What is a Disciple?

Module 5.1
 Meaning of “Disciple”
A disciple (from Latin discipulus,
‘pupil,’ ‘learner,’ corresponding to
Greek mathetes, from manthano, ‘to
learn’) is basically the pupil of a
teacher. Jesus was popularly known
as a teacher or rabbi and his
associates were known as disciples.
All who responded to his message is
a disciple (see Luke 6:17; 19:37).
 Meaning of “Disciple”
This term may also be applied to a
believer, a convert to Christianity,
and to one who strives to measure up
to the demands of Jesus Christ in
terms of sacrificial devotion
(Harrison, 148). In verb form, the
term ‘disciple’ denotes the making of
converts (Acts 14:21).
 Background of
“Disciple”
This term may also be applied to
a believer, a convert to
Christianity, and to one who
strives to measure Jesus said:
“Follow me, and I will make
you fishers of men” Mark 1:17.
14:21).
 Background of
Jesus Christ selected and
“Disciple”
trained men who would
represent him in the world in
the coming days, to minister to
the world for him. He selected
and called them by name and
bound them to himself.
 Background
They were ordinary men yet
skilled and resourceful. Six of
them were fishermen on the Sea
of Galilee and others with
different occupation. All were
from Galilee except Judas, the
man of Keriot, from Judea.
 Background
Jesus spent time with his
disciples, taught them, led them,
and prayed for them, that they
may learn to reach out people in
Jerusalem, in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth.
 Background
Jesus selected and trained
them to conquer the world in
his name. “He called them his
friends rather than his servants
for he had taught them
everything he had learned
from his Father” (John 15:15).
 Background
• The disciples were
sent out for mission • They were also
as soon as they were called the 12
equipped and apostles of Christ,
empowered with the which means the
promise that God ambassadors, or
will never leave messengers of
them alone. Christ.
The Twelve Disciples

Module 5.2
 The Twelve Disciples
The number 12 suggests the
influence of Hebraic tradition and
perhaps warrants the terminology so
commonly used today of the church
– the New Israel (Harrison, 139). The
following are the original twelve
appointed by Jesus (Matthew 10:2-4;
Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:13-16).
 The Inner Circle
Peter, James, and John were chosen
to be Jesus’ inner circle because He
was making a special effort to
prepare them for the leadership roles
they would later occupy in the
fledgling church. These three
witnessed Jesus’ greatest moments of
glory and His darkest trials. They
were His closest friends.
1 The Inner Circle
Simon Peter
• Also called Peter (The
reed changed to rock",
Petros, "rock")

• Son of Jonas or John

• Home: Bethsaida and
Capernaum
 The Inner Circle
• Occupation: Fisherman
• Had done evangelistic
and missionary work
among the Jews as far as
Babylon

• Death: He was crucified,

head downward.
2 The Inner Circle
•
James
Supplanter, " The Elder"

• Also called Boanerges or

Son of Thunder

• Son of Zebedee and Salome

• Home: Bethsaida,
Capernaum and Jerusalem
 The Inner Circle
• Occupation:
Fisherman
• Preached in Jerusalem
and Judea
• Death: Stabbed with a
sword in Jerusalem.
3 The Inner Circle
•
John
God is gracious, "The
Beloved Disciple"

• Son of Thunder, brother of

James, son of Zebedee and
Salome

• Home: Bethsaida,
Capernaum and Jerusalem
 The Inner Circle
• Occupation:
Fisherman
• Labored among the
Churches in Asia
Minor, according to
tradition, especially in
Ephesus.
 The Quiet Workers
They are not usually
noticed by they
contributed a great part in
furthering the kingdom of
God in many places.
4 The Quiet Workers
•
Andrew
Manly, "The Personal
Worker"
• Brother of Peter, son of
Jonas/John
• Home: Bethsaida and
Capernaum
• Occupation: Fisherman
 The Quiet Workers
• Originally a disciple of
John the Baptist
• Preached in Scythia,
Greece and Asia Minor
• Death: Crucified on a St.
Andrew's cross
5 The Quiet Workers
Philip
Lover of Horses,
"Philippos"
Home: Bethsaida
Preached in Phrygia,
baptized the Ethiopian
eunuch
 The Quiet Workers
Occupation:
Fisherman

Died a martyr at
Hierapolis
6 The Quiet Workers
Bartholomew
• Gift of God, Nathanael
• Son of Tolmai
• Home: Cana of Galilee
• A missionary to Armenia
 The Quiet Workers
• Jerome says he wrote
a gospel.
• He was flayed to death
(skinned alive)
7 The Quiet Workers
Thomas
• Twin, "The Doubter",
Didymus
• Home: Galilee
• Labored in Parthia,
Persia and India
 The Quiet Workers
• Occupation: Probably
Fisherman
• Suffering martydom
near Madras, at Mt.
St. Thomas
8 The Quiet Workers
Matthew
• Gift of God, Levi
• Son of Alphaeus
• Home: Capernaum
• Occupation: Tax
collector
 The Quiet Workers
• Author of the Gospel
Matthew
• Died a martyr in
Ethiopia
 The Little Known
Only little information
was given to them but
they had contributed a lot
in the ministry of Jesus.
9 The Little Known
James, the less
• "Supplanter", The Less
or Younger
• Son of Alphaeus or
Cleophas and Mary
• Home: Galilee
 The Little Known
• Occupation:
Tradesman
• Preached in Palestine
and Egypt
• Was thown off wall
and clubbed to death.
10 The Little Known
Jude
• "Man of heart", Lebbaeus
or Thaddeus

• Brother of James
• Preached in Assyria and
Asia

• Home: Galilee
 The Little Known
• Occupation:
Tradesman

• Died a martyr at
Persia
11 The Little Known
Simon
• "Hearing", The
Cananaean or
Zealot

• Home: Galilee
 The Little Known
• Occupation:
political activist

• Death: tradition
says he was
crucified, others
said he was cut in
half.
12 The Traitor
Judas
• "The Traitor",
Iscariot
• Son of Simon
• Home: Kerioth of
Judea
 The Traitor
• Betrayed Jesus for
30 pieces of silver
and afterwards
hanged himself
• Note that aside from the 12
disciples, Jesus had other
circle of disciples.

• 1.The masses, those present at

itinerant preaching/teaching
events and the large public
feedings of the multitudes.
• 2.The 70 disciples and friends
who were impacted by Jesus’
teachings and healings and
were committed to following
him.
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