One of the twelve disciples of Christ. Apostles

Many people know that there were 12 apostles in Christian history, but few know the names of the disciples of Jesus Christ. Unless everyone knows the traitor Judas, since his name has become a byword.

This is the history of Christianity and every Orthodox person is simply obliged to know the names and lives of the apostles.

Apostles of Christ

In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 3, it is written that Jesus, going up the mountain, called 12 people to him. And they went voluntarily to learn from Him, cast out demons and heal people.

How Jesus Chose His Disciples

This passage clearly shows the following things:

the Savior had 12 followers initially;
they followed the Savior voluntarily;
Jesus was their Teacher, and therefore their authority.

This passage is duplicated in the Gospel of Matthew (10:1).

Read about the apostles:

It should be said right away that disciples and apostles are different concepts. The first followed the teacher and adopted his wisdom. And the second are people who went and spread the Good News or Gospel throughout the face of the Earth. If Judas Iscariot was among the first, then he is no longer among the apostles. But Paul was never among the first followers, but became one of the most famous Christian missionaries.

The 12 apostles of Jesus Christ became the pillars on which the Church was founded.

The 12 followers included:

Peter.
Andrey.
John.
Jacob Alfeev.
Judas Thaddeus
Bartholomew.
Jacob Zebedee.
Judas Iscariot.
Levi Matthew.
Philip.
Simon Zelot.
Thomas.

Important! All of them, except Judas, became spreaders of the Gospel and accepted martyrdom for the Savior and for Christian teaching (except for John).

Biographies

The Apostles are the central figures in Christianity, since they gave birth to the Church.

They were the closest followers of Jesus and were the first to spread the Good News of the Death and Resurrection. Their activities are described in sufficient detail in the book of Acts in the New Testament, from which their work in spreading the Word of God becomes known.

Icon of Jesus Christ and 12 Apostles

Moreover, 12 followers are ordinary people, they were fishermen, tax collectors and just people who longed for change.

About the saints recognized as equal to the apostles:

Studying the Holy Scriptures, we can say with confidence that Peter was a leader; his hot temperament won him a leadership position among the group. And John is called the favorite disciple of Jesus, who enjoyed special favor. He is the only one who died a natural death.

It is worth considering in detail the biography of each of the twelve:

Simon Peter- was an ordinary fisherman when Jesus gave him the name Peter after the call. He plays a key role in the birth of the Church and is called the shepherd of the sheep. Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law and allowed him to walk on water. Peter is known for his renunciation and bitter repentance. According to legend, he was crucified in Rome upside down, because he said that he was unworthy to be crucified as the Savior.
Andrey- brother of Peter, who in Russia is called the First Called and is considered the patron saint of the country. He was the first to follow the Savior, after the words of John the Baptist about the Lamb of God. He was crucified on a cross in the shape of the letter X.
Bartholomew- or Nathanael was born in Cana of Galilee. This is what Jesus said about “a Jew in whom there is no guile.” After Pentecost, according to legend, he went to India, where he preached the Crucified Lord and where he brought a copy of the Gospel of Matthew.
John- former follower of John the Baptist, author of one of the Gospels and the book of Revelation. For a long time he remained in exile on the island of Patmos, where he saw visions of the end of the world. He is nicknamed the Theologian because the Gospel of John contains many direct words from Jesus. The youngest and most beloved disciple of Christ. He alone was present and took Mary, the mother of the Savior, to him. He was also the only one to die a natural death from old age.
Jacob Alfeev- brother of the publican Matthew. This name is mentioned only 4 times in the Gospels.
Jacob Zavedeev- fisherman, brother of John the Theologian. Was present on the Mount of Transfiguration. Was the first person killed for his faith by King Herod (Acts 12:1–2).
Judas Iscariot- a traitor who hanged himself after realizing what he had done. Later, Judas's place among the disciples was taken by Matthew by lot.
Judas Thaddeus or Jacoblev- was the son of Joseph the Betrothed. He is considered the patron saint of the Armenian Church.
Matthew or Levi- was a publican before meeting the Savior. He was considered a student, but it is unknown whether he later became a missionary. Author of the first Gospel.
Philip- originally from Bethsaida, also passed on from John the Baptist.
Simon Zealot- the most unknown member of the group. Found in every list of their names and nowhere else. According to legend, he was the groom at a wedding in Cana of Galilee.
Thomas- nicknamed the Unbeliever, because he doubted the Resurrection. Nevertheless, he was the first to call Christ Lord and was ready to go to death.

