Who are the Twelve Disciples?

Their Backgrounds
The twelve disciples were from the Galilee region except
for Judas Iscariot, who was from Judea.
Their occupations ranged from fisherman to tax collectors
and revolutionaries.
Some were married. (see Mark 1:29-31; 1 Corinthians 9:3-6)
Some were well-versed in Scripture. (see John 1:46)

ersonality
Character

ncounters
with
Jesus

ey Lesson

Stories

General
Information

Their Mission

Impulsive (Matthew 14:28), yet cowardly. (Matthew 14:30; 26:69-74)

are (John
the twelve
who, for the(Matthew
most part,
would
HotThese
tempered
18:10),men
yet tenderhearted.
26:75)
prove to
be valuable
to Jesus.
Insightful
(Matthew
16:16),companions
yet dense. (Matthew
16:21-23)
Courageous
and solid after
(Acts 5:27-30)
Their instruction
andPentecost.
conversations
would become the

Personality
& Character

teachings,
and(Matthew
instruction
churchtothat
Was
called to beknowledge,
a fisher of men.
4:19)for
Leftthe
everything
follow Jesus. (Luke 5:11)
would
andin spread.
One
of thelater
three grow
disciples
the core group of disciples. (Mark 5:37; 9:2; 13:3; 14:33)
Simon
Jesustheir
is thepersonalities,
Christ, Son of theboth
livingstrong
God. Jesus
Jesussaid
knew
andnames
weak.him Peter (rock) and said, Upon
this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:16-19)

Jesus
knew
that
these
men
would
disappoint
him,
desert
Was reprimanded because he refused to accept that Jesus had to die. (Matthew 16:23)
him,
deny
him,
and
betray
him.
Witnessed Jesus Transfiguration (where Jesus divinity was revealed). (Mark 9:2-8)
Jesus
thatthe
these
men,
filled
the Holy22:8)
Spirit,
Was
sent knew
to prepare
upper
roomonce
for the
Last with
Supper.(Luke
Jesus
predicted
thatfirst
Peterwitnesses
would deny
him three
times. Gods
(Luke 22:31-34)
would
be the
ofknowing
the Gospel,
carrying
Was
with Jesus
the Garden oftoGethsemane.
(Matthew
26:36-46)
message
ofinredemption
Judea, Samaria,
and
the ends of

Jesus
theinstructed
earth. Peter after his resurrection. (John 21:15-19)

Encounters
with
Jesus

The twelve tribes of Israel were blessed in order to be a

God can
forgivetosins
strengthen
faith ofway,
thosethese
who love
him. men,
blessing
alland
nations.
In athesimilar
twelve

along with all disciples of Jesus who follow their lead,

Simeon
bar Jona (Simon, son of Jona)
Son
of Zebedee
Cephas (Son
(rock
or a stone)
Boanerges
of Thunder)
Simon
James
thePeter
Elder
Simon
James
the Great

Son
of Zeb
Son
of Zebede
Boanerges
Boanerges
(S
James
the
The
Beloved
James
the
The
Evangeli
The Revealer

Son
of Jona and
born in4:21)
Bethsaida.(John 1:42-44)
Son
of Zebedee.
(Matthew
Lived
in Capernaum.
8:5-14)
Son
of Salome.
(Matthew(Matthew
27:56; Mark
16:1)
Fisherman.
Fisherman
with (Matthew
his father 4:18)
and his brother. (Matthew 4:18-22)

Brother
of
Andrew.
(Matthew
4:18)
Brother of John. (Matthew 4:21)
Partner
James
and5:10)
John.(Luke 5:10)
Partner
withwith
Peter.
(Luke
Married.
(Matthew
One
of the pillars
of the8:14)
Jerusalem church. (Galatians 2:9)
One
of the
of thebyJerusalem
church.
(Galatians
2:9)
Put
to death
bypillars
the sword
Herod Agrippa
I. The
only one
of the twelve disciples whose death for
faith
Boldlywas
preached,
and ministered
to Jews and Gentiles after Pentecost. (Acts 212)
his
recordedhealed,
in Scripture.
(Acts 12:2)
Imprisoned by Herod for preaching and rescued by an angel of the Lord. (Acts 12:3-19)
Wrote 1 and 2 Peter.

Son
of Zeb
Son
of Zebede
Son
of Salo
Son
of Salome
Fisherman
Fisherman
wi
Brother
of
Brother
of Jam
Partner
Partner
withwiP
One
of the
One
of the
pil
Put toand
deat
Healed
p
his faith
Exiled
to thewa
Wrote the Gos

Impulsive
(Matthew
Vengeful
and fiery.
(Luke14:28),
9:54) yet cowardly. (Matthew 14:30; 26:69-74)
Hotand
tempered
(John
18:10),
yet tenderhearted. (Matthew 26:75)
Selfish
conceited.
(Mark
10:35-37)
Insightful
yet dense.
16:21-23)
Committed
to (Matthew
Christ and16:16),
courageous
to the(Matthew
end. (Acts12:2)
Courageous and solid after Pentecost. (Acts 5:27-30)

