View source for Twelve Apostles

[[Image:Last_supper.jpg|thumb|right|400px|The [[Last Supper]] by [[Leonardo da Vinci]]]]
The '''Twelve Apostles''' or The Twelve Disciples were the twelve followers of [[Jesus Christ]] while He walked the [[earth]].  Jesus called each of them to Him at the start of His earthly ministry and they followed Him during the three years of his teaching.  While making many gaffes and having difficulty understanding all that Jesus was, after His [[crucifixion]] and [[Resurrection]] and the imparting of the [[Holy Spirit]], they became men of great valor and the forefathers of [[Christianity]]. The four initial Apostles were [[Peter]], Andrew, James and [[John]].

'''''The Apostles were ethnic rivals of each other''''': two were likely [[Samaritans]] ([[John the Apostle|John]] and James), at least one Greek ([[Philip]]), and among the others were [[Jewish]] (e.g., [[Matthew]]) and [[Gentiles]].  The repeated references throughout the [[synoptic Gospels]] about how many of the Apostles did not observe [[Jewish]] customs, such as honoring the [[Sabbath]] or doing religious hand-washing, confirm that they were ethnically diverse. The [[miracle]] of [[Jesus]] is illustrated by the unanimity<ref>[[Judas]] betrayed Jesus but while accepting his divinity.</ref> of the Apostles despite their ethnic diversity and rivalries. 

Two of the Apostles authored [[Gospels]]:  [[John]] and [[Matthew]].  The other two Gospel authors were the outsider eyewitness [[Mark]] and the historian [[Luke]], both of whom knew the Apostles and Mark was unflattering towards them in [[Gospel of Mark|his Gospel]].

They are [[Saints]] in the [[Catholic]] and [[Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] traditions except for [[Judas Iscariot]], the traitor of Jesus.<ref>[http://www.keyway.ca/htm2002/whydoit.htm See Why Did He Do It?]</ref>
The Apostles were:
*[[Saint Peter]]
*[[John the Apostle]]
*[[James the Apostle]]
*[[St. James the Less|Saint James the Less]]
*[[Thomas the Apostle]]
*[[Saint Andrew]]
*[[Bartholomew the Apostle]]
*[[Saint Philip]]
*[[Jude the Apostle]]
*[[Simon the Apostle]]
*[[Saint Matthew]]
*[[Judas Iscariot]] 

After the death of Judas ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matt]] 27:5), his place was taken by:

*[[Matthias the Apostle]] (Matthias was chosen as an apostle by prayer and lot.)

While not one of the Twelve, an Apostle is considered
*[[Paul|Saint Paul]], Apostle of the Gentiles (Years later) 

==Remembering the Apostles==

The Apostles' names can easily be remembered through the use of the following mnemonic poem:

This is the way the disciples run

Peter, Andrew, James and John

Phillip and Bartholemew

Thomas next and Matthew, too.

James the less and Judas the greater

Simon the zealot and Judas the traitor.

== See also ==

*[[Apostles' Creed]]
*[[First Century Aramaic Jewish Christian Gospel and poetry]]
*[[Christian Saints Gallery]]
*[[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]]

== External links ==

*[https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/who-were-the-12-disciples-and-what-should-we-know-about-them.html Who Were the 12 Disciples? Names and Importance of Each Apostle], CrossWalk.com
*[https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/who-exactly-were-the-apostles.html Who Exactly Were the 12 Apostles?], BibleStudyTools.com
*[http://www.keyway.ca/htm2002/apostles.htm The Twelve Apostles] Daily Bible Study.
*[http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=933 Apostles.] The Catholic Encyclopedia.

Videos:

*[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbjmSS6LZDGoUA7MDN0pK1KDgGncJ63u8 The Twelve Apostles - video playlist], Video playlist

== References ==

<References/>
{{Greatest Thinkers}}
[[Category:12 Disciples]]
[[Category:Saints]]