimately, lost his place as one of the apostles. He is remembered as the patron saint of lost causes and is thought to have gone on to preach after Jesus’s death and resurrection.
The twelve apostles of Jesus of Nazareth were the men who followed him and helped spread his word. Today, they remain important figures in the Christian faith, with their faith and examples of unwavering commitment still serving as a source of inspiration to believers around the world.