The Holy Apostles
From 12 Disciples to the Holy Apostles
Christ has no Body
The Holy Apostles Must Become His Body
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which He looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are His body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
~Saint Teresa of Ávila~
In this beautiful poem, Saint Teresa of Avila tells us that Christ no longer has a physical body here, on earth and we are to act as He taught and lived. In a sense, she is telling us that we are His disciples.
In the Gospel of Mark, verse 15, Jesus told His apostles,
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
After betraying Jesus, Judas was so overcome with remorse that he hung himself, so at this moment, there were eleven apostles. These eleven men were asked to perform a difficult mission. They would separate and go to different parts of the world preaching what we now know as Christianity.
Of the eleven, all but Saint John would be martyred for their devotion and obedience to Jesus. Be it not for the holy apostles, we would have no Scripture. We would not know Our Lord.
Be it not for these Holy Apostles, we would neither understand nor accept our salvation. Jesus chose each of these men to follow Him.
They were from different backgrounds, had different personalities, and occupations. Jesus knew each man before He chose him and He chose each man for a reason.
the Holy ApostlesThe 12 disciples started out as average, unexceptional men of their time: fishermen, farmers, local magistrates. But their dedication to a prophetic Jewish preacher in the backwaters of the Roman Empire transformed them into revolutionaries and, in the process, changed the world itself in ways that would reverberate across time for two thousand years. Now, discover the extraordinary, untold stories of the men chosen by Jesus to bring God’s plan to the world.
Among them were Peter, who denied Christ three times but later became a “Rock,” James and John, the fiery-tempered “sons of thunder,” Matthew, the tax collector later murdered by cannibals, Simon the Zealot, the anti-Roman fanatic eventually “cut to pieces” preaching in Spain, and Judas Iscariot, whose betrayal would be paid for with silver and suicide.
From their early fear and discouragement at the shock of the Crucifixion to the final acceptance of the resurrection and their epic mission to spread the Gospel through the known world, it’s an inspiring, astonishing story of the little-known men who became the Twelve Apostles.
References both Scripturally and to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, parents, catechists, and religious educators alike will find this book to be an invaluable resource tool for teaching the Catholic Faith to children and teens.
Covering sixteen challenging topics that range from Confession to the Reality of Hell, best-selling author Maria Compton-Hernandez (Catholic Mothers Resource Guide) provides simple analogies and helpful advice that will assist adults both young and old in gaining a fundamentally sound background in Apologetics and Church Teaching.
The Truths the Church holds must be passed on to children, teens, and even non-Catholics who may come along with questions.
This book will provide the tools needed to sharpen your understanding of the Catholic Faith. Family catechesis precedes, transcends, accompanies and enriches all other forms of catechesis.-Pope John Paul II Catechesi Tradendae, #68
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Stories of the 12 Disciples
The twelve were not Jesus’s only disciples. In ancient Israel, a disciple was one who chose to follow a teacher and emulate both his lifestyle and teachings. Any good rabbi in Jesus’s world had disciples, and Jesus had quite a few.
Some were more devoted than others, of course. At times, he was followed by hundreds and even thousands of people, but only a few really walked closely with him, and only a few consistently emerge in the gospel story as faithful and committed to him.
These few include twelve men and a handful of women, the latter of whom, against every convention of the day, traveled with Jesus and the other disciples and sat at his feet to learn from him.
So Jesus had many disciples, many followers, many who believed in him — or at least were exploring the belief in him. But out of the many, he called twelve to serve as a special extension of his own ministry.
He called twelve to be apostles. Jesus called the Twelve his friends, and he trusted them. The Pharisees thought that the apostles were uneducated and ordinary. But Jesus gave them training for their work. They would be with Jesus at the most important times in his life, such as before his death and after his resurrection.
Like Jesus, most of the Twelve were from Galilee. Some of the apostles were married. The apostles were imperfect men who made mistakes. Sometimes they spoke before thinking and made bad decisions. At times they were impatient. They even argued over who was more important. But they were good people who loved Jehovah. They would be the foundation of the Christian congregation after Jesus was gone.