It is impossible not to mention Paul, despite the fact that he was not a follower of Christ initially, the fruit of his Christian missionary activity is incredibly enormous. He was called the apostle of the pagans because he preached mainly to them.

Importance for the Church of Followers of Jesus Christ

Having resurrected, Christ sends the remaining 11 disciples (Judas had already hanged himself by that time) to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

It was after the Ascension that the Holy Spirit descended on them and filled them with wisdom. The Great Commission of Christ is sometimes called the Dispersion.

Important! The first century after the death of Christ is called the Apostolic century - because it was during this time that the apostles wrote Gospels and epistles, preached Christ and founded the first Churches.

They founded the first congregations throughout the Roman Empire in the Middle East, as well as in Africa and India. According to legend, Andrew the First-Called brought the Gospel to the ancestors of the Slavs.

The Gospels brought to us their positive and negative qualities, which confirm that Christ chose simple, weak people to carry out the Great Commission and they did it perfectly.. The Holy Spirit has helped them spread the Word of Christ throughout the world and it is inspiring and amazing.

The Great Lord was able to use simple, weak and sinful people to create his Church.

Video about the twelve apostles, disciples of Christ

Many people know that Jesus had disciples, and among them were those who constantly walked with him. What were the names of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ? The names are often given in this order: Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas Iscariot. Being the chosen apostles, during the life of Jesus they remained his disciples. Many had previously been disciples of John the Baptist. Interestingly, from the Greek language, the word “apostle” means “to send.” Thus, Jesus is also an apostle, according to Hebrews 3:1. And now about each apostle in more detail.

Apostle Simon Peter

If you look at the list of names of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, the first one is most often called Peter. He had 5 names: Simeon, Simon, Peter, double Simon Peter and Cephas. His homeland is Bethsaida, from where he later moved to Capernaum. Together with his brother Andrei, Peter connected his life with fishing. In his work, the future apostle did not strive to be a lone fisherman, but collaborated with James and John. Peter had a mother-in-law, with whom he lived in the same house, and a wife. It is known about his wife that she accompanied Peter on his later travels, but by no means always.

Although the apostle Peter's misdeeds were known to many, Jesus did not consider him inferior to others. The name he gave Simon meant "rock." After the death of his teacher, Peter really helped many, being a support for them. Jesus Christ often chose several disciples to accompany him. Peter was among them and saw with his own eyes the resurrection of Jairus’s daughter, the transfiguration of the teacher, and the events in the Garden of Gethsemane. By nature, he was rather energetic, decisive, asked questions and often succumbed to the first impulse. So, he is one of the 12 apostles of Christ who followed him after his arrest. The initiative led to the wrong result, but he courageously listened to advice and accepted it.

Apostle Andrew

Andrew is the second of Christ's 12 apostles in order, whose names are recorded in Luke 6:13-16. He was the brother of Peter and the son of John. Before becoming Jesus' disciple, Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist and heard his teacher call Jesus "the Lamb of God." He followed Jesus and began to listen to him, and then returned for his brother to tell him that he had found the Messiah. After 6 months or even a year, both return to fishing, but after Jesus chooses them, they drop everything and follow him.

Andrey is not as energetic as Peter, but he was directly involved in solving organizational issues. For example, he named exactly what food was available when he needed to feed 5,000 people. Or when the question arose about the Greeks (they wanted to see Jesus), Andrew first consulted with Philip, and after that he approached Jesus.

Apostle James, son of Zebedee

Two of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ were siblings to each other. But there is not only such a family connection: the mother, according to parallel passages in the Scriptures, is Salome, and she, in turn, was the sister of Mary (the mother of Jesus). This means that James and John were cousins of Jesus. Together with his brother, Andrew and Peter, Jacob earned money by fishing. It was difficult to call them poor fishermen - things were so good that sometimes they had to hire hired workers.

James, along with Peter and John, were so dear to Jesus that they were present where the rest were not invited by the Teacher: his transfiguration, at night in Gethsemane and at the resurrection of Jairus’s daughter. In addition, it was James and the above three apostles who were interested in how to recognize the “last days” that the Messiah spoke about. Jacob had a heightened sense of justice: for the hospitality not shown by the Samaritans, he offered to lower fire from heaven. However, his hot temper did not allow him to put up with his brother’s shortcomings, which often led to disputes. In 44 AD he died. By order of Herod, he was pierced with a sword.

