In brief
The twelve apostles are the men Jesus chose from among his disciples, during his ministry in Galilee, to be with him and to be sent out to preach. Their names appear in four lists in the New Testament. After the betrayal and death of Judas Iscariot, the remaining eleven saw Matthias chosen to complete their number. What we keep is that Jesus built his church on ordinary men, trained at his side and then sent out as witnesses of his resurrection.
What does the name The Twelve Apostles mean?
The word apostle comes from a Greek term meaning sent one. Jesus himself gives this name to the twelve he chooses (Luke 6:13). Their number is generally linked to the twelve tribes of Israel, a connection Jesus himself makes in Matthew 19:28.
The story of The Twelve Apostles
A night of prayer
Luke 6:12-13Before choosing the Twelve, Jesus goes up on the mountain to pray and spends the whole night in prayer to God. When day comes, he calls his disciples and chooses twelve of them, whom he named apostles. The choice of the Twelve was not improvised: it came out of the communion of the Son with the Father.
To be with him
Mark 3:13-15Mark states the purpose of this calling. Jesus calls those he desires, and they come to him. He appoints twelve to be with him, to be sent out to preach and to have authority to cast out demons. Before being sent out, the apostles are first called to live beside Jesus, to listen to him and to learn from him.
The names of the Twelve
Mark 3:16-19Mark names Simon, called Peter, James and John, sons of Zebedee, nicknamed Boanerges, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot. Luke gives a similar list, but names Judas son of James where Mark writes Thaddaeus (Luke 6:14-16). They are generally thought to be the same man.
Sent out on mission
Matthew 10:1-8Jesus gives the Twelve authority to cast out unclean spirits and to heal every disease. He first sends them to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, with this message: the kingdom of heaven is at hand. They are to go without provisions, giving freely as they have received freely. Mark adds that he sent them out two by two (Mark 6:7).
The Eleven in the upper room
Acts 1:12-14After the ascension of Jesus, the apostles return from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem and go up to the upper room. Luke gives their names: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas son of James. They devote themselves with one accord to prayer, together with the women, Mary and the brothers of Jesus.
Matthias completes the Twelve
Acts 1:15-26Peter recalls that Judas, who shared in this ministry, guided those who arrested Jesus. Another man, one who accompanied the Lord from the baptism of John, must become with them a witness to his resurrection. Two are put forward, Joseph Barsabbas and Matthias; after prayer, the lot falls on Matthias, who is added to the eleven apostles.
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What The Twelve Apostles teaches us
- Jesus chooses his servants in prayer, not by human standards.
- Being with Jesus always comes before being sent out by him.
- God uses ordinary men, with their differences and weaknesses, to announce his kingdom.
- What we have freely received from God, we are called to give freely.
- The church rests on the testimony of the apostles, and Jesus Christ is its cornerstone.
Key verses
The double purpose of the calling of the Twelve: to be with Jesus and to be sent out to preach. The relationship with the Lord comes first, and the mission flows from it.
The instruction given to the Twelve when they were sent: heal, cleanse, cast out demons, and give freely what they themselves have freely received from God.
Believers are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. The testimony of the Twelve remains the basis of the church's faith.
In the new Jerusalem, the wall rests on twelve foundations bearing the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb: their mission has an eternal reach.
Bible verses to meditate on
Sermons about The Twelve Apostles
- David, the Twelve, and You: How God ChoosesPastor Maréchal shows that the choice of the Twelve was not improvised: it came from a whole night of prayer, and these twelve men then turned the world upside down in a very short time.
- Jesus Didn't Lose Judas: Judas Lost HimselfThe pastor starts from the twelve foundations of the new Jerusalem, which bear the names of the apostles, then rereads the calling of the Twelve in Mark 3 and the replacement of Judas in Acts 1.
- How to Train Future LeadersThe article presents the training of the Twelve as a model: Jesus first appoints them to be with him (Mark 3:14), then gradually hands over responsibility for his mission.
- Living Against the Current: Jesus' BeatitudesThe sermon links the choice of the Twelve, after a night of prayer, to the twelve tribes of Israel: by appointing them, Jesus founds a new people who will accompany him to the end.
Frequently asked questions
What are the names of the twelve apostles?
According to Mark 3:16-19, they are Simon Peter, James and John sons of Zebedee, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot. Luke 6 names Judas son of James in place of Thaddaeus. Matthias replaces Judas in Acts 1.
Why did Jesus choose twelve apostles?
The Bible gives no detailed explanation, but Jesus himself links their number to the twelve tribes of Israel: those who followed him will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes (Matthew 19:28). Mark gives the purpose of their calling: to be with Jesus and to be sent out to preach (Mark 3:14).
Who replaced Judas among the Twelve?
After the death of Judas Iscariot, Peter proposes choosing a man who accompanied Jesus from the baptism of John until his ascension, to be a witness of his resurrection. Two men are put forward, Joseph Barsabbas and Matthias. After prayer, the lot designates Matthias (Acts 1:15-26).