“I have called you friends because I have made known to you all the things I have heard from my Father.”—John 15:15
These men became the pioneering leaders of the New Testament church, but they were not without faults and shortcomings. Interestingly, not one of the chosen twelve disciples was a scholar or rabbi. Jesus taught His apostles about the kingdom of heaven, and in return, He learned much from them about the kingdom of men.
These twelve men represented many different types of human temperament. In a religious sense, they were laymen, unlearned in the lore of the rabbis and untrained in the methods of rabbinical interpretation of the Scriptures. God chose them for a purpose—to fan the flames of the gospel that would spread across the face of the earth and continue to burn bright throughout the centuries to follow. He selected and used each of these regular guys to carry out his exceptional plan.
Their love and loyalty to Jesus made them uncommon heroes. After an intensive discipleship course and following his resurrection from the dead, the Lord fully commissioned the apostles (Matthew 28:16-2, Mark 16:15) to advance God’s kingdom and carry the gospel message to the world. Take a few moments now to learn a lesson or two from the twelve apostles—men who helped ignite the light of the truth that still dwells within our hearts today and calls us to come and follow Jesus Christ. Below is a brief summary of each apostle.
Saint AndrewSaint Andrew
Andrew (brother of Simon Peter) and the son of Jonas. He lived in Bethsaida and Capernaum and was a fisherman. Andrew was initially a follower of John the Baptist. He brought his brother, Saint Peter, to Our Lord. He was the first chosen apostle, was active in bringing people to Jesus, and was the director-general of the twelve.
Andrew was chairman of the apostolic corps of the kingdom and he was 33, a full year older than Jesus and the oldest of the apostles. Saint Andrew was the best judge of men, a good organizer but a better administrator. Saint Andrew died on the cross
Saint BartholomewSaint Bartholomew
He lived in Bethsaida and Bartholomew Nathanael was the son of Talmai and lived in Cana of Galilee. Many believe that he was the only one of the twelve men who descended from royalty. Bartholomew watched over the needs of the families of the twelve.
He received regular reports as to the requirements of each apostle’s family, and making requisition on Judas, the treasurer, would send funds each week to those in need.
He was the sixth and last of the apostles to be chosen by the Master himself and was brought to Jesus by his friend Philip. Bartholomew was 25 years old and was the next to the youngest of the group, he was the youngest of a family of seven, unmarried, and the only support of aged and infirm parents. Saint Bartholomew was an apostolic philosopher and dreamer, but he was a very practical sort of dreamer. Bartholomew also refers or known as (Nathaniel) was one of the best-educated men among the twelve.
Saint James the GreaterSaint James the Greater
James the Elder was the son of Zebedee and Salome and the brother of John the Apostle. He also was a fisherman who lived in Bethsaida, Capernaum, and Jerusalem.
Peter, James son of Zebedee (older brother of John), and John were appointed personal companions of Jesus. They were to attend him day and night, to minister to his physical and sundry needs, and to accompany him on those night vigils of prayer and mysterious communion with the Father in heaven. James son of Zebedee was 30 years old when he became an apostle, he was married and had four children.
James had a fiery temper, was a well-balanced thinker, and was a very tactical planner. He was next to Peter unless it was Matthew, James was the best public orator among the twelve, thus the first of the twelve to sacrifice his life upon the new battle line of the kingdom. James was also known as James “the Greater”
Saint James the LessSaint James the Lesser
James, the Lesser, or Younger was the son of Cleophas and Mary. He lived in Galilee. Although James is believed to have been the brother of the Apostle Jude, some scholars believe that he was the brother of the Apostle Matthew.
Saint James “the Less” and Judas were assigned to the management of the multitudes. It was their task to deputize a sufficient number of assistant ushers to enable them to maintain order among the crowds during the preaching.
Saint James the Less was a fisherman, he was 26 years old, married, and had three children, was thought to be the cousin of Jesus and did help Philip with the supplies and also carried money to the families for Nathaniel.