Apostle John, son of Zebedee

As already mentioned, in the names of the 12 apostles of Christ, two are mentioned all the time together: James next to John. Jesus often called the brothers “Boanegres,” which is Aramaic for “sons of thunder.” They participated in the disciples' disputes about which of them was in charge, and among themselves they both wanted to take an honorable place next to Jesus in the Kingdom. John, most likely, was younger than Jacob, since his name is always written second, but he believed in the Teacher no less. He knew the Hebrew Scriptures well, as he and Andrew publicly confirmed that Jesus was the Messiah.

After leading the Supper, Jesus assigned John the care of his mother, which was a special honor. He was the first to see Jesus after the resurrection: having overtaken Peter, John was the first to be at the crypt, and then saw him more than once. In his Gospel he does not call himself by name, but speaks of himself as the beloved disciple of the Messiah, and this is not without reason. He outlived all the apostles, as Jesus predicted, and at the age of 70 was exiled to the island of Patmos. There he saw the Revelation, and after his release he wrote three letters. By character he was an energetic and courageous person, which was evident when he overtook Peter at the crypt and spoke before the Sanhedrin. In the Gospel he wrote a lot about the importance of love, but it is difficult to call John weak-willed for this.

Apostle Philip

The names of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ also contain one Greek name - Philip. When Jesus called him, he immediately ran after Bartholomew. His subsequent words showed that he and Bartholomew were intensely studying the Scriptures and, after Philip saw that the prophecies were being fulfilled, he ran to his friend. When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, the Greeks really wanted to see him. Perhaps it was Philip’s Greek name, or simply the fact that he was the first to catch the eye of the Greeks, that led them to ask him for the opportunity to see the Teacher.

He participated in resolving the issue of the hungry crowd, although the apostle's tact, prudence and foresight began to appear even earlier. The contrast between Peter's sometimes thoughtless simplicity and Philip's qualities is especially noticeable. This shows that it does not matter what the character of the disciples was, the main thing is their faith and attitude towards the teachings.

Apostle Bartholomew

His middle name may have been Nathanael. It is noteworthy that almost all the time in the list of names of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ in order, Philip is mentioned next to Bartholomew. After Philip told him about Jesus, he expressed disbelief that the Nazarene should be the Messiah. But after that, I went. Such doubts could only be expressed by someone who knows the Scriptures and understands what he is saying. The words may sound like prejudice against another people, but Jesus regarded them differently. He called Bartholomew “a man in whom there is no guile.” The words of doubt spoken by him earlier only confirmed that the future apostle had no intention of hiding information or being cunning.

Nathanael was with Jesus all the time until his death. After the resurrection, the Messiah appeared to them and again called on them to tell others what they had seen. Why? When Jesus died, the disciples returned to their work. Nathanael returned to fishing, as did six others. He did not interfere, but listened carefully when Christ spoke to Peter.

Apostle Thomas

Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Christ, had a name that meant “twin.” Many people only know about this apostle that he was called an “unbeliever.” He did tend to be quick to express disapproval or doubt due to lack of information. But what about the positive qualities? For example, when Lazarus died and Jesus was going to Judea to resurrect him, Thomas said to the disciples: “Come and we will die with him.” His fears were not unfounded: before this, they had tried to stone Jesus there and returning meant exposing himself to great danger. For safety, he wanted to encourage the other disciples to follow Jesus.

When the rumor spread that Christ had risen, Thomas said that he would not believe anyone until he was convinced personally. Later, he was given such an opportunity, and his faith could not be called weak.

Apostle Matthew

An interesting episode was with Matthew, also one of the 12 apostles of Christ, who was a tax collector by profession. When Jesus called him, Matthew held a feast for the occasion. But the invited guests were not noble people, but those whom the Pharisees called sinners and other tax collectors. From here began the grumbling of the Pharisees and dissatisfaction with the fact that a person who talks about God sits with worthless people.

Matthew's middle name was Levi, and it was he who wrote the first Gospel. He calls the 12 apostles of Christ by name. Matthew gives the list first, and then others follow in this order. He traced the genealogy of Christ, paying attention to the line of Joseph. Then he saw the ascension of Jesus and was present at the outpouring of the holy spirit on the apostles.

