Who were the apostles of Jesus?

The apostles were the twelve principal disciples chosen by Jesus to be his closest followers and primary witnesses of his ministry, death, and resurrection. They were commissioned to preach the Gospel, perform miracles in his name, and establish the early Church. Their authority and testimony formed the foundation of apostolic teaching passed to subsequent Christian leaders and communities.

Deeper Insights

Role and mission: The apostles were commissioned as chief witnesses of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, charged to proclaim the Gospel, baptize, teach, and found local churches across the Roman world.

The Twelve Apostles:

Simon Peter
Andrew
James son of Zebedee
John
Philip
Bartholomew (Nathanael)
Matthew (Levi)
Thomas
James son of Alphaeus
Thaddaeus (Jude, son of James)
Simon the Zealot
Judas Iscariot (betrayer; replaced by Matthias)

Additional note: Paul of Tarsus is also recognized as an apostle in the New Testament, called to the Gentiles and instrumental in shaping early Christian theology and mission.

Simon Vasconcelos Lee

Founder of JesusBYS

I am an entrepreneur who found faith through the trials of life. I don’t claim to be a theologian or a 'perfect' Christian; I am a seeker who discovered that Jesus’s strength is best revealed in our moments of weakness.

I write these articles to share the spiritual keys that helped me, and my team at JesusBYS, find hope and resilience. Today, alongside a dedicated collective of creators and professionals, we work to make Jesus’s timeless wisdom accessible to everyone navigating the challenges of the modern world.

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