Saint JohnSaint John
He was 24 years old when he became an apostle and was the youngest of the twelve, unmarried, and lived with his parents.
He was perhaps just a bit spoiled and was a man of few words except when his temper was aroused. He was gifted with remarkable and creative imagination. John Zebedee died a natural death at Ephesus in A.D. 103 when he was 101 years of age
Saint JudeSaint Jude
Jude Thaddeus lived in Galilee. He was the son of Alpheus or Cleophas and Mary and the brother of James the Lesser.
Judas was a fisherman, was married, and had at least one child. Jude helped Philip with the supplies and did also carry money to the families for Nathaniel. Judas was also known as Jude, Lebbaeus, and Thaddaeus
Judas kisses JesusJudas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot was the traitor; the man who betrayed Jesus. He was the son of Simon who lived in Kerioth of Judah. Of the group of twelve men, Judas was the only Judean. All the others came from Galilee.
Judas Iscariot was appointed treasurer. He carried the bag. He paid all expenses and kept the books. He made budget estimates for Matthew from week to week and also made weekly reports to Andrew. Judas paid out funds on Andrew’s authorization. Judas was an only son of wealthy and unwise Jewish parents living in Jericho.
Judas was 30 years of age and unmarried when he joined the apostles. At a young age, he was pampered and petted; he was a spoiled child. Judas Iscariot was looking for employment in these regions when Jesus’ apostles found him and he was the only Judean among the twelve apostles. Judas was a good businessman, a great executive, a farseeing and able financier, and a stickler for organization. Judas Iscariot was one of the best-educated men among the twelve
Saint MatthewSaint Matthew or Saint Levi
Matthew was the son of Alpheus and lived in Capernaum. He was a tax collector. It is believed that one of the reasons Jesus chose Matthew is because he had studied Scripture and had a great understanding of its meaning.
Matthew (Levi) was the fiscal agent of the apostolic corps. It was his duty to see that the budget was balanced, and the treasury replenished. If the funds for mutual support were not forthcoming, if donations sufficient to maintain the party were not received, Matthew was empowered to order the twelve back to their nets for a season. But this was never necessary after they began their public work; he always had sufficient funds in the treasurer’s hands to finance their activities. Levi was the seventh apostle and was chosen by Andrew.
Matthew was 31 years old, married, and had four children. He was a good businessman and a good social mixer gifted with the ability to make friends and to get along smoothly with a great variety of people. Matthew gave practically the whole of his modest fortune to the work of the Master and his apostles, but they never knew of this generosity. The apostles all died without knowing that Matthew was their benefactor.
Saint MatthiasSaint Matthias
Apostle Matthias was a disciple of Jesus Christ but was not part of the original 12. He is the only disciple who wasn’t summoned or called into the ministry by Jesus. Instead, he was chosen by the other disciples to replace Judas Iscariot, who committed suicide by hanging himself after betraying Jesus.
Apostle Matthias is only referenced by name in Acts 1:23 and Acts 1:26, but after that, anytime the Twelve Apostles are named collectively, he is included. The New Testament tells us nothing about him other than these two mentions in Acts.
We do know that he matched Peter’s criteria for replacing Judas: he had accompanied Jesus since his baptism by John the Baptist, and he had witnessed Jesus’ ascension to heaven (Acts 1:21; Acts 1:22)
As with other more obscure disciples, the early church was frequently perplexed regarding Matthias’ identity, making it difficult for us to discover much more about him. Some said he was the same person as Nathanael or Zaccheus, and some even claimed he was the same person as Matthew. There are also apocryphal texts that purport to offer us an account of Matthias’ work, and numerous stories have developed around his missionary trips and death.
Saint PhilipSaint Philip
Philip came from Bethsaida, the same town as Saint Peter and Saint Andrew. It is believed that he was a fisherman.
Philip was made steward of the group. It was his duty to provide food and to see that visitors and even the multitude of listeners at times, had something to eat.
Apostle Philip was the fifth apostle to be chosen and was 27 years of age when he joined the apostles.