Apostle James, son of Alpheus

The list of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ gives another name - James, but not the brother of John, but the second. He was the son of Alpheus, and so often two students with the same names were distinguished: in the story about John's brother it was specified that the father was Zebedee, and about the son of Alpheus - that he was his. Interestingly, Alpheus is considered the same person as Klopas. And Mark in his Gospel says that Mary, who later came with Magdalene and Salome to Jesus in the crypt, was the wife of Clopas. It can be assumed that she was the mother of Jacob.

Another clarification that the Gospels give is also due to the fact that the two apostles had the same names. Jacob is called "the least." Why? Perhaps it was precisely because he was smaller than the other Jacob, or simply younger. There is no exact confirmation.

Apostle Thaddeus

When the names of the 12 apostles of Christ are listed, Thaddeus may not be heard, but another, more common name is heard - Judas. Apparently, such an address was invented so as not to be confused about who should listen now: Judas Iscariot or Thaddeus. Often, to avoid confusion, the Scriptures specify “son of Jacob,” which makes it clear who his father is and who he is talking about.

It is interesting that in places like Mark 3:18 and Matthew 10:3, where the apostles are listed, James and Thaddeus are preceded by an “and.” This suggests that they were friendly and often preferred each other's company. However, there is no more precise information. He was not as energetic as Peter, and therefore few of his words are given in the Gospels. After the death of Jesus, he wrote a letter to the anointed ones, where he spoke about the influence on people who did not love the teachings of Jesus. The letter also contains the names of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ in order. In it, he clarified how important it is to nourish faith with accurate knowledge. The letter contains only one chapter and reminds readers how to distinguish such people from those who want to act in accordance with the teachings of Jesus.

Apostle Simon the Canaanite

The names of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ contain the name that Peter bore, but with a different “last name,” so to speak. This nickname distinguished Simon from Peter, so that there would be no confusion in the presentation and when personally addressing the apostles. Presumably, Simon belonged to the Zealots. This is a Jewish political party that sought the overthrow of the Roman Emperor in particular and Roman rule in general. However, when Simon left the political party and joined Jesus, he was an active apostle.

Thus, the names of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, stated in order, contain several names that sound the same. But it was for his service during Jesus’ life on earth and after his death that Simon was recognized as “zealous,” and this word soon became an additional designation to understand which of the Simons was spoken of in a certain place in the Bible.

Apostle Judas Iscariot

The only apostle from Judea, son of Simon. Didn't Jesus see who he was appointing as one of the 12 apostles? No, he saw it. Although many people know about this man only that he later betrayed Jesus, he still had positive qualities at the beginning of his ministry. Apparently, the other disciples and Jesus himself trusted him so much that they gave the common money, although Matthew was a tax collector and would have treated them no worse. This means that everyone knew Judas as a reliable, educated person who knew his business. It was 32 AD. Jesus sent the disciples to tell others what they themselves had recently learned. After his return, Jesus corrects Judas, although he does not name him. About then the Master tells the apostles that “there is a slanderer among them.”

His actions were not predetermined - Judas had a choice about how to act. However, during all the time spent with Christ, Judas did not improve, and Jesus saw this. After Mary anointed Jesus with expensive oil and Judas reproached her for it, the teacher corrected everyone who thought like this apostle. Being already a thief (he took money from the common treasury), he betrayed Jesus for the price that is usually paid for a slave. After the act of Judas, the list of 12 apostles of Jesus Christ became incomplete. Who replaced Judas?

Apostle Matthias

After the betrayal of Judas, the number of disciples decreased and apostasy began. To prevent further spread of incorrect teachings, it was decided to replace Judas. So, the answer to the question of how many apostles Jesus Christ had is 12, not 11, taking into account the departure of Judas. The choice was made by lot, since two people were suitable for this role according to serious requirements: to be a disciple of Christ, to personally see miracles, the resurrection and to talk with Jesus. The lot fell on Matthias.

So it gradually became clear not only what the names of the 12 apostles of Christ are, but also what their characters, professions, and characteristics of each are. The apostles followed Jesus' command to tell others about him and were rewarded for it. Later, when entire meetings of students were organized, they helped settle disagreements and solve important issues.

