The 12 disciples of Jesus Christ were twelve, everyday Jewish men.  Their occupations ranged from fishermen to tax collectors.  Each of them, much like those of us in the 21st century, were going about their day-to-day lives.  That is, until they were called upon by a Man named Jesus.

They were called to deny themselves; to deny their own wants and desires.  Jesus challenged them, not to become someone else, but to become someone different.  But this was a different kind of different.  This was a kind of different that would cause them to stand out in a crowd.  Not because of a different appearance, but they would stand out in a crowd because they appeared to be different.

We, today, are called to be a light in a dark world.  We are called to be the love in an unloving world.

“I cannot help but to become broken-hearted when I realize: one can truly standout from the rest simply by doing this one thing – loving your neighbor as you love yourself.”

Known as:

• Simon bar Jona (Simon, son of Jona)
• Cephas (meaning “Rock” or “Stone”)
• Simon
• Simon Peter

Life Details

• Born in Bethsaida (John 1:42-44)
• Andrew was his brother (Matthew 4:18)
• Occupation was a fisherman (Matthew 4:18)
• Saved by an Angel after being imprisoned by Herod (Acts 12:3-19)
• Author of 1 Peter and 2 Peter in the New Testament of the Bible

Best Known for:

• Being called to be a fisher of men (Matthew 4:19)
• Being reprimanded by Jesus for not accepting Jesus had to die (Matthew 16:23)
• One of only three disciples who got to witness the Transformation of Jesus (Mark 9:2-8)
• Prepared the upper room for the Last Supper (Luke 22:8)
• Denied knowing Jesus 3 times – as Jesus predicted (Luke 22:31-34)
• Was with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46)
• Left everything he had to follow Jesus (Luke 5:11)

Known as:

• Andrew (Greek meaning “Manly”)
• Protokletos (First Called)

Life Details

• Son of Jona (John 1:42)
• Born in Bethsaida (John 1:44)
• Simon Peter was his brother (Matthew 4:18)
• Occupation was a fisherman (Matthew 4:18)
• Listed as one of the 12 Disciples of Christ (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-6)

Best Known for:

• Being the first to follow Jesus (John 1:35-40)
• Being called to be a fisher of men (Matthew 4:19)
• Telling Jesus about the boy with the 5 loaves and 2 fish (John 6:8-9)
• Was there when Jesus appeared after the Resurrection (John 20:19-25)
• Was there for the Great Commission given by Jesus (Matthew 28:16-20)
• Witnessed Jesus ascending up into heaven (Acts 1:8-9)

Known as:

• Son of Zebedee
• Boanerges (Son of Thunder)
• James the Elder
• James the Great

Life Details

• Son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21)
• Son of Salome (Matthew 27:56 and Mark 16:1)
• Occupation was a fisherman (Matthew 4:18-22)
• Brother of John (Matthew 4:21)
• The only one of the 12 Disciples of Jesus who died for his faith in the Bible (Acts 12:2)

Best Known for:

• Being called to be a fisher of men (Matthew 4:19)
• Left everything to follow Jesus (Luke 5:11)
• Jesus called he and his brother, John, “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17)
• Was rebuked for asking God to rain fire down on a Samaritan village (Luke 9:54-55)
• One of only 3 disciples who Witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9:2-8)
• With Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46)
• Witnessed the catch of fish on the Sea of Galilee after the Resurrection (John 21:2-7)

Known as:

• Son of Zebedee
• Boanerges (Son of Thunder)
• The Evangelist
• The Revealer
• The Beloved Disciple (The disciple whom Jesus loved)

Life Details

• Son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21)
• Son of Salome (Matthew 27:56 and Mark 16:1)
• Occupation was a fisherman (Matthew 4:18-22)
• Brother of James (Matthew 4:21)
• One of the pillars of the Jerusalem Church (Galatians 2:9)
• Exiled to the Island of Patmos (Revelation 1:1,9)
• Author of the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John and Revelation in the Bible

Best Known for:

• One of only 3 disciples who Witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9:2-8)
• Prepared the upper room for the Last Supper (Luke 22:8)
• Reclined next to Jesus during the Last Supper (John 13:23)
• Was told by Jesus during the Crucifixion to take care of Mary, the mother of Jesus (John 19:26-27)
• Ran ahead of Peter to see the empty tomb of Jesus (John 20:2-8)
• Witnessed the catch of fish on the Sea of Galilee after the Resurrection (John 21:2-7)

Known as:

