Details about the Apostles of Jesus Christ
APOSTLES OF JESUS CHRIST – Meet Peter, James, John, Matthew, Thaddeus, and Simon, who are among the 12 disciples of the Son of God in these details about them.
In the Christian belief, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, had 12 closest companions. They journeyed with the Son of God and were the ones who was with Him when one of them, Judas, led the soldiers towards the arrest of Jesus.
Prior to His death, Jesus Christ had the last supper with His 12 apostles. He also knew that one of them will betray Him. It was betrayal with a kiss towards the Son of God. His arrest was in exchange of silver.
Every Holy Week, there are reenactments of the last days of Jesus before He died on the Cross. There are individuals who portray the role of the Son of God and there are also those who portray the 12 apostles.
Not known to many people, here are the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ:
Peter
Peter, once a fisherman, was the outspoken figure among the disciples of Jesus Christ during His ministry. Later on, he became a central leader in the early church after the Son of God ascended to Heaven. In every biblical listing of the 12 apostles, his name usually appears first. He authored two (2) letters in the New Testament and played a vital role in spreading the faith as he helped establish the church among both Jewish and Gentile communities.
James
James, like Peter, held a place of leadership among the 12 Apostles and he, together with his brother, John, and Peter, were the closest companions of Jesus. Unlike Peter, however, James’s ministry was short-lived. The book of Acts records that he was the first among the disciples of Jesus to be martyred for his faith. About a decade after Jesus ascended to Heaven, King Herod ordered the death of James.
John
John, the brother of James, is widely regarded by scholars as the youngest among the 12 apostles. Like Peter and James, he belonged to Jesus’ “inner circle”. He was the only disciple in the records to be present at the cross during the crucifixion of Jesus.
After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, John often partnered with Peter in preaching. The book of Acts recounts how they faced questioning and persecution from Jerusalem’s religious authorities. The records stated that John endured great suffering for his faith but he did not die a martyr.
Matthew
In first‑century Israel, Matthew stood on the margins of society being a tax collector. His line is the most despised figures of the time being viewed as corrupt. While it earned him suspicions among his fellow jews, the Son of God looked past the stigma. He saw value in him and welcomed him into His circle. Jesus refused to dismiss or disqualify him from serving God.
Thaddeus
Judas — often distinguished as the “other Judas” to avoid confusion with Judas Iscariot is thought to be related to James, the son of Alpheus. There are some translations that described him as James’s son while in others, he is called as James’s brother.
The Gospels record that Thaddeus/Judas once asked Jesus a question about the kingdom. Among the 12 apostles, little is known of his role during the ministry. After the resurrection of Jesus, not much is known about him including details of his death.
Simon the Zealot
Simon, known as the Zealot, was aligned with a radical movement in the first century Israel that resisted the rule of Romans. The Scripture doesn’t explain what led him to leave that cause and follow Jesus but a huge change in him was proven in the Bible. Tradition suggests that after Jesus’ resurrection, he carried the gospel into northern Africa and parts of Mesopotamia. The records also stated that he was martyred in Persia after he rejected to worship a false god.