Who Were Jesus' 12 Apostles and What Do We Know about Them?

The authors of the Gospels mention two types of followers of the Lord Jesus. The larger group were disciples. While there are several words for disciple, in general, it refers to anyone who followed and specifically received the teachings of a specific person. So, the twelve men Jesus called were disciples, but they were even more than that.

Both Jesus Christ and John the Baptist had disciples. For example, in the Book of John it says, “The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’” (John 1:35-36). In fact, in the immediate next verse these two disciples of John the Baptist became disciples of Jesus. “The two disciples heard [John] say this, and they followed Jesus” (John 1:37). One of them was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, both of whom became apostles.

The Gospel of Mark was written by Mark, who appears to have been a disciple of Jesus Christ.

An apostle, therefore, is different than a disciple, since there were many disciples, but only twelve apostles. In the Greek, apostle is ἀπόστολος (apóstolos). The literal meaning of this is, “one who is sent out.” The apostles were those called by Jesus to learn, and then go out. In fact, every Gospel has an account of Jesus sending them out to spread the word of the Kingdom of Heaven, perform miracles, exorcise demons, and share the Gospel. 

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Kristi Linton

From a Biblical standpoint, there is not a lot of information about what happened to the apostles after the Ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven. It is known that they scattered after Jesus was arrested, and they were hiding together after His burial. When He rose from the dead, they gathered around Him to learn.

The Book of Acts tells the story of the initial growth of the church, which was driven in large part by the Apostles. Before the baptism by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they were staying together in a room in Jerusalem. 

After Pentecost, the apostles begin to go out into the ends of the earth to spread the Gospel. The ultimate fates of each one is not necessarily confirmed in the Bible. Some are and some are not. For those that are not mentioned in the Bible, there are some historical traditions, some of the more reliable ones are recorded in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.

Below is a list of the names of the twelve apostles and their fates. These are commonly accepted historical facts, with the ones verified by the Bible indicated. Please note it is difficult to historically verify some of these. According to tradition, this is what may have happened to each Apostle:

Simon Peter: Spread the Gospel in Jerusalem and abroad, including Antioch. He died by crucifixion, and according to tradition, he asked to die upside-down. His death was prophesied by Jesus in John 21:18. Though he denied knowing Jesus three times before Jesus' crucifixion, Peter went on to be a pillar of the new Christian church. He is remembered as a passionate leader of the early church and a key figure in affirming that salvation through Jesus is for both Jews and Gentiles (Acts 15).

Thaddeus also called Jude: Crucified at Edessa for his faith and missionary efforts. Known for spreading the Gospel in Mesopotamia and surrounding regions, he is traditionally recognized as the author of the Epistle of Jude, where he urged believers to contend for the faith and remain steadfast against false teachings.

Bartholomew: Said to have translated the Gospel of Matthew and preached the Gospel in regions such as India and Armenia. He is believed to have faced a brutal martyrdom, being beaten before being crucified for his unwavering faith and missionary efforts. His dedication serves as a powerful testament to his commitment to spreading the message of Christ.

Thomas also called Didymus: Traveled to Parthia and India, where he is credited with establishing Christian communities, particularly in southern India, which are known as the "Saint Thomas Christians." He is believed to have been martyred by being speared to death for his faith. Thomas is remembered for his initial doubts about Jesus’ resurrection, which led to a profound declaration of faith, "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28).

Simon the Zealot: Traveled extensively to spread the Gospel, going to Africa and possibly as far as Britain, according to tradition. He is believed to have been martyred for his faith, though accounts vary, with some suggesting he was sawn in half. As a former Zealot, Simon’s transformation into a devoted follower of Christ exemplifies the power of the Gospel to change lives and unite diverse individuals for God’s mission.

John: Traveled extensively and spread the Gospel, becoming known as "the disciple whom Jesus loved." He was sent to Rome, where, according to tradition, an attempt to boil him in oil failed miraculously, leading to his banishment to the island of Patmos. While in exile, he received the vision that became the Book of Revelation. John later returned to Ephesus, where he continued to teach and write, authoring the Gospel of John and three epistles. He is the only apostle believed to have died of natural causes, living to an old age while remaining a faithful witness to Christ.

James the son of Zebedee: His death was the second account of martyrdom in the Bible, following Stephen's. James was executed by the sword in Jerusalem for his faith, as recounted in Acts 12:1-2, under the orders of King Herod Agrippa I. As one of Jesus’ closest disciples, part of the inner circle alongside Peter and John, James witnessed significant events such as the Transfiguration. His bold proclamation of the Gospel and willingness to face death for his faith highlights his unwavering devotion to Christ.

Philip: Faithfully served the cause of Christ, spreading the Gospel to regions such as Asia Minor and Phrygia. He is believed to have performed miracles and converted many to Christianity through his preaching. Tradition holds that he was martyred in Heliopolis (modern-day Turkey), where he was either crucified or stoned to death for his faith. Philip’s dedication to sharing the message of Christ, even in the face of persecution, remains a powerful example of discipleship and evangelism.

Matthew: Known as a former tax collector transformed by Christ’s call, it is believed much of Matthew’s ministry took place in Africa, including modern-day Ethiopia, where he spread the Gospel and established Christian communities. According to tradition, he was martyred for his faith, killed with a halberd (a type of spear or axe). As the author of the Gospel of Matthew, his writings continue to inspire believers with their focus on Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the call to discipleship.

James the son of Alphaeus: Faithfully served as one of the twelve apostles, dedicated to spreading the Gospel and building the early Church. Known as "James the Less," to distinguish him from James, the son of Zebedee, he is believed to have ministered in various regions, though much of his life remains a mystery. Tradition holds that he was stoned to death for his unwavering faith and commitment to Christ, demonstrating the courage and perseverance of those who followed Jesus even unto martyrdom.