One of the most famous facts about the life of Jesus is that he had a group of twelve disciples called the “Twelve Apostles.” This group was made up of people whom Jesus personally chose to accompany him on his mission to establish the Kingdom of God and bear witness to his words, works, and resurrection.

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St. Mark (3:13-15) writes: “Then Jesus went up to the mountain, called to him those whom he wanted, and they went to him. There were twelve of them to be with him and to send them out to preach with power to cast out demons.” Thus, the initiative of Jesus was emphasized, and this was the function of the Twelve: to be with him and go out to preach with the same power as Jesus. St. Matthew (10:1) and St. Luke (6:12–13) are expressed in similar tones.

How many apostles did Jesus Christ have and who are they?

The twelve people described in the New Testament writings appear to be a stable and well-defined group. Their names:

Andrey (considered the patron saint of Russia). He was crucified on a cross that looked like an "X". St. Andrew's flag is the official flag of the Russian Navy.

Bartholomew. It is said that after the Ascension, Bartholomew went on a missionary trip to India, where he left a copy of the Gospel of Matthew.

John. He is believed to have written one of the four Gospels of the New Testament. He also wrote the Book of Revelation. Tradition states that John was the last surviving apostle, and the only apostle who died of natural causes.

Jacob Alfeev. He appears only four times in the New Testament, each time in the list of twelve disciples.

Jacob Zavedeev. Acts of the Apostles 12:1–2 indicates that King Herod executed James. Jacob was probably the first person to be martyred for his faith in Christ.

Judas Iscariot. Judas is famous for betraying Jesus for 30 silver coins. This is the biggest mystery of the New Testament. How could a man so close to Jesus betray him? His name is often used as a synonym for betrayal or treason.

Judas Fadey. The Armenian Apostolic Church honors Thaddeus as its patron. In the Roman Catholic Church, he is the patron saint of desperate causes.

Matthew or Levi. Notable for the fact that before meeting Jesus he was a tax collector, Levi. But at the same time, Mark and Luke never equate this Levi with Matthew, named one of the twelve apostles. Another mystery of the New Testament

Peter. There is a legend that says that Peter asked to be crucified upside down before his execution because he felt unworthy to die like Jesus.

Philip. Philip is described as a disciple from the city of Bethsaida, and the evangelists connect him with Andrew and Peter, who were from the same city. He was also among those around John the Baptist when the latter first pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God.

Simon Zealot. The most obscure figure among Christ's disciples. The name Simon appears throughout the Synoptic Gospels and the Book of Acts whenever there is a list of apostles, but without further detail.

Thomas. He is informally called Doubting Thomas because he doubted the resurrection of Jesus.

There are slight differences in the lists appearing in the other Gospels and in the Acts of the Apostles. Thomas, in Luke, is called Judas, but the variation is not significant.

In the stories of the evangelists, the Twelve disciples accompany Jesus, participate in his mission and receive their own special teaching. This does not hide the fact that they often do not understand the words of the Lord, and some desert him during the trial.

In Christian theology and ecclesiology, the Twelve Apostles (also called the Twelve Disciples) were the first historical disciples of Jesus, central figures in Christianity. During Jesus' life in the 1st century AD, they were his closest followers and became the first bearers of Jesus' gospel message.

The word "apostle" comes from the Greek word apostolos, originally meaning messenger, messenger.

The word student sometimes used interchangeably with apostle, for example the Gospel of John does not distinguish between the two terms. Different gospel writers give different names to the same person, and apostles mentioned in one gospel are not mentioned in others. The commissioning of the Twelve Apostles during the ministry of Jesus is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels.

The biographical information about the 12 apostles or disciples of Jesus used the texts of the New Testament, as well as the most famous legends. No one is going to conclude that the legends speak of historical fact. However, they provide at least some information about the lives of these people who turned the world upside down.

The twelve disciples were ordinary people, whom God has used in extraordinary ways. Among them were:

fishermen;
tax collector;
Rebel.

Among the twelve apostles, Peter was the undoubted leader. He was in charge and stood out as the representative of all the other students.

The fate and death of the apostles after the crucifixion of Christ

After the resurrection, Jesus sent 11 apostles (Judas Iscariot had died by then. Matthew 27:5 says that Judas Iscariot threw away his silver, which he received for betraying Jesus, and then went and hanged himself) with the Great Commission to spread his teachings to all nations . This event is usually called Dispersion of the Apostles.

