A guide to the disciples

Disciples

The disciples were the people Jesus picked to follow him around for three years. Mostly working-class. None of them were religious experts. All of them got things wrong before they got things right.

This page covers the twelve original disciples plus Matthias (who replaced Judas), Mary Magdalene, and Paul (who joined the movement after Jesus's death). Each entry has their background, where they succeeded, and where they failed.

• Disciple

  Simon Peter

  pronounced: SY-mun PEE-ter

  also known as: Peter, Cephas, Simon, Simon bar-Jonah

  Put simply

  A loud, impulsive fisherman who became the leader of the early movement after Jesus's death. Walked on water for a few steps, then sank.

  Personal history

  A fisherman from Bethsaida who worked the Sea of Galilee with his brother Andrew. Married. Jesus gave him a new name — Peter, meaning 'rock.' He was the most outspoken disciple and almost always the first to speak.

  Key successes

  Identified Jesus as the Messiah before anyone else got it. Walked on water briefly. Preached the first public sermon after Jesus's resurrection — three thousand people joined the movement that day. Became the recognized leader of the Jerusalem church. Wrote two letters that made it into the New Testament.

  Key failures

  Tried to talk Jesus out of going to the cross — and got called Satan for it. Fell asleep three times while Jesus prayed in agony the night before his arrest. Cut off a guard's ear when Jesus was arrested. Denied even knowing Jesus three times that same night, in public, after swearing he never would.

  How he died Tradition says he was crucified upside down in Rome around 64 AD, asking to be hung head-down because he didn't feel worthy of dying the same way as Jesus.

• Disciple

  Andrew

  pronounced: AN-droo

  Put simply

  Peter's brother. The first person to follow Jesus, and the one who recruited Peter.

  Personal history

  A fisherman from Bethsaida, brother to Simon Peter. Originally a follower of John the Baptist before John pointed him toward Jesus.

  Key successes

  First disciple. Brought his more famous brother Peter to meet Jesus. Brought the boy with five loaves and two fish to Jesus before the feeding of 5,000. Quietly introduced people to Jesus throughout the gospels — that was his pattern.

  Key failures

  The gospels record no major failures. He's mostly in the background.

  How he died Tradition says he was crucified on an X-shaped cross in Greece. The St. Andrew's cross on the Scottish flag refers to him.

• Disciple

  James, son of Zebedee

  pronounced: JAYMZ (zeb-eh-DEE)

  also known as: James the Greater, James the Elder

  Put simply

  John's older brother. One of Jesus's inner three. Was the first disciple to be executed for following Jesus.

  Personal history

  A fisherman from a successful family business on the Sea of Galilee. Worked with his father Zebedee and brother John. Jesus nicknamed the two brothers 'Sons of Thunder' — probably because of their tempers.

  Key successes

  Part of Jesus's inner circle of three (with Peter and John). Present at the transfiguration, the raising of Jairus's daughter, and Jesus's prayer in Gethsemane.

  Key failures

  Wanted to call down fire from heaven on a Samaritan village that wouldn't host Jesus. Had his mother ask Jesus to give him and his brother the top two thrones in the kingdom — to the annoyance of the other ten disciples.

  How he died Beheaded by King Herod Agrippa around 44 AD. The first of the twelve disciples to be martyred.

• Disciple

  John

  pronounced: JON

  also known as: the Beloved Disciple, Son of Zebedee, Son of Thunder

  Put simply

  James's younger brother. Jesus's closest friend among the disciples. Wrote five books of the New Testament.

  Personal history

  A fisherman, brother to James. Probably the youngest disciple. Started as a follower of John the Baptist before being called by Jesus. The gospel he wrote refers to him only as 'the disciple Jesus loved.'

  Key successes

  Part of Jesus's inner circle. The only male disciple at the cross. Jesus assigned him to take care of his mother Mary. Outran Peter to the empty tomb on resurrection morning. Wrote the Gospel of John, three letters, and the book of Revelation.

  Key failures

  Joined his brother in asking for the top thrones. Wanted to stop someone from casting out demons in Jesus's name because he wasn't part of their group. Wanted to call down fire on Samaritans.

  How he died Tradition says he was the only one of the twelve who wasn't martyred — he died of old age, around 100 AD, exiled to the island of Patmos.

• Disciple

  Philip

  pronounced: FIL-ip

  Put simply

  An analytical disciple who tended to think about logistics. Brought Nathanael to Jesus.

  Personal history

  From Bethsaida, the same town as Peter and Andrew. The fourth disciple Jesus called.

  Key successes

  Recruited Nathanael (Bartholomew) by simply telling him to 'come and see.' At the Last Supper, asked the question that prompted Jesus's famous line about being 'the way, the truth, and the life.'

