The Bible: Apostles of Jesus

Peter: (Greek: Petros meaning ‘Rock’) Peter was one of the most prominent of the 12 disciples. He was a natural spokesperson and also the leader of the early Christian church. His original Hebrew name was Simeon (ശിമയോൻ), a common popular Hebrew name. Jesus gave him a name ‘Cephas‘, an Aramaic name. John translated into it Greek ‘Petros‘(പത്രോസ് ) meaning Rock. (John 1:42 – “you will be called Cephas.”)

STATEMENTS: Matthew 16:16 “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:18 “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
John 21:17 “Feed my sheep.”
Luke 22:61–62 “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter… And he went outside and wept bitterly.”
Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”
Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else…”
Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
Peter 1:16 “Be holy, because I am holy.”

FAMILY: Peter was a native of Bethsaida (John 1:44), was the brother of Andrew, lived in a fishing town- Capernaum. (Mark 1:29)
His father name is Jonah. Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.
He was a married man. (Mark 1:30, 1 Cor 9:5)
PROFESSION: He was a fisherman by occupation on the Sea of Galilee.

Missionary Journey of Peter
John: (Aramaic: Yohanan, meaning: God is gracious, Mal: യോഹന്നാൻ) John was originally the disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:35), and was introduced to Jesus in John 1:35-39. (Mark 1:19-20). He was one of the three disciples, closest to Jesus, the others being Peter and James.
Called “Son of Thunder” (Mark 3:17)
believed to have written: Gospel of John, Epistles of John, Book of Revelation

STATEMENTS: John 13:24–25 At the Last Supper, John leans toward Jesus Christ and asks: “Lord, who is it?”
Luke 9:49, Mark 9:38 John says: “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow with us.”
Luke 9:54 When a Samaritan village rejected Jesus: “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”
Acts 4:19 John (with Peter) replies: “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!”
John 21:24 While not a spoken conversation, John gives a personal testimony: “This is the disciple who testifies to these things…”

FAMILY: He was the brother of James and the son of Zebedee. He lived in Capernaum in Galilee, but most probably a native of Bethsaida. Matthew 27:56 (mentions “mother of the sons of Zebedee”) as Salome.
PROFESSION: He was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee along with his brother and father.

Missionary Journey of John

Seven churches location from Revelation
James the greater: (Hebrew: Yaʿqob, Greek: Iakobos, English: Jacob meaning Israel or he who supplants his Brother, Mal: യാക്കോബ്). He was the first disciple (apostle) to be martyred. (Acts 12:2)

FAMILY: James was the son of Zebedee (Mat 4:21), the older brother of John (Mat 17:1) Matthew 27:56 (mentions “mother of the sons of Zebedee”) as Salome.
PROFESSION: a fisherman along with his brother and father at the Sea of Galilee, in partnership with Peter and Andrew. (Luke 5:10).
Andrew: (Greek: Andreas, meaning ‘Manly’, man, Mal: അന്ത്രയോസ്)

STATEMENTS: First apostle: John 1:40–41 “Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah.’
John 6:8–9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish…”
John 12:21–22 “They came to Philip… Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.”

FAMILY: brother of Simon Peter, the son of Jonah, lived in Capernaum like his brother
PROFESSION: was a fisherman by occupation.

Missionary Journey of Andrew
Philip: (Greek: Philippos, meaning ‘Lover of horses’, Mal: ഫിലിപ്പോസ്). He was a close friend of Andrew and Peter, and a native of Bethsaida (John 1:44).

STATEMENTS: Jesus called Philip near Bethany where John the Baptist was preaching (John 1:43).
John 1:45-46 Philip tells Nathanael: “We have found the one Moses wrote about… Jesus of Nazareth.”
John 6:5-7 Jesus tests Philip: “Where shall we buy bread for these people?”
John 14:8-9 Philip says: “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

Missionary Journey of Philip
Bartholomew: (Greek: bartholomaios, Aramaic: Bar-Tolmai meaning Son of Talmai ("my furrow")).

Most Christian scholars believe that Bartholomew and Nathanael are the same person:
1. Nathanael appears only in John Gospel of John mentions Nathanael (John 1:45–49, 21:2)
2. Bartholomew appears in other Gospels
3. Close connection with Philip
John 1:45–49 “Philip found Nathanael and told him… ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about… Jesus of Nazareth.’ Nathanael said… ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.’”

Missionary Journey of Bartholomew
Thomas: (Greek: Thomas, Aramaic: te’oma meaning ‘twin’) He is also called ‘Didymus’ or ‘the Twin’ (John 11:16, 20:24, 21:2). When Jesus appeared to the apostles after His resurrection, Thomas was not present with them. Later on, when the disciples told him about Jesus’ appearance, he would not believe them, until Jesus showed Himself a week later. (John 20:24-29). His occupation is unknown.

Missionary Journey of Thomas

Seven and half churches established by St. Thomas

Seven and half churches location map
Matthew: (Greek: maththaios, meaning ‘gift of Yahweh’) is also called ‘Levi’ (Mark 2:14, Luke 5:27). He was a tax collector by occupation. Jesus called him to be one of his disciples, when he was at the tax office (Mat 9:9, Mark 2:14). Luke 5:29 Mark 2:15 Matthew (Levi) organizes a great banquet for Jesus Christ.
He is ascribed to be the author of the Gospel according to Matthew.
Mark 2:14 As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus (ഹൽപൈ) sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.

Missionary Journey of Matthew
James the less/minor: (meaning younger, to distinguish him from the other James, who was also a disciple) (Hebrew: Yaʿqob, Greek: Iakobos, English: Jacob meaning Israel or he who supplants his Brother, Mal: യാക്കോബ്)

FAMILY: Father: Alphaeus (ഹൽപൈ) (Mark 3:18)
Mother: Mary Matthew 27:56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Mark 15:40 There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.

Missionary Journey of James
Thaddaeus: He is mentioned in two of the four lists of Jesus’ disciples. (Mat 10:3, Mark 3:18). In the other two lists he is variously called as Jude of James, Jude Thaddaeus, Judas Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus. This is only times he speaks: John 14:22 “Judas (not Iscariot) said, ‘Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?’”

FAMILY: Father: James/യാക്കോബ് (Luke 6:16, Acts 1:13)

Missionary Journey of Thaddaeus
Simon the Zealot: (Luke 6:15, Acts 1:13), he also called as Simon the Cananaean (Matthew 10:4, Mark 3:18) This does not mean he was from Canaan. It comes from an Aramaic word meaning “zealous”, which is why Luke uses “Zealot.”

Missionary Journey of Simon
Judas Iscariot: He is the disciple who betrayed Jesus. His last name ‘Iscariot’ is from the Hebrew word ‘Ish Kerioth‘ meaning ‘a man from Kerioth’, a place in the south of Judah (Joshua 15:25). He was a treasurer of the group. (John 12:6,13:29). After his betrayal of Jesus, he grieved for his actions and committed suicide. (Matthew 27:5). He is always mentioned last in the list of apostles.
Matthias: After Judas committed suicide after his betrayal of Jesus (Matthew 27:3–10), the eleven disciples selected Matthias as the twelfth disciple.

Missionary Journey of Matthias