The entire period of early Christianity during the life of the apostles is called the Apostolic Age. In the 1st century AD, the apostles founded their churches throughout the Roman Empire in the Middle East, Africa and India.

The Gospels record the persistent shortcomings and doubts of these twelve men who followed Jesus Christ. But after witnessing Jesus' resurrection and ascension into heaven, it is believed that the Holy Spirit transformed his disciples into powerful men of God who turned the world upside down.

Of the twelve apostles, it is believed that all but one were martyred, only the death of Jacob, son of Zebedee, is described in the New Testament.

But the early Christians (second half of the second century and first half of the third century) claimed that only Peter, Paul and James, the son of Zebedee, were martyred. The rest of the claims about the martyrdom of the apostles are not based on historical or biblical evidence.

The word "apostle" is borrowed from the Greek language and literally means "messenger." As the scripture says, Jesus Christ was also an apostle, only God’s. But tradition associates this word primarily with the twelve chosen disciples of Jesus.

Icon of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ

List of 12 Apostles of Christ

What were the names of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ?

Apostles of Christ

The disciples of Christ followed him all over the world, listening to his every word. They witnessed all the miracles he performed. And most importantly, the apostles sincerely believed that Jesus was the son of God himself.

Twelve Apostles

At the command of Christ, they abandoned everything: their homes, their occupations, their parents, children and wives. They followed Jesus everywhere: across countries and cities. They endured with him all the hardships of nomadic life. And this was not an order. They followed their Teacher of their own free will. What is noteworthy is that almost all the apostles come from poor families.

Jesus commanded his disciples to carry the Good News about himself. It was the apostles who began to preach the Gospel throughout the world. As the scripture says, the Lord endowed his messengers with miraculous powers. And now they are in heaven. They surround God, sitting on twelve thrones.

For the sake of faith, the apostles laid down their lives on the altar. You could even say that they sacrificed their lives to faith. Andrew, Peter and Jacob Alfeev were crucified on the cross. Paul and James Zebedee were beheaded. Thomas was pierced with a spear. John Zebedee died a natural death, but during his life he suffered a lot of suffering: he was kept in prison, they tried to cook him in boiling oil. Even though they died, the word of God lived on in other people. And their names are still alive in scripture.

Lives of the Apostles

The apostles are the closest followers of Jesus. They were the first to spread the Good News about Death and Resurrection.

1

Peter is not the apostle's native name. Before meeting Christ he was called Simon. He was born in Bethsaida on the northern shore of Lake Galilee. His father is a simple poor man. He was engaged in fishing. Peter followed in his footsteps.

He left all his affairs and followed his Master after Jesus miraculously healed his mother-in-law. Peter became one of Christ's favorite disciples. The character of the apostle is lively and hot-tempered.

After the ascension of Christ, Peter began to preach teachings in different countries. The miracles he performed attracted people. After contact with him, the dead came to life. The weak and sick recovered and rose to their feet.

Peter was crucified on an inverted cross. He wished for the latter himself, believing that he could not die the same way as Christ.

2

Andrey is Peter's brother. Because he was the first to follow Christ, he was called the First-Called. He devoted his entire life to ministry and even refused to marry.

Andrei always followed Christ in everything. After the crucifixion of Jesus, he witnessed the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ. According to scripture, Andrew was devoted to Jesus until his death.

He ended his life by being crucified on an oblique cross.

3 Apostle John Zebedee

Jacob's younger brother. His occupation is fishing. John is the author of the fourth Gospel and other books of the New Testament. Why was he called the Theologian? It was him who Christ asked to take care of the Mother of God. After the crucifixion of Christ, he took Mary to him. He died of natural causes, despite many attempts to kill him. John was poisoned, but miraculously he survived. The second execution for him was a cauldron of boiling oil. But even such a terrible death did not befall him. After this, being convinced that it was impossible to harm the apostle, he was sent into exile. It was there that he lived out the rest of his days.

John's death became a legend. Sensing the imminent end, he called seven students with him to the field. They dug a grave for John, in the form of a cross, into which he lay down while alive. The disciples covered the apostle's face and covered it with earth. After some time, when others found out about this, the grave was excavated. But the bodies were not found there.

