This is to help people to know the bible better. The first Christians were Jews but most people do not know this.
By Mary Fairchildth Updated June 25, 2019
Jesus Christ selected the 12 disciples from among his early followers to become his closest companions. After an intensive discipleship course and following his resurrection from the dead, the Lord fully commissioned the apostles (Matthew 28:16-2, Mark 16:15) to advance God's kingdom and carry the gospel message to the world. We find the names of the 12 disciples in Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:14-19, and Luke 6:13-16. These men became the pioneering leaders of the New Testament church, but they were not without faults and shortcomings. Interestingly, not one of the chosen 12 disciples was a scholar or rabbi. They had no extraordinary skills. Neither religious, nor refined, they were ordinary people, just like you and me. But God chose them for a purpose — to fan the flames of the gospel that would spread across the face of the earth and continue to burn bright throughout centuries to follow. God selected and used each of these regular guys to carry out his exceptional plan. The 12 Disciples of Jesus Christ Take a few moments to learn lessons from the 12 apostles — men who helped ignite the light of truth that still dwells within hearts today and calls people to come and follow Christ. 01 of 12 Peter Detail of "The Charge to Peter" by James Tissot. SuperStock / Getty ImagesWithout question, the apostle Peter was a "duh"-ciple most people can identify with. One minute he was walking on water by faith, and the next he was sinking in doubt. Impulsive and emotional, Peter is best known for denying Jesus when the pressure was on. Even so, as a disciple he was dearly loved by Christ, holding a special place among the twelve. Peter, a spokesman for the twelve, stands out in the Gospels. Whenever the men are listed, Peter's name is first. He, James, and John formed the inner circle of Jesus' closest companions. These three alone were given the privilege of experiencing the transfiguration, along with a few other extraordinary revelations of Jesus. After the resurrection, Peter became a bold evangelist and missionary, and one of the greatest leaders of the early church. Passionate until the end, historians record that when Peter was sentenced to death by crucifixion, he requested that his head be turned toward the ground because he did not feel worthy to die in the same manner as his Savior. 02 of 12 Andrew Tradition says Andrew died a martyr on a Crux Decussata, or X-shaped cross. Leemage / Corbis via Getty ImagesThe apostle Andrew abandoned John the Baptist to become the first follower of Jesus of Nazareth, but John didn't mind. He knew his mission was to point people to the Messiah. Like many of us, Andrew lived in the shadow of his more famous sibling, Simon Peter. Andrew led Peter to Christ, then stepped into the background as his boisterous brother became a leader among the apostles and in the early church. The Gospels don't tell us a great deal about Andrew, but reading between the lines reveals a person who thirsted for truth and found it in the living water of Jesus. Discover how a simple fisherman dropped his nets on the shore and went on to become a remarkable fisher of men. 03 of 12 James Detail of "Saint James the Greater" by Guido Reni, c. 1636-1638. The Museum of Fine Arts, HoustonJames the son of Zebedee, often called James the Greater to distinguish him from the other apostle named James, was a member of Christ's inner circle, which included his brother, the apostle John, and Peter. Not only did James and John earn a special nickname from the Lord — "sons of thunder" — they were privileged to be at the front and center of three supernatural events in the life of Christ. In addition to these honors, James was the first of the twelve to be martyred for his faith in A.D. 44. 04 of 12 John Detail of "Saint John the Evangelist" by Domenichino, late 1620s. Courtesy National Gallery, LondonThe apostle John, brother to James, was nicknamed by Jesus one of the "sons of thunder," but he liked to call himself "the disciple whom Jesus loved." With his fiery temperament and special devotion to the Savior, he gained a favored place in Christ's inner circle. John's enormous impact on the early Christian church and his larger-than-life personality, make him a fascinating character study. His writings reveal contrasting traits. For instance, on the first Easter morning, with his typical zeal and enthusiasm, John raced Peter to the tomb after Mary Magdalene reported that it was now empty. Although John won the race and bragged about this achievement in his Gospel (John 20:1-9), he humbly allowed Peter to enter the tomb first. According to tradition, John outlived all of the disciples, dying of old age in Ephesus, where he preached a gospel of love and taught against heresy. 