JESUS AND THE TWELVE APOSTLES

JESUS AND THE TWELVE APOSTLES

(Based on information gathered from the Web)

St Peter the Apostle also referred to in Bible scripture as Simon Peter, was the brother of Andrew, another of the fisherman from the Sea of Galilee who became an apostle of Jesus. Peter is considered to be one of the most impulsive of the apostles, (i.e: cutting off a Roman solders ear at the time of Jesus Christ's arrest in the Garden of Gathsemene) and one who in reading the holy scriptures seems to speak out in bold and sometimes brash statements (i.e: stating he would lay down his life for Jesus even as Jesus informed him he would deny even knowing him after his arrest).

St Peter the Apostle is also known as "the Rock" as a result of his response to Christ's question; "Who do you say I am..?" Peter's reply is; "I say you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God..." Jesus then let's Peter know that no man had revealed this truth to him, but his Father which is in Heaven and so calls Peter "The Rock" in his famous statement; "And upon this Rock I shall build my Church..."

Scripture records that eventually Peter was crucified, upside down, by the Romans by Peter's own request as he felt he was not worthy to be crucified in the same way as Jesus Christ was. St Peter has also been proported to be the first Pope.

St Andrew the Apostle was active in bringing people to Jesus Christ and scripture records he is the one who brought his brother Peter to meet Jesus.

St James the Apostle was the older brother of John the Apostle and was the first of The Twelve Apostles to be martyred.

St John the Apostle also known as "John the Beloved" spend a significant portion of the balance of his life writing what would be one of the main four Gospels comprising today's Holy Bible on the Island of Patmos after the crucifixion and Resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ. St John wrote what is probably the best known and most quoted line of scripture which is: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life..."

St Philip the Apostle from Bethsaida, as were Andrew and Peter, was eventually martyred, proportedly in Hierapolis.

St Bartholomew the Apostle was one of the disciples to whom Jesus appeared at the Sea of Tiberias after his bodily Resurrection from the dead. He was also a witness of the "Ascension of Jesus Christ into the Clouds".

St Thomas the Apostle also called "Didymus" which is the Greek version of his name is in many instances mostly remembered as "doubting Thomas" as he wanted to actually see and touch the mortal wounds on Jesus before he would believe Christ had Resurrected. After Jesus appeared to Thomas who confirmed his bodily wounds he would exclaim; "My Lord and my God" after which Jesus would say: "You believe because you See, Blessed are those who believe and have not seen..."

St Matthew the Apostle was formerly a tax-collector at Capernaum before meeting Jesus, and ultimately became one of the most prominent of the twelve apostles being responsible for writing one of the four major Books of the Holy Bible.

St James the Apostle also known as "James the Younger", or "James the Less", wrote the Epistle which bears his name in scripture today.

St Thaddaeus the Apostle also known as "Judas the brother of James" not to be confused with the apostle who betrayed Jesus, "Judas, Iscariot".

St Simon the Apostle was also known as "Simon the Zealot". Zealots were primarily known as a close knitted sect with very strong political views.

Judas Iscariot, once an Apostle also known as "The traitor or betrayer of Jesus Christ", and ultimately rejected Jesus as the Messiah when Jesus didn't fulfill his political expectations and cause the people to rise up and fight against the Roman oppression of the Jews.

St Matthias the Apostle came on board as the new twelfth apostle after Judas betrayed Jesus and ended up tossing his 30 pieces of silver as payment for his betrayal and hanging himself on a tree. Matthias was chosen by the remaining eleven apostles.

Beyond the Twelve: "St Mark, St Luke and others..."
In addition to the original twelve chief apostles, Jesus Christ chose another seventy apostles including; "St Mark, St Luke and others..." To all his apostles the Lord Jesus Christ gave the power to heal the sick, to cast out unclean spirits, and even to resurrect the dead.

He also sent them out to preach. When the seventy apostles returned from preaching, they said with joy to Jesus, "Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name..." (Luke 10:17) Jesus said to them, "Do not rejoice that the spirits are subject unto you but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven..." (Luke 10:20) Do not rejoice over the miracles, which are given to you for your preaching, but rejoice over the fact that you will receive blessings and eternal life with God in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Besides the disciples, Jesus Christ can also be said to have a few female apostles. Women who had been healed by him such as, "Mary Magdalene" (from the city of Magdala) of whom Jesus cast out seven unclean spirits and "Joanna", the wife of Chuza, as well as King Herod’s steward; "Susanna". These women who worked wih and Loved the Lord Jesus Christ have been largely overlooked in the currently day scritures as they were edited at the cousel of Nicea.