4 Apostle James Zebedee

Just like his brother, Jacob fished. The character is described as explosive and impetuous. On the pages of Scripture it appears only after the crucifixion and ascension of Christ. He participated in the establishment of the first Christian communities. They called him “Elder” because among the disciples there were two Jacobs. Among the apostles, he was the first to be executed - he died from the royal sword in 44.

5

Philip was born in Bethsaida. Christ called him third. Jesus often turned to the apostle for advice on how to distribute a small amount of food to a large number of people. As the scripture says, after Philip’s participation in the distribution, people were satisfied with a small amount of food. They crucified him on the cross upside down. The students themselves did not want to be executed like their Teacher, believing that they were not worthy of the same death.

6 Apostle Bartholomew

Bartholomew was born in Cana of Galilee. Perhaps he was a relative or close friend of the Apostle Philip. It was Philip who brought Bartholomew to Jesus. Christ spoke of him as a man in whom there is no guile or cunning. He is one of the first disciples called by Jesus. The Gospel mentions him as Nathanael. Bartholomew died in terrible agony in Armenia - while he was still alive, his skin was cut off with a knife.

7

They called him “Didim”, which means “twin”. He was very similar in appearance to Christ. A persistent and determined person. He was called "The Unbeliever" because Thomas initially did not believe in the resurrection of Jesus until he saw his wounds. In Jerusalem, Thomas the Unbeliever was imprisoned, where he was tortured for a long time. After which, pierced by five spears, he died.

8

Author of the first Gospel. He followed Christ right during his work - collecting taxes. That is, he profited from his compatriots. After Jesus came to his house, Matthew repented. He distributed his property to the poor. He joined the apostles only after the death of Christ. Instead of the Apostle Judas who betrayed Jesus. Almost nothing is known about his life. Information about his death differs. Some sources say that he was burned alive, others that he died in peace.

9

A relative of Christ, a maternal cousin. Before meeting Christ, he was a tax collector. This occupation was not considered prestigious; such people were called “publicans.” Among the disciples he was called “Younger” so that he could be distinguished from the second Jacob. Who was almost twice his age. According to legend, he was thrown from the roof and then stoned to death.

10

According to legend, it was he who was the groom at the wedding at which Jesus performed his first miracle - turning water into wine. He was quite a zealous person in relation to faith. Followed Christ godly. The apostle suffered martyrdom - he was sawed alive with a saw in the Caucasus.

11

A native of the province of Judea. Among the apostles he was listed as treasurer. He gave Christ to the high priests for 30 pieces of silver. His betrayal is the subject of many works of art.

12 Apostle Jude Thaddeus

Brother of Jacob Alfeev. It was he who asked Jesus at the Last Supper a question about his future resurrection. Unlike Judas Iscariot, Thaddeus was unconditionally devoted to Christ. His character was soft and flexible. According to scripture, the apostle died in Armenia in the second half of the 1st century as a martyr.

Veneration and ecclesiastical significance

The Holy Scriptures also write about the veneration of God’s messengers. “Remember your teachers, who preached the word of God to you, and, considering the end of their lives, imitate their faith” (Heb. 13:7)

In the modern world they are role models. People remember their exploits and devotion to Jesus. They imitate their deeds and glorify their holiness. Holidays are held in their honor.

In addition, veneration has the character of admiration. People turn to relics and faces if trouble happens. They pray to them, kiss icons and light candles. Temples and chapels are built in their honor.

The ecclesiastical significance of the apostles is enormous. The apostles are considered the main figures in Christianity. Having spread the Word of God throughout the world, it was they who laid the foundation for the birth of the church.

The first century after the death of Christ is called the Apostolic century - because it was during this time that the apostles wrote Gospels and epistles, preached Christ and founded the first Churches. The Apostles have special days of remembrance in Christian calendars, separate for each.

All the messengers of Christ were selfless people, unconditionally devoted to him. They were not afraid to accept death, sometimes even the most cruel and painful, for the sake of faith in Christ and the Word of God.

Apostles(from the Greek ἀπόστολος - messenger, ambassador) - the closest disciples of the Lord, chosen by Him and sent to preach the gospel and dispensation.

