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.
- 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.
- Andrew: The brother of Simon/Peter, a Bethsaida fisherman, and a former disciple of John the Baptist.
- James, son of Zebedee: The brother of John.
- John: The brother of James. Jesus named both of them Bo-aner’ges, which means “sons of thunder’.'”[Mk 3:17]
- Philip: From the Bethsaida of Galilee[Jn 1:44] [12:21]
- Bartholomew, son of Talemai; usually identified with Nathanael, who is mentioned in Jn 1:45-51.[14]
- 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]
- Thomas: Judas Thomas Didymus – Aramaic T’oma’ = twin, and Greek Didymos = twin. Doubting Thomas.
- James, son of Alphaeus: Generally identified with “James the Less“, and also identified by Roman Catholics with “James the Just“.[15]
- Thaddeus: In some manuscripts of Matthew, the name “Lebbaeus” occurs in this place. Thaddeus is traditionally identified with Jude; see below.
- Simon the Zealot: Some have identified him with Simeon of Jerusalem.[16]
- 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.
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