Matthias: Chosen by the apostles to replace Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:23-26), Matthias faithfully joined the mission of spreading the Gospel. While not much is recorded about his ministry in Scripture, tradition holds that he preached in regions such as Judea and possibly Ethiopia. He is believed to have been martyred for his faith, reportedly stoned and then beheaded. His selection as an apostle and dedication to Christ’s mission highlight the importance of steadfast commitment to God’s calling.

Andrew: Known as the brother of Simon Peter and one of the first disciples called by Jesus, Andrew preached the Gospel in regions that include what is now the Middle East, as well as parts of Asia Minor and possibly Greece. Tradition holds that he was crucified on an X-shaped cross in Patras, Greece, a form of martyrdom he reportedly requested, feeling unworthy to die on a cross like Jesus. Andrew’s evangelistic zeal and willingness to endure suffering for Christ serve as enduring examples of faith and commitment to the Great Commission.

Photo credit: Unsplash/Adolfo Félix

The apostles are featured heavily in the Gospels and are mentioned in some of the other books of the New Testament. Matthew and John were each apostles and wrote a Gospel book. They are introduced as the Lord Jesus calls each one of them to Him. Each of the Synoptic Gospels has a full list of the twelve. 

“And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him” (Mark 3:13-19).

These men came from different walks of life, and different backgrounds. The sons of Zebedee and the other brothers - Simon Peter and Andrew - were fishermen. Levi, also known as Matthew the Gospel writer, was a tax collector. Thomas, also known as Didymus, is presumed by many Biblical scholars to be a twin because of the English translation of his name, though this fact is not confirmed or denied in the Bible. While we do not know the details of all the apostles, we can presume they were called in a similar manner to the accounts given for Matthew and the fishermen. 

It is worth noting that when Jesus calls them to Him, they drop whatever they are doing to follow Him. When Jesus called the tax collector, the Biblical record states, “As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him” (Matthew (9:9). It does not say there was hesitation, confusion, or contemplation. All accounts of the twelve apostles indicates they rose up immediately to follow the call. 

Photo credit: Unsplash/Kiwihug

One of the twelve who followed the call would be the one to betray Jesus. Judas Iscariot turned Jesus over to the religious leaders, and eventually committed suicide. When Jesus ascended into heaven and gave the Great Commission, there were only eleven apostles, but there were many disciples. Many of the disciples, along with the apostles, were gathered together, and they did debate about replacing Judas.

The Holy Spirit gave them understanding that Judas’ role was finished, but God’s will was for there to be twelve apostles. When debating who would take up this mantle, there were very specific criteria that needed to be met. “ So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection” (Acts 1:21-22). 

In other words, the individual to replace Judas must have been a disciple from the beginning of the Lord’s earthly ministry, and been a witness to His resurrection. Only two men match, Matthias and Barsabbas. The process then moves forward, and the apostles pray that God would reveal His choice based on the hearts of the men. To truly leave the decision up to God, they relinquish control over the process: “And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles” (Acts 1:26). A new apostle was ordained, and there were twelve again.

Why Were There 12 Apostles?

The decision to replace Judas and have twelve apostles again does lead to the question as to why there needed to be twelve. This number does have significance in the Bible. In Genesis, the patriarch Jacob - son of Isaac, son of Abraham - had twelve sons who became the founders of the twelve tribes of Israel. In the Old Testament, there are twelve minor prophets. Prophetic visions about the New Heaven in the Book of Revelation show there will be twelve gates and twelve foundations.

It is a number associated with wholeness, completeness, and perfection. The need for twelve apostles is not just to have an even number to symbolize completeness, Jesus specified the twelve apostles would have a role in heaven: “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:28-30). The apostles knew Jesus best during His earthly ministry, and each will have authority in Heaven.

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/sedmak

There is one other individual worth noting when discussing the apostles. Paul was saved on the road to Damascus after the Lord Jesus came to him and confronted him about persecuting the church. Though he did have to earn back the trust of the church, Paul grew into one of the most respected men in the Christian world, writing half of the New Testament, and became known as the Apostle Paul, the same title as the twelve.

Of this title, Paul wrote, “Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:8-10a). Paul felt that God allowed Him to be one who was sent out, and was given the title of apostle only through the grace of God.

Paul did not seem to think of himself as one of the twelve, and there is little in the Bible to suggest he will sit with the apostles selected by the Lord to judge Israel. He served faithfully, urgently, and greatly as a servant of the Lord, and should be called an apostle, but the calling of the original twelve appears to have been settled. Later, others would go on to be called apostles such as Apollos, a prolific teacher of the word of God mentioned as being active in Ephesus and Corinth. 

Apostles of the Lord went out, preaching, even at the risk of their own life. They became the force which spread the Gospel in the first century after Jesus returned to the Father, and they will serve Him forever. Much can be learned from studying the lives of the apostles, whether it is the twelve, or those who came after in the early church like Paul. The modern church follows their large footsteps and should take up the mantle to spread the Gospel for the Kingdom of God.

Sources

Criswell, David. The Apostles After Jesus: A History of the Apostles - Separating Tradition and History. Dallas: Fortress Adonai Press, 2013.

Foxe, John. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. Belfast: Ambassador Publications Ltd., 2017.

Hamm, Dennis, The Acts of the Apostles. Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2016.

MacArthur, John. Twelve Ordinary Men How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2006.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain Image/Valentin de Boulogne

Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer and editor. She maintains a faith and lifestyle blog graceandgrowing.com, where she muses about the Lord, life, culture, and ministry.