Vengeful
Vengeful
andan
Selfish and(
Judgmental.
Committed
Selfish.
(Mark
Bold, loving a

Was
called
a fisher
of men.
(Matthew
4:19)
everything
to follow
Jesus.
(Luke
5:11)
Was
called
to betoabefisher
of men.
(Matthew
4:19)
Left Left
everything
to follow
Jesus.
(Luke
5:11)
One
of three
the three
disciples
in core
the core
group
of disciples.
(Mark
14:33)
One
of the
disciples
in the
group
of disciples.
(Mark
5:37;5:37;
9:2;9:2;
13:3;13:3;
14:33)
Simon
said
Jesus
the Christ,
Son
of the living
God.3:17)
Jesus names him Peter (rock) and said, Upon
Jesus
named
him
andisJohn
Sons of
Thunder.
(Mark
rock with
I willhisbuild
my church,
the gates
against
it. (Matthew
Wasthis
rebuked
brother
John for and
requesting
GodoftoHell
rainwill
firenot
on prevail
a Samaritan
village.
(Luke 9:54,16:16-19)
55)
Was reprimanded because he refused to accept that Jesus had to die. (Matthew 16:23)
Witnessed Jesus Transfiguration (where Jesus divinity was revealed).(Mark 9:2-8)
Witnessed Jesus Transfiguration (where Jesus divinity was revealed). (Mark 9:2-8)
Jesus
responded
to Jamess
Johns
sit at
his right and22:8)
left in the Kingdom.
Was
sent to prepare
the and
upper
roomrequest
for thetoLast
Supper.(Luke
(Mark 10:35-43)
Jesus predicted that Peter would deny knowing him three times. (Luke 22:31-34)
Was
withwith
JesusJesus
in the
of Gethsemane.(Matthew
26:36-46)
Was
in Garden
the Garden
of Gethsemane. (Matthew
26:36-46)
Witnessed
the miraculous
catchhis
of resurrection.
fish on the Sea(John
of Galilee
after Jesus resurrection. (John 21:2-7)
Jesus instructed
Peter after
21:15-19)

Was
called
One
of the
thr
One of the
Suggested
tha
Jesus
Jesus
andname
his
Was rebuke
Witnessed
Jes
Witnessed
Was
sent to p
Jesus respo
Reclined
next
Was(Mark
given 10:
the
Was
withofJP
Ran
ahead
Witnessed
Witnessed
the

God
caninforgive
strengthen the faith of those who love him.
Stand
firm
the facesins
of and
persecution.

Gods
love,
evide
Stand
firm
in

Papias
recorded that Mark served as Peters scribe and wrote the Gospel of
Some
claim(second-century
he was the first Christian)
bishop in Spain.
Mark
basedsometimes
on Peters testimony.
Symbols
of James
include the bishops hat and the sword, which is in reference to his
According to some stories, Peter asked to be crucified upside down.
martyrdom.
Peter may have been crucified during the reign of Nero in Rome.
Symbols for Peter are sometimes keys, representing the keys to the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 16:19)

Some
stories
Some
claimsug
h
Ephesus
Symbols (Tur
of Ja
Storiesmartyrdom
suggest t
Symbols of John

Key Lesson

Papias
(second-century
that Mark3:8)
served
as Petersof
scribe and wrote the Gospel of
were
to bless allChristian)
nations. recorded
(see Galatians
Followers
Mark based on Peters testimony.
Christ
are
commanded
to
go
out
and
make
disciples
of
all
According to some stories, Peter asked to be crucified upside down.
themduring
in the
ofNero
the Father,
Peternations,
may havebaptizing
been crucified
thename
reign of
in Rome.The Son,
and
the
Holy
Spirit.
Symbols for Peter are sometimes keys, representing the keys to the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew
16:19)

people started following him.

After
a night
of prayer
and meditation,
Jesus chose twelve
Son
of Jona
and born
in Bethsaida.(John
1:42-44)
Lived
Capernaum.
(Matthew
menin out
of all those
who8:5-14)
were following him.
Fisherman. (Matthew 4:18)
Theseoftwelve
would4:18)
be Jesus main focus of
Brother
Andrew.men
(Matthew
instruction.
Partner
with James and John.(Luke 5:10)
Married.
These (Matthew
disciples8:14)
were selected to let the world know of
One
of thelove,
pillarsthat
of the
church.
(Galatiansthe
2:9)world.
Gods
GodJerusalem
sent Jesus
to redeem
Boldly preached, healed, and ministered to Jews and Gentiles after Pentecost. (Acts 212)
(see
John
17:23)
Imprisoned by Herod for preaching and rescued by an angel of the Lord. (Acts 12:3-19)
Wrote 1 and 2 Peter.

General
formation

Other Names

her Names

Their
Simeon bar
Jona (Simon, son of Jona)
Purpose
Cephas (rock or a stone)
AfterPeter
being baptized by John the Baptist and spending 40
Simon
days in the wilderness, Jesus started teaching and many
Simon

Stories

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