The 12 Disciples Series

The 12 Disciples

Apostle Michael

The apostles were the foundation of the Church. The apostles were sent out to establish churches. The apostles were called Disciples while they were working and being trained by God, but they became Apostles after they were sent to do the work that they were trained do. They were to start churches.

Revelation 21:14 says 14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. – The names of the 12 apostles are entrenched in walls of the New Jerusalem.

The 12 Disciples were 12 Jewish men who followed Jesus throughout his 3 yr ministry on earth.

11 of the 12 Disciples were from Galilee, except for one which was from Judea. This one from Judea was named Judas.

Some of the Disciples were married and some were not. Some sample scriptures are: Mark 1:29-31:29And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. 31And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. 1 Corinthians 9:3-6 says 3Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, 4Have we not power to eat and to drink? 5Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 6Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

The 12 Disciples by name

1. Andrew

2. Bartholomew (Nathanael)

3. James (son of Zebedee)

4. James (the lesser or younger)

5. John (the son of Thunder, the Revelation)

6. Judas

7. Thaddeus (Jude)

8. Matthew

9. Peter (Cephas, Rock, Simon)

10. Phillip

11. Simon

12. Thomas (Doubting Thomas) He was a born a twin.

About the Disciples

First we will introduce you to a term called martyrdom. These were people who died for the cause of Jesus. All of the Disciples/Apostles were martyred in one way or another.

Andrew

• He was a fisherman by occupation

• He was the brother of Peter and the son of Jonahs.

• He lived in Capernaum.

• He was a disciple of John the Baptist originally. (Mark 1:1 -18).

• He brought Peter to Jesus

• He was condemned to die on the cross.

• Andrew felt so unworthy to be crucified in the same fashion as Jesus, he requested to be crucified with an X-shaped cross.

• His Symbol: Two crossed fish in the shape of an X or the X shape

• Personality trait: Enthusiastic about Christ, Inquisitive, resourceful

• Life lesson: He felt that we should go out and eagerly share the good news about Jesus Christ

Bartholomew (Nathanael)

• Occupation was uncertain.

• He was the son of Talmai.

• Lived in Cannon Galilee.

• We think he was a Romanian Missionary.

• Many scholars think he came from royal blood. His name means son of Talmai. 2 Samuel 3:3 3And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; – Talmai was the king of Geshur whose daughter was Maacah which was the wife of David the Mother of Absalom.

• Nathanael was really Bartholomew’s first name. ( John 1:47 – Jesus referred to him as Nathanael)

• He died in India where he preached. He died by being fillet alive with knives.

• His symbol: 3 parallel knives.

• Personality traits: Skeptic, honest, and faithful. John 1:49: 49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

• Life’s Lesson: Believers are called to test all things scripture and remain true to its principle.

James (son of Zebedee, son of Thunder, James the Elder or James the Great)

• His Occupation is a fisherman with his father and brother. Matthew 4:18-22 says 18And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

• He lived in Capernaum.

• He preached in Judea and Jerusalem. In AD44, he was beheaded by Herod. This task was done in public. Acts 12:1-2: 1Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.