Sandra Cullen
Objective: To identify some of the first followers of Jesus.
The word “apostle” comes from the Greek apostolos
, which means “one who is sent”.
Twelve apostles were chosen by Jesus, the number twelve is important because of its symbolic association with the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew, Mark and Luke each feature a list of the original twelve, and at the beginning of the Acts of the apostles we are told how Matthias replaces Judas thus restoring the number to twelve. John does not give us a list of the apostles, however he does refer to the group of followers as the twelve
(6:67-70, 20:24) and he refers to various apostles by name.
The names of the apostles as listed in the writings of the Synoptics
Matthew 10:3-4 Luke 6:14-16
Simon who is called Peter
Andrew his brother
Mark 3:16-19
Simon, whom he named
Peter
James, the son of Zebedee
Simon, whom he named
Peter
Andrew, his brother
Acts 1:12-13
Peter
John
James, the son of Zebedee John, the brother of James
John, his brother Andrew
Philip Philip
Bartholomew
Thomas
Bartholomew
Matthew
Matthew, the tax collector Thomas
James the son of Alphaeus James, the son of Alphaeus
Thaddaeus
Simon the Cananaean
