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In Christianity, the Apostles (Ancient Greek: ἀπόστολος apostolos, one sent forth as a messenger)^[1] were missionaries among the leaders in the Early Church and, in the Epistle to the Hebrews,^[3:1] Jesus Christ himself.^[2] The term was also used, especially by the Gospel of Luke, for “the Twelve,” Jesus’ inner circle of disciples (students).^[2] They were, according to the Acts of the Apostles and Christian tradition, disciples whom Jesus of Nazareth had chosen, named, and trained in order to send them on a specific mission: the establishment of the Christian Church by evangelism and the spreading of the “good news“, after being sent the Holy Spirit as “helper” (Paraclete) in this task at Pentecost.

1. Peter: Renamed by Jesus to Peter (meaning rock), his original name was Simon bar Jonah;^[Mk 3:16] was a fisherman from the Bethsaida “of Galilee”^[Jn 1:44], cf. Jn 12:21. Also known as Simon bar Jochanan (Aram.), Cephas (Aram.), and Simon Peter.
2. Andrew: The brother of Simon/Peter, a Bethsaida fisherman, and a former disciple of John the Baptist.
3. James, son of Zebedee: The brother of John.
4. John: The brother of James. Jesus named both of them Bo-aner’ges, which means “sons of thunder’.'”^[Mk 3:17]
5. Philip: From the Bethsaida of Galilee^{[Jn 1:44] [12:21]}
6. Bartholomew, son of Talemai; usually identified with Nathanael, who is mentioned in Jn 1:45-51.^[14]
7. Matthew: The tax collector. The similarity between Mt 9:9-10, Mk 2:14-15 and Lu 5:27-29 may indicate that Matthew was also known as Levi.^{[citation needed]}
8. Thomas: Judas Thomas Didymus – Aramaic T’oma’ = twin, and Greek Didymos = twin. Doubting Thomas.
9. James, son of Alphaeus: Generally identified with “James the Less“, and also identified by Roman Catholics with “James the Just“.^[15]
10. Thaddeus: In some manuscripts of Matthew, the name “Lebbaeus” occurs in this place. Thaddeus is traditionally identified with Jude; see below.
11. Simon the Zealot: Some have identified him with Simeon of Jerusalem.^[16]
12. Judas Iscariot: The disciple who later betrayed Jesus.^[Mk 3:19] The name Iscariot may refer to the Judaean towns of Kerioth or to the sicarii (Jewish nationalist insurrectionists), or to Issachar. Also referred to as “Judas, the son of Simon.”^{[Jn 6:71] [13:26]} He was replaced by Matthias as an apostle shortly after Jesus’ resurrection.