• Levi
• Levi the son of Alphaeus

Life Details

• Son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14)
• From Capernaum (Mark 2:1-17)
• Occupation was a tax collector (Matthew 9:9)
• Possibly the brother of James son of Alphaeus (Mark 3:18)
• Wrote the Gospel of Matthew

Best Known for:

• Left his job as a tax collector to follow Jesus (Matthew 9:9)
• Invited Jesus to a meal with he and his corrupt friends (Matthew 9:10)
• Was present at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:20)

Known as:

• James the son of Alphaeus
• James the Younger
• James the Less

Life Details

• Son of Alphaeus (Mark 3:18)
• Chosen as one of the 12 Disciples of Jesus (Matthew 10:2-4 and Luke 6:14-16)
• Possibly the brother of Matthew son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14)

Best Known for:

• Was present at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:20)
• Was there when Jesus appeared after the Resurrection (John 20:19-25)

Known as:

• Philip (Greek meaning “He who loves horses”)

Life Details

• Born in Bethsaida (John 1:44)
• Well versed in Scripture (John 1:45-46)
• Listed as one of the 12 Disciples of Jesus (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16)

Best Known for:

• Being the 3rd disciple Jesus called to follow him (John 1;43)
• Bringing Nathanael to meet Jesus (John 1:45-46)
• Was tested by Jesus about feeding the multitude (John 6:5-7)
• Asked Jesus to show him the Father (John 14:8-9)
• Was at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:20)

Known as:

• Bartholomew (Greek meaning “Son of Tolmai”)
• Nathanael (Hebrew meaning “God has given”)

Life Details

• Born or just raised in Cana of Galilee (John 21:2)
• Well versed in Hebrew Scriptures (John 1:46)
• Listed as one of the 12 Disciples of Jesus (Matthew 10:2-4 and Acts 1:13)

Best Known for:

• Jesus told him he was an honest Israelite (John 1:47-48)
• Nathanael proclaimed Jesus to be the Son of God and King of Israel (John 1:49)
• Witnessed the catch of fish and ate breakfast with Jesus after His Resurrection (John 21:2-7)

Known as:

• Didymus (Twin)
• Judas Thomas
• Doubting Thomas

Life Details

• Thomas was a twin (John 20:224)
• Listed as one of the 12 Disciples of Christ (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-6)

Best Known for:

• Encouraging the disciples to go to Bethany (John 11:16)
• Asking Jesus how he could know where Jesus was going (John 14:5)
• Doubted the Resurrection of Jesus (John 20:25)
• Affirmed Jesus was Lord and God (John 20:28)
• Ate breakfast with Jesus after his Resurrection (John 21:2-7)

Known as:

• Thaddaeus (Aramaic meaning “Beloved” or “Dear to the Heart”)
• Jude
• Judas the son of James (Judas comes from the Hebrew “Judah,” meaning “Praise”)
• Lebbaeus (Aramaic meaning “Beloved” or “Dear to the Heart”)

Life Details

• Son of James (Luke 6:16)
• Listed as one of the 12 Disciples of Christ (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-6)

Best Known for:

• Chosen as one of the 12 Disciples of Christ (Matthew 10:2-4 and Acts 1:13)
• Asked Jesus how He would reveal Himself to His followers and not to the world (John 14:22)
• Was at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:20)

Known as:

• Simon the Zealot (Simon comes from the Hebrew name Shimon, meaning “Hearing”)
• Simon the Cananean (Cananean comes from the Aramaic, meaning “Zealous One”)

Life Details

• Was a Zealot (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13)
• Listed as one of the 12 Disciples of Christ (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-6)

Best Known for:

• Chosen as one of the 12 Disciples of Christ (Matthew 10:2-4 and Acts 1:13)
• Was at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:20)
• Was at the Great Commission and witnessed the ascension of Jesus up into heaven (Matthew 28:16)

Known as:

• Judas Iscariot
• Judas the Betrayer
• Judas the son of Simon

Life Details

• Judas was the treasurer for the disciples, and a thief (John 12:5-6 and John 13:29)
• Judas betrayed Jesus. He would later hang himself (Matthew 27:3-10)
• Purchased the Field of Blood (Acts 1:18-20)
• Judas was replaced by Mathias, who was then added to the 11 apostles

Best Known for:

• Chosen as one of the 12 Disciples of Christ (Matthew 10:2-4 and Acts 1:13)
• Jesus referred to Judas as the devil (John 6:70-71)
• Criticized Mary for anointing Jesus with expensive perfume (John 12:4-8)
• Spoke with Jesus during the Last Supper (Matthew 26:23-25 and John 13:27-28)
• The devil entered his heart at the Last Supper (John 13:2)
• Betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16 and Matthew 26:47-51)