12 Disciples of Jesus

 

The 12 disciples (also called apostles) were Jesus's closest followers, chosen to help him spread his teachings and establish the early church. [1]

The original 12 disciples: [1, 2]

• Peter (Simon Peter): A fisherman and recognized leader of the group.
• Andrew: Peter’s brother and a former disciple of John the Baptist.
• James (son of Zebedee): Often called James the Greater; part of Jesus's inner circle.
• John: James's brother, also called the "Beloved Disciple," who wrote the Gospel of John.
• Philip: Brought Nathanael (Bartholomew) to meet Jesus.
• Bartholomew: Often identified as Nathanael.
• Thomas: Known for his initial doubt regarding Jesus's resurrection.
• Matthew: A former tax collector who wrote the Gospel of Matthew.
• James (son of Alphaeus): Often referred to as James the Less.
• Thaddaeus (Jude): Also known as Lebbaeus or Jude.
• Simon the Zealot: Belonged to the Zealot political party.
• Judas Iscariot: The disciple who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

Post-Resurrection Changes
After Judas Iscariot's betrayal and death, Matthias was chosen to replace him as one of the Twelve. Additionally, Paul is frequently referred to as an apostle, though he was not part of the original 12 named in the Gospels. [1, 2, 3]

You can explore the biblical accounts of their lives and ministries in the New Testament on Britannica.