  Key failures

  When Jesus asked where they could buy bread for 5,000 people, Philip immediately did the math and said it was impossible — eight months' wages wouldn't be enough. He missed the obvious option (that Jesus could just make food appear).

  How he died Tradition says he was martyred in Hierapolis (modern Turkey) — possibly crucified upside down or stoned. Different traditions disagree.

• Disciple

  Bartholomew

  pronounced: bar-THOL-uh-myoo

  also known as: Nathanael, Nathanael bar Tolomai

  Put simply

  Probably the same person as Nathanael. Famously skeptical at first — asked if anything good could come from Jesus's hometown.

  Personal history

  From Cana in Galilee. 'Bartholomew' likely means 'son of Tolomai' — a family name. His personal name was probably Nathanael.

  Key successes

  When Jesus said he'd seen Nathanael under a fig tree before Philip even called him, Nathanael immediately recognized Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus called him an Israelite 'in whom there is no deceit' — high praise.

  Key failures

  Initial reaction to hearing Jesus was from Nazareth: 'Can anything good come from there?' Quick to judge by reputation.

  How he died Tradition says he was flayed alive and crucified in Armenia. Often depicted in art holding his own skin.

• Disciple

  Thomas

  pronounced: TOM-us

  also known as: Didymus, Doubting Thomas

  Put simply

  The disciple who wouldn't believe Jesus was alive again until he could put his fingers in the wounds. The name has become shorthand for skepticism.

  Personal history

  Called Didymus, which means 'twin' in Greek. The gospels don't say who his twin was. Probably from Galilee.

  Key successes

  When Jesus decided to go to Bethany after Lazarus died — knowing it might get him killed — Thomas was the one who said, 'Let us also go, that we may die with him.' Loyal under pressure. After seeing the resurrected Jesus, he gave the strongest confession of any disciple: 'My Lord and my God.' Tradition says he took the gospel all the way to India.

  Key failures

  Refused to believe the resurrection on his fellow disciples' testimony. Demanded physical proof — to see and touch the wounds himself.

  How he died Tradition says he was speared to death near Chennai, India, around 72 AD. The St. Thomas Christians in India trace their roots to him.

• Disciple

  Matthew

  pronounced: MATH-yoo

  also known as: Levi, Levi son of Alphaeus

  Put simply

  A tax collector — meaning a Jew who worked for the Roman occupation and was hated by his own people. Wrote one of the four gospels.

  Personal history

  A tax collector at Capernaum, collecting tolls on goods passing through. Tax collectors were considered traitors who got rich by overcharging their own people and pocketing the difference. Jesus called him directly from his booth, and Matthew got up and followed immediately.

  Key successes

  Threw a huge party to introduce his disreputable friends to Jesus — which scandalized the religious establishment. Wrote the Gospel of Matthew, the first book of the New Testament. His gospel is the one that quotes the most Old Testament prophecy.

  Key failures

  His pre-Jesus life as a tax collector was the failure — exploiting his own people for personal gain.

  How he died Tradition is unclear. Various accounts say he was martyred in Ethiopia or Persia.

• Disciple

  James, son of Alphaeus

  pronounced: JAYMZ (AL-fee-us)

  also known as: James the Less, James the Younger

  Put simply

  The other James. Sometimes called 'James the Less' to distinguish him from James the brother of John. Barely mentioned in the gospels.

  Personal history

  Son of Alphaeus. Possibly related to Matthew, who was also called 'son of Alphaeus' — but it's unclear whether it's the same Alphaeus.

  Key successes

  Listed among the twelve in every gospel. Beyond that, the New Testament records nothing specific about him.

  Key failures

  No recorded failures — but also no recorded successes. He's the most obscure of the twelve.

  How he died Tradition says he was crucified in Egypt. Different traditions disagree.

• Disciple

  Thaddaeus

  pronounced: THAD-ee-us

  also known as: Judas son of James, Lebbaeus, Jude

  Put simply

  Sometimes called 'Judas (not Iscariot)' to make clear he wasn't the betrayer. Asked one of the most under-appreciated questions in the gospels.

  Personal history

  Called by several names across the gospels — Thaddaeus, Lebbaeus, and Judas son of James. The multiple names were probably how he distinguished himself from Judas Iscariot in conversation.

  Key successes

  At the Last Supper, asked Jesus an excellent question: why he was only revealing himself to his followers and not to the world. The answer Jesus gave is one of the clearest statements about how God works through relationship rather than spectacle.

  Key failures

  No recorded failures.