Philip had recently been married, but he had no children at this time. He came from a family of seven, three boys and four girls. Though Philip was not necessarily dull, he lacked imagination and was not a man who could be expected to do big things, but he was a man who could do little things in a big way and do them well and acceptably. Apostle Philip was not a good public speaker, but he was a very persuasive and successful personal worker
Saint PeterSaint Peter
Simon Peter was the son of Jonas and a fisherman who lived in Bethsaida and Capernaum. Simon Peter (brother of Andrew), James, and John were appointed personal companions of Jesus. The Master had known Simon for some time before Andrew presented him as the second of the apostles.
Simon Peter was 30 years of age when he joined the apostles, was married, and had three children. Simon was well known to all his friends as an erratic and impulsive fellow.
He was constantly getting into difficulties because he persisted in speaking without thinking, and asked many questions, more than all the apostles put together; the majority of these questions were good and relevant, but many were thoughtless and foolish.
Simon Peter was the outstanding preacher of the twelve; he did more than any other man, aside from Paul, to establish the kingdom and send its messengers to the four corners of the earth in one generation
Saint SimonSaint Simon the Zealot
Very little is known about Simon the Zealot other than he was called the Zealot and lived in Galilee. Simon Zealotes (the Zealot) was given charge of recreation and play. He managed the Wednesday programs and also sought to provide a few hours of relaxation and diversion each day.
He was the eleventh apostle and was chosen by Simon-Peter. He was 28 years old when he became attached to the apostles. Simon the zealot was a fiery agitator; and also a man who spoke much without thinking. He was a very efficient organizer, and a great debater and he did like to argue
Saint ThomasSaint Thomas
Thomas Didymus lived in Galilee. The synoptic Gospels tell us nothing of Thomas but John gives us more insight into his personality. Thomas (Didymus) was the manager of the itinerary. It devolved upon him to arrange lodgings and in a general way select places for teaching and preaching, thereby insuring a smooth and expeditious travel schedule.
He was the eighth disciple and was chosen by Philip. He was 29 years old when he joined the apostles and was married with four children. Thomas was formerly a carpenter and stonemason, but latterly he had become a fisherman and had little education, he possessed a keen, reasoning mind and was the son of excellent parents.
Thomas grew up having a very disagreeable and quarrelsome disposition. His wife was glad to see him join the apostles; she was relieved by the thought that her pessimistic husband would be away from home most of the time. Thomas was a good executive, and an excellent businessman, but he was handicapped by his many moods. If Jesus and his work had not been genuine, it could not have held a man like Thomas from the start to the finish. He had a keen and sure sense of the fact.
Jesus Called
As Jesus went around teaching and healing, he called people to start following him. Once as he was walking by the lake called the Sea of Galilee, He saw two fishermen. Simon and his brother Andrew were throwing a net into the lake to catch fish. Jesus said to them,
“Come and follow me. I will make you fishermen who will catch people.”
So Simon and Andrew left their nets and followed Jesus. Jesus gave Simon another name-“Rock.” In the Aramaic language, this name is called “Cephas” and in the Greek language it is called “Peter.”
As Jesus continued walking by the lake, he saw two more brothers. James and John were sons of a man called Zebedee. They were in their boat, preparing their nets to catch fish. Jesus told the brothers to come with him. So they left the boat and their father, and they followed Jesus.
Jesus' CallingOn another day, Jesus was walking beside the lake. He saw the tax office there and a tax collector named Mathew Levi sitting there. Jesus said to him,
“follow me.”
Then Matthew stood up and followed Jesus.
Many people followed Jesus. They were called disciples, that is, people who learn from a teacher. Out of his disciples, Jesus chose twelve men and called them apostles. The word apostle means someone who is sent out. After he trained them, he gave them the power to heal people.
Then he sent them out to preach and heal. These are the names of the twelve apostles: Simon Peter, James and John (the sons of Zebedee), Andrew, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the zealot, and Judas Iscariot. Judas Iscariot was the one who later turned Jesus over to his enemies.
