The Disciples of Jesus

      Peter (Simon Peter) was chief of the twelve apostles, son of Jona and a fisherman.  He was introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew.  He became a loyal follower and one of the three most favored disciples.  Peter believed to have been martyred in Rome about A.D.68.

     Andrew, like his brother Peter was a fisherman.  He was o riginally a disciple of John the Baptist.  He became to believe Jesus to be the true Messiah and Son of God and followed Him.  He soon convinced his brother to follow Jesus too.  Tradition says Andrew was martyred in Achaia while preaching the gospel.

     Judas (not Judas Iscariot) was either the brother or son of a certain James, not otherwise identified (see Luke 6:16 and Acts 1;13)  He was also known as Lebbaeus and Thaddaeus (Matthew 10:3 and Mark 3:18)

     Bartholomew was converted when Philip introduced him to Jesus.  He was there when Jesus filled the fishing nets with fish.

     Philip was introduced to Jesus by Bartholomew.  The last mention of Philip is when the disciples met after the resurrection of Jesus (see Acts 1:13)

     James (son of Zebedee and Salome) was one of the first and most trusted of the apostles.  He was a fisherman.  He, along with Peter and his brother John witnessed the transfiguration (see Matthew 17:1) James was killed by Herod Agrippa I about A.D. 44 (see Acts 12:2).

     John (son of Zebedee and Salome).  He was a fisherman with his brother James.  He was said to be the apostle of whom Jesus at the last supper (John wrote 5 books of the New Testament, the fourth gospel, the three epistles and Revelation.

     Thomas who was famous for his doubtful nature became so devoted to Jesus he was prepared to die for him (see John 11:16, 20:24-25).  Thomas was among the seven apostles in the Sea of Galilee when the risen Christ caused thier nets to be filled with fish (see John 21:2-11).

     James (son of Alphaeus and Mary)  In order to distinquish him from the other James, he was occassionally designated as "the less" (Mark 15:40).

     Matthew was a tax collector for the Romas until Jesus called him (see Matthew 9:9)  Matthew spent the remainder of his life in service to Christ.  He was called Levi before his conversion and authored the first gospel in the New Testament.

     Simon who was called the Canannite to distinquish him from Simon Peter (see Matthew 10:24; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13)  He had membership in a Jewish patriotic society.  Not much else is known about Simon.

     Judas Iscariot is the most infamous of the apostles due to his betrayal of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.  He was the only apostle who was not a Galilean.  He was treasurer of the group and was known to keep a great portion of money for himself.  He returned the silver to the priests, repented his sins and hanged himself (see Matthew 27:3-5).