The Disciples & Apostles

Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter and was the first disciple called by Jesus. He was a fisherman by trade and was known for his strong faith and willingness to follow Jesus.
The apostle Andrew abandoned John the Baptist to become the first follower of Jesus of Nazareth
All four Gospels identify Andrew as Peter's brother. The pair was from Bethsaida, a town north of the Sea of Galilee.
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. Andrew is often depicted as the patron saint of Scotland and is remembered for his missionary work in Eastern Europe and Asia Minor.

James and John were brothers and were known as the Sons of Thunder.
AKA: James the greater
They were fishermen by trade and were called by Jesus to be his disciples along with their father, Zebedee.
James and John were known for their fiery personalities and were once rebuked by Jesus for wanting to call down fire from heaven on a Samaritan village that rejected them.
James was the first of the disciples to be martyred, and

James brother and the other so of thunders
John went on to become a prominent leader in the early Christian church and wrote several books of the New
According to tradition, John outlived all of the apostles, dying of old age in Ephesus, where he preached a gospel of love and taught against heresy.

He was from Bethsaida and was called by Jesus to follow him. Philip was known for his analytical and questioning nature, often asking Jesus for clarification on his teachings.
In the gospel of John, Philip is portrayed as a practical and down-to-earth disciple. For example, when Jesus asked him where they could buy enough bread to feed a large crowd, (Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:12-17, and John 6:1-14) Philip responded that it would take more than six months' wages to buy enough bread for everyone.
Despite his initial skepticism, Philip became a faithful follower of Jesus and went on to spread his teaching. After Jesus' death and resurrection, Philip is said to have preached the gospel in Greece and Phrygia, where he was reportedly martyred by crucifixion.

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Thomas, also known as Didymus or "the twin," was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.
He is perhaps best known for his initial skepticism regarding Jesus' resurrection, which led to his famous nickname, "Doubting Thomas."
According to John 20:24-29, Thomas was not present when Jesus first appeared to the disciples after his resurrection.
When the other disciples told him that they had seen the risen Lord, Thomas famously declared that he would not believe it unless he could see and touch the wounds in Jesus' hands and side.
A week later, Jesus appeared to Thomas and invited him to touch his wounds, leading Thomas to proclaim, "My Lord and my God!" Apart from this episode, not much is known about Thomas' life or ministry. According to tradition, he traveled to India to preach the gospel and was martyred there, though the details of his death are unclear.

Matthew, also known as Levi, was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus and is best known for his role as a tax collector before becoming a follower of Jesus.
According to the Gospel accounts, Matthew was sitting at his tax collector's booth when Jesus approached him and invited him to follow him. Matthew immediately left his job and became a disciple of Jesus.
(See Matthew 9:9-13, Luke 5:27-28) As a tax collector, Matthew would have been seen as an outcast by his fellow Jews, who viewed tax collectors as collaborators with the Roman occupiers and traitors to their people.
However, after becoming a disciple of Jesus, Matthew became an important figure in the early Christian community and is credited with writing the Gospel of Matthew, one of the four canonical gospels of the New Testament. According to tradition, Matthew preached the gospel in Judea and Ethiopia before his death, though the details of his life and ministry are largely unknown.

He is often referred to as James the Less or James the Just to distinguish him from James, the son of Zebedee (brother of John).
His name of "Just" is due to his reputation for being a highly righteous and pious man.
According to early Christian writings, James was known for his devotion to God and his strict observance of Jewish laws and traditions
After Jesus' death and resurrection, James is said to have traveled to Egypt and Ethiopia to preach the gospel.
According to tradition, he was martyred in Egypt by stoning, though the details of his death are unclear.

his name suggests that he was a member of the Zealot movement, a political faction that advocated for Jewish independence from Roman rule.

According to tradition, he traveled to Egypt and Persia to preach the gospel after Jesus' Resurrection, and was martyred in either Persia or Samaria.
Simon's inclusion among the twelve disciples reflects Jesus' radical message of inclusivity and his willingness to embrace individuals from diverse backgrounds and political viewpoints.
Despite their differences, Simon and the other disciples were united in their shared commitment to following Jesus and spreading his message of love and compassion.

infamous for betraying him for thirty pieces of silver
Some speculate that he was disillusioned with Jesus' teachings, while others suggest that he may have been motivated by greed or a desire for political power.
He was the treasurer of the group of disciples, and would occasionally embezzle money for his own purposes. (See John 12:6) After Jesus' arrest and trial, Judas reportedly regretted his actions and returned the money to the authorities, but it was too late to stop Jesus' crucifixion.
He died by committing suicide. One of the Gospels reports him hanging himself, while another reports him "falling and bursting open."
This is often harmonized by suggesting he hung himself over the side of a cliff or gully, falling after his hanging. (compare Matthew 27:5–8, Acts 1:18-19) It is valuable to remember that proximity to Jesus, or talent, does not make someone a true follower, a true imitator of his ways, and truly obedient to him.

Thaddaeus, also known as Jude or Judas (not Iscariot) not much is known about his life or ministry. According to tradition, he preached the gospel in Syria and Persia, and was martyred there. It is good to remember that Jesus doesn't just value the loud, out-front personality, but values the contributions of those who are quieter and operate behind-the-scenes. Bible references: Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:16; John 14:22; Acts 1:13

Matthias (also known as Saint Matthias in the Catholic church) was chosen by the remaining eleven disciples to replace the betrayer, Judas Iscariot before Jesus’ resurrection.
The scriptural recommendation was for twelve disciples and so Apostle Peter declared that they must choose another disciple to take the place of Judas Iscariot.
Matthias was chosen as the twelfth Apostle since he was present with Jesus Christ during his time on Earth as well as through his crucifixion. Acts 1:21-26
While two men were chosen to take the twelfth place in the Apostles lots were drawn and Matthias was selected as the twelfth and final apostle.