Those Who Became His Body: the Holy Apostles
Now you have a brief introduction to the twelve men, who for three years, followed Our Lord and who, after Jesus’ Ascension, walked on the paths He set for them.
These were brief introductions but we will be offering articles on each Apostle, including profiles of their lives, from their meeting Jesus to the beginning of their ministry, their travels, and concluding with their deaths next to Holy Apostle stories.
You will find articles about each Apostle and their influence on people in the places where they taught. You will also be offered prayers for their intercession and information on their patronage.
Please stay with us as we continue to bring the Holy Apostles to your home.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Holy Apostles
What are the Holy Apostles?
The Holy Apostles are a group of twelve men who, according to Christian tradition, were chosen by Jesus Christ as his closest followers and designated as the primary leaders of the early Christian Church. They are often referred to as the “Twelve” and are listed in the New Testament as Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed Jesus). They are considered to be the foundation stones of the Christian Church and their teachings and writings form a major part of the New Testament.
Why did Jesus have 12 apostles?
The number twelve is significant in the Bible and is often associated with God’s authority and rule. The twelve tribes of Israel were the foundation of God’s chosen people, and the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem in the book of Revelation symbolize the entrance into the eternal kingdom of God. In this context, Jesus’ chosen twelve apostles is seen as a symbol of him establishing a new spiritual nation, with the apostles as the foundation.
In addition to the symbolic significance, Jesus also chose twelve apostles because it was a large enough group to spread his message and teachings throughout the region. As Jesus traveled and preached, the apostles helped him by preaching and spreading his message, and eventually by leading the early Christian church after Jesus’ death.
Also, the twelve apostles represent the twelve tribes of Israel, and Jesus was calling them to be the foundation of a new spiritual Israel, the Church, which would bring salvation to all people, not only to the Jews.
How did the Holy Spirit inspire the apostles?
The Holy Spirit is often associated with inspiration, guidance, and empowerment. According to the Bible, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles on the day of Pentecost, as described in the book of Acts. The apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues, which allowed them to spread the message of Jesus to people of many different languages.
The Holy Spirit is also believed to have inspired the apostles to write the books of the New Testament, which contains the teachings and message of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is also said to have given them the power to perform miracles and healings, which helped to confirm the truth of their message and attract people to the early Christian church.
Furthermore, the Holy Spirit is seen as the helper, guide, and counselor, and it is believed that the apostles were guided by the Holy Spirit in all of their actions, including the choice of new leaders, the resolution of disputes, and the establishment of the early Christian communities.
Overall, the Holy Spirit is believed to have played a crucial role in the apostles’ ministry, empowering them to spread the message of Jesus, write the New Testament, and establish the early Christian church.
Why did Jesus need apostles?
Jesus needed apostles for several reasons.
First, Jesus needed followers and disciples to learn from him and to carry on his teachings after he was gone. The apostles were among Jesus’ closest followers and were with him during his ministry, learning from him and observing his teachings and miracles. They were also with him during his trial, crucifixion, and resurrection, which gave them first-hand knowledge of the events and teachings that would become the foundation of Christianity.
Second, Jesus needed the apostles to help him spread his message and teachings to a wider audience. Jesus traveled throughout the region during his ministry, but he could not reach everyone on his own. The apostles helped him by preaching and spreading his message to people in different towns and villages. They also helped him by performing miracles and healing, which helped to attract people to Jesus’ message and teachings.
Third, Jesus needed the apostles to lead the early Christian church after his death. Jesus knew that he would not be able to stay with his followers forever and that they would need leaders to guide them in his absence. The apostles were chosen by Jesus to take on this role and lead the early Christian church.
Lastly, Jesus chose the apostles to be the foundation of the new spiritual Israel, the Church, which would bring salvation to all people, not only to the Jews. The twelve apostles represented the twelve tribes of Israel, and Jesus was calling them to be the foundation of a new spiritual Israel, the Church, which would bring salvation to all people, not only to the Jews.
In summary, Jesus needed the apostles to be his closest followers, to spread his message and teachings, to lead the early Christian church, and to be the foundation of the new spiritual Israel.