The 12 disciples, also known as the 12 Apostles or just “the Twelve,” were Jesus Christ’s 12 closest contemporaries. He had single-handedly recruited to help Him form a core group of loyal aides who would play a significant role in establishing His earthly ministry.
The apostles became significant forerunners and pillars in the development of the early Church, which was instituted on the Day of Pentecost.
It’s evident that on the Day of Pentecost, Jesus was already in Heaven, having ascended back to Heaven. Heaven, it was the Apostle’s turn. Apostles enter the mission field, implementing the Master’s mandate of preaching the gospel and making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
God used them mightily to spread the gospel worldwide amidst severe rejection and persecution from every front imaginable.
The names of Jesus’ 12 primary apostles are as follows, as recorded in the scriptures:
Acts 1:13 and verses 23-26
13 When they had entered the city, they went up to the upstairs room where they were staying, that is, Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James, the Son of SonAlphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas, the Son of SonJames.
23 So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (also called Justus) and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all people, show which one of these two You have chosen 25 to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his place.” 26 And they drew lots for them, which fell to Matthias, and added him to the eleven apostles.
Matthias the Apostle was named for two foremost Apostles:
First, he was named to fill in the gap created after Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ and committed suicide.
The Apostles cast lots, which fell on his name, becoming the twelfth Apostle even though he was not one of the original 12.
Philip the Apostle is unquestionably not Philip the Evangelist, who appears in Acts 6:5, 8:5–6, and 21:8. (That should have been made much more apparent.)
To read more about the twelve Apostles in the article provided, follow the link below:
