The Twelve Disciples

Biblical Record

The Twelve were the twelve men whom Jesus set apart and taught. Mark 3:14 states the purpose for which Jesus appointed them: "that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach." Luke 6:13 records that Jesus chose twelve, "whom also he named apostles." The word apostle means "one who is sent." Lists of their names appear in Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, and Acts 1:13.

• Simon Peter and his brother Andrew
• James the son of Zebedee and his brother John
• Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew, a former tax collector
• James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus (called "Judas the son of James" in Luke and Acts), and Simon the Canaanite (called "Simon called Zelotes" in Luke)
• Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus

Jesus sent them out two by two to preach (Mark 6:7). They were present at the Last Supper, but when Jesus was arrested, they all fled (Mark 14:50). After the disciples had met the risen Jesus, the place of Judas Iscariot was filled by Matthias, who was chosen by lot (Acts 1:15-26). After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they led the church in Jerusalem. The killing of James the son of Zebedee by King Herod (Acts 12:2) is the only martyrdom among the Twelve recorded in Scripture.

Significance Within Scripture

The number twelve corresponds to the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus told his disciples that they would "sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28). Revelation 21:12-14 describes the names of the twelve apostles as inscribed on the twelve foundations of the wall of the New Jerusalem. Acts 1:21-22 sets out the qualifications for the one who would take Judas's place: he must have accompanied Jesus from his baptism until his ascension and must be a witness of the resurrection. Paul was not one of the Twelve, yet he identifies himself as an apostle (1 Corinthians 15:5-9).

Interpretations and Debates

• Apostolic succession: The Catholic Church regards Peter as the foremost of the apostles and teaches that bishops are the successors of the apostles. Most Protestants hold that the church inherits the teaching of the apostles, that is, Scripture, and understand the office of apostle to have been limited to the early church (Ephesians 2:20). The New Apostolic Reformation claims that the office of apostle continues today, and a number of Korean denominations have issued statements critical of this claim.
• Extrabiblical traditions: The following accounts are handed down only through church tradition and are not recorded in Scripture:
• That Peter was martyred in Rome by being crucified upside down
• That Thomas preached the gospel in India
• That Andrew was martyred on an X-shaped cross
• That John lived for many years in Ephesus
• Questions of identity: The views that Bartholomew is the same person as Nathanael in John 1 and that Matthew is the same person as Levi (Mark 2:14) are widely accepted, although Scripture does not state these identifications directly.

In the Korean Church

Sermons frequently address the calling of ordinary fishermen and a tax collector. Peter's denial and restoration (John 21:15-17) and Thomas's confession (John 20:28) are also common sermon texts. In Sunday school, memorizing the names of the Twelve is a common activity. In addition, as discipleship training, which seeks to raise up every believer as a disciple on the basis of Matthew 28:18-20, has become widely practiced across many denominations, the word "disciple" has come to be used beyond the Twelve to describe the identity of believers in general.