05 of 12 Philip Detail of "Apostle St. Philip" by El Greco, 1612. Public domainPhilip was one of the first followers of Jesus Christ, and he wasted no time calling others, like Nathanael, to do the same. Although little is known about him after the ascension of Christ, Bible historians believe Philip preached the gospel in Phrygia, in Asia Minor, and died a martyr there at Hierapolis. Learn how Philip’s search for the truth led him directly to the promised Messiah. 06 of 12 Nathanael or Bartholomew Detail of "The Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew," by Giambattista Tiepolo, 1722 - 1723. Sergio Anelli / Electa / Mondadori Portfolio via Getty ImagesNathanael, believed to be the disciple Bartholomew, experienced a jarring first encounter with Jesus. When the apostle Philip called him to come and meet the Messiah, Nathanael was skeptical, but he followed along anyway. As Philip introduced him to Jesus, the Lord declared, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." Immediately Nathanael wanted to know, "How do you know me?" Jesus got his attention when he answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." Well, that stopped Nathanael in his tracks. Shocked and surprised he declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." Nathanael garnered only a few lines in the Gospels, nevertheless, in that instant he became a loyal follower of Jesus Christ. 07 of 12 Matthew Detail of "Apostle Saint Matthew" by El Greco, 1610-1614. Leemage / Corbis via Getty ImagesLevi, who became the apostle Matthew, was a customs official in Capernaum who taxed imports and exports based on his own judgment. The Jews hated him because he worked for Rome and betrayed his countrymen. But when Matthew the dishonest tax collector heard two words from Jesus, "Follow me," he left everything and obeyed. Like us, he longed to be accepted and loved. Matthew recognized Jesus as someone worth sacrificing for. 08 of 12 Thomas "The Incredulity of Saint Thomas" by Caravaggio, 1603. Public domainThe apostle Thomas is often referred to as "Doubting Thomas" because he refused to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead until he saw and touched Christ's physical wounds. As far as disciples go, however, history has dealt Thomas a bum rap. After all, each of the 12 apostles, except John, abandoned Jesus during his trial and death at Calvary. Thomas was prone to extremes. Earlier he had demonstrated courageous faith, willing to risk his own life to follow Jesus into Judea. There is an important lesson to be gained from studying Thomas: If we're truly seeking to know the truth, and we're honest with ourselves and others about our struggles and doubts, God will faithfully meet us and reveal himself to us, just as he did for Thomas. 09 of 12 James the Less Hulton Archive / Getty ImagesJames the Less is one of the most obscure apostles in the Bible. The only things we know for certain are his name and that he was present in the upper room of Jerusalem after Christ ascended to heaven. In Twelve Ordinary Men, John MacArthur suggests that his obscurity may have been the distinguishing mark of his life. Discover why James the Less' complete anonymity may reveal something profound about his character. 10 of 12 Simon the Zealot Detail of "Apostle Saint Simon" by El Greco, 1610-1614. Fine Art Images / Heritage Images / Getty ImagesWho doesn't like a good mystery? One puzzling question in the Bible is the exact identity of Simon the Zealot, the Bible's own mystery apostle. Scripture tells us almost nothing about Simon. In the Gospels, he is mentioned in three places, but only to list his name. In Acts 1:13 we learn that he was present with the apostles in the upper room of Jerusalem after Christ had ascended to heaven. Beyond those few details, we can only speculate about Simon and his designation as a Zealot. 11 of 12 Thaddeus or Jude Detail of "Saint Thaddeus" by Domenico Fetti. © Arte & Immagini srl / Corbis via Getty ImagesListed together with Simon the Zealot and James the Less, the apostle Thaddeus completes a grouping of the least known disciples. In Twelve Ordinary Men, John MacArthur's book about the apostles, Thaddeus is characterized as a tender-hearted, gentle man who displayed childlike humility. 12 of 12 Judas Iscariot In remorse, Judas Iscariot throws down the 30 pieces of silver he received in payment for betraying Christ. Hulton Archive / Getty ImagesJudas Iscariot is the apostle who betrayed Jesus with a kiss. For this supreme act of treachery, some would say Judas Iscariot made the greatest error in history. Down through time, people have had mixed feelings about Judas. Some experience a sense of hatred toward him, others feel pity, and some have even considered him a hero. No matter how you react to Judas, one thing is certain, believers can benefit greatly by taking a serious look at his life.
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