  How he died Tradition says he was martyred in Persia or Armenia, possibly with Simon the Zealot.

• Disciple

  Simon the Zealot

  pronounced: SY-mun

  also known as: Simon the Canaanite, Simon the Cananean

  Put simply

  A political radical before he met Jesus — part of a movement aiming to overthrow Rome by force. Followed a leader who told him to put his sword down.

  Personal history

  The Zealots were a Jewish revolutionary movement committed to violent rebellion against Roman occupation. They were essentially religious terrorists from Rome's perspective. That Jesus chose both a tax collector (Matthew) and a Zealot (Simon) as disciples — opposite extremes — was a deliberate provocation.

  Key successes

  Stayed faithful even after Jesus's movement turned out to be the opposite of armed rebellion.

  Key failures

  No recorded failures.

  How he died Tradition says he was martyred — possibly sawn in half in Persia, or crucified in Britain. Different traditions disagree.

• Disciple

  Judas Iscariot

  pronounced: JOO-dus is-KAIR-ee-ut

  Put simply

  The disciple who sold Jesus out to the religious authorities for the price of a slave. His name has become a synonym for betrayer.

  Personal history

  The only non-Galilean disciple — 'Iscariot' probably refers to a town in Judea. He was the group's treasurer, keeping the money bag for the disciples. The gospel of John notes that he was already stealing from it.

  Key successes

  Was one of the twelve. Performed miracles alongside the others when Jesus sent them out. There's no indication the other disciples ever suspected him before the betrayal.

  Key failures

  Accepted thirty pieces of silver from the chief priests to identify Jesus to an arresting mob in the dark. Marked Jesus with a kiss — the universal gesture of greeting between friends. When Jesus was condemned, he tried to give the money back, then hanged himself.

  How he died Hanged himself the night of Jesus's arrest. Another account in Acts describes him falling and his body bursting open in a field bought with the betrayal money.

• Disciple

  Matthias

  pronounced: muh-THY-us

  Put simply

  The disciple chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. Selected by drawing lots.

  Personal history

  Had been with Jesus from the beginning — from John's baptism through the resurrection — but wasn't one of the original twelve. After Judas's death, the eleven needed to restore the count to twelve.

  Key successes

  Was chosen out of two finalists by lot — a coin-flip equivalent — and joined the apostles. Present at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out.

  Key failures

  No recorded failures.

  How he died Tradition says he was martyred — variously reported as stoned and beheaded, or crucified in modern Georgia.

• Disciple

  Mary Magdalene

  pronounced: MAIR-ee MAG-duh-leen

  also known as: Mary of Magdala

  Put simply

  A woman Jesus freed from severe spiritual oppression. She funded his ministry, stayed with him through the crucifixion when most of the men ran, and was the first person to see him alive after the resurrection.

  Personal history

  From the town of Magdala on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus drove seven demons out of her. She was financially independent — she and other women were funding the disciples' travel expenses. The medieval tradition that she was a prostitute has no basis in the text; that's a later conflation.

  Key successes

  Stayed at the cross when nearly all the men fled. First witness to the empty tomb. First person Jesus appeared to after the resurrection. First person commissioned to announce the resurrection. Called 'the apostle to the apostles' in early Christian writing.

  Key failures

  At first didn't recognize the risen Jesus — thought he was the gardener.

  How he died Various traditions place her death in Ephesus or in southern France in old age. No reliable record.

• Disciple

  Paul

  pronounced: PAWL

  also known as: Saul, Saul of Tarsus

  Put simply

  Started out as a religious enforcer hunting down Christians. Had a dramatic vision on a road that flipped him 180 degrees. Wrote about a third of the New Testament.

  Personal history

  Born Saul, a Roman citizen from Tarsus. Educated under one of the leading Jewish rabbis of the era. Originally hunted down Christians and held the coats while Stephen was stoned to death. On the road to Damascus to arrest more believers, was struck blind by a vision of Jesus asking why he was persecuting him. Three days later he could see again — and his life's mission reversed completely.

  Key successes

  Took the message of Jesus to non-Jewish people across the Roman Empire — three major missionary journeys. Started churches in dozens of cities. Wrote thirteen letters that became books of the New Testament, including Romans, the Corinthian letters, Galatians, Philippians, and Ephesians. Argued (and won) the case that Gentile converts didn't need to convert to Judaism first.

  Key failures

  His pre-conversion years overseeing persecution of Christians. After his conversion: a sharp disagreement with Barnabas about whether to give John Mark a second chance — they split up over it.

  How he died Tradition says he was beheaded in Rome under Emperor Nero around 64–67 AD. As a Roman citizen, he was entitled to a swift execution rather than crucifixion.

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