The TwelveThe Twelve

An Examination of the ApostlesAn Examination of the Apostles

DEFINITIONSDEFINITIONS

• Disciple---one who follows Christ

• Apostle---someone sent by Christ on a mission

• Discipleship---The way we live our lives according to the teachings of Jesus

• Evangelization---to teach and spread the Gospel

PETERPETER

• Simon, Cephas

• Name means ‘rock’

• Fisherman in Capernaum

• Closest to Jesus

• Leader of the Church after Ascension

• Keys

PETERPETER

• Crucified in Rome

• Near current St. Peter’s Basilica

ANDREWANDREW

• Brother of Peter

• Follower of John the Baptist

• Crucified on X-Shaped Cross

JAMES THE GREATERJAMES THE GREATER

• Business partner of Peter

• Son of Zebedee and Salome

• One of the main three (with Peter and John)

• First apostle to die (beheaded in Temple)

• Pilgrims carried staff and bell to his shrine at Santiago

JOHNJOHN

• Brother of James the Greater• Follower of John the Baptist• Only one to die a natural death• May have been much younger than the rest• Lived in Ephesus with Mary, the Mother of Jesus• May have written the Gospel of John• Symbol is eagle

JAMES THE LESSJAMES THE LESS

• Son of Clopas (Alphaeus) and Mary

• Cousin of Jesus

• First Bishop of Jerusalem

• Beaten to death with clubs, or cudgels

• Feast Day May 3

JUDEJUDE

• Also known as Thaddeus

• Brother of James the Less

• Executed with an Axe

• Feast day is Oct. 28

PHILIPPHILIP

• First apostle called after Peter, Andrew, James the Greater, and John

• Encounters Jesus while walking near Bethsaida

• Jesus says to “Follow Me”

• Hung from a pillar at a temple

• Feast Day May 3

BARTHOLOMEWBARTHOLOMEW

• Also known as Nathaniel

• Introduced to Jesus by Philip

• Jesus says in him there is no guile

• Skinned alive and crucified

• Knife confused for cheese knife

• Patron saint of cheese makers

SIMONSIMON

• Identified as a Zealot

• Feast Day Oct. 28

• Sawed in half

MATTHEWMATTHEW

• Also known as Levi

• Tax collector

• Traditionally thought to be author of the Gospel

• Symbol is human face

THOMASTHOMAS

• Often called the ‘Doubter’

• More of a skeptic

• Probably a carpenter with tools

• Preached on Malabar Coast of India

JUDAS ISCARIOTJUDAS ISCARIOT

• May have been a Zealot

• Handled the money for the apostles

• Betrayed Jesus by handing him over to the Jewish leaders

MATTHIASMATTHIAS

• Selected to replace Judas Iscariot

• Was disciple from the beginning

• Witnessed the resurrection

• Selected over Joseph Barsabbas Justus

• Crucified and stabbed with a lance