The names of the nearest twelve apostles are as follows:

– Andrey(Greek Andreas, “courageous”, “strong man”), brother of Simon Peter, nicknamed in legend the First-Called, because, as a disciple of John the Baptist, he was called by the Lord earlier than his brother on the Jordan.
– Simon(Heb. shimon- “Heard” in prayer), son of Jonah, nicknamed Peter (). Greek the word petros corresponds to the Aramaic kipha, rendered by the Russian word “stone”. Jesus approved this name for Simon after confessing Him as the Son of God in Caesarea Philippi ().
– Simon Canaanite or Zealot (from Aram. Kanai, Greek. zelotos, which means “Jealous”), a native of the Galilean city of Cana, according to legend, was the groom at whose marriage Jesus Christ and His Mother were, where Christ turned water into wine ().
– Jacob(from the Hebrew verb Akav- “to conquer”) Zebedee, son of Zebedee and Salome, brother of the Evangelist John. The first martyr among the apostles, put to death by Herod (42 - 44 AD) through the beheading (). To distinguish him from James the Younger, he is usually called James the Elder.
– Jacob Jr., son of Alpheus. He was called by the Lord Himself to be one of the 12 apostles. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, he preached first in Judea, then accompanied St. to Apostle Andrew the First-Called in Edessa. He spread the gospel gospel in Gaza, Eleutheropolis and neighboring places, and from there he went to Egypt. Here, in the city of Ostratsina (a seaside town on the border with Palestine), he was crucified on the cross.
(Many sources associate Jacob Alpheus with James, the brother of the Lord, commemorated by the Church at the Council of the 70 Apostles. Probably the confusion occurred due to the fact that both apostles were called James younger).
– John(Greek form Ioannes from euro name Yochanan, “The Lord is merciful”) Zebedee, son of Zebedee and Salome, brother of James the elder. The Apostle John was nicknamed the Evangelist as the writer of the fourth Gospel and the Theologian for his deep disclosure of Christian teaching, the author of the Apocalypse.
– Philip(Greek “horse lover”), a native of Bethsaida, according to the Evangelist John, “the same city with Andrew and Peter” (). Philip brought Nathanael (Bartholomew) to Jesus.
– Bartholomew(from Aram. son of Talmay) Nathanael (Heb. Netanel, “Gift of God”), a native of Cana of Galilee, about whom Jesus Christ said that he was a true Israelite in whom there is no guile ().
– Thomas(aram. Tom, in Greek translation Didim, which means “twin”), famous for the fact that the Lord Himself allowed him to put his hand into His side and touch His wounds in order to eliminate his doubts about His resurrection.
– Matthew(Greek form of ancient Hebrew name Mattathias(Mattatiah) - “gift of the Lord”), is also mentioned under his Hebrew name Levi. Author of the Gospel.
– Judas(Heb. Yehuda, “praise of the Lord”) Thaddeus (Heb. praise), brother of the Apostle James the Younger.
– And betrayed the Savior Judas Iscariot (nicknamed after his place of birth in the city of Kariot), instead of whom, after the ascension of Christ, Matthias was chosen by the apostles by lot (one of the forms of the ancient Hebrew name Mattathias (Mattathia) - “gift of the Lord”) (). Matthias followed Jesus from His baptism and witnessed His resurrection.

Among the closest apostles is the Apostle Paul, a native of the city of Tarsus in Cilicia, miraculously called by the Lord himself (). Paul's original name was Saul (Saul, Hebrew Shaul, “asked (from God)” or “borrowed (to serve God)”). The name Paul (Latin Paulus, “lesser”) is the second Roman name adopted by the apostle after his conversion for the convenience of preaching in the Roman Empire.

In addition to the 12 apostles and Paul, 70 more chosen disciples of the Lord (), who were not constant eyewitnesses and witnesses to the deeds and life of Jesus Christ, are called apostles. Their names are not mentioned in the Gospel. In the liturgical tradition, on the day of the celebration of the seventy apostles, their names appear. This list was compiled in the 5th–6th centuries. and is symbolic in nature, it includes all the famous names of the followers and disciples of Christ, the apostles and apostolic men. Tradition refers to the 70 apostles as Mark (Latin for “hammer”, the second name of John from Jerusalem) and Luke (short form of the Latin name Lucius or Lucian, which means “luminous”, “bright”). Thus, on this day, not only the 70 apostles are remembered, but also the entire first Christian generation.

The apostles who wrote the Gospel - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - are called Evangelists. The apostles Peter and Paul were the supreme apostles, that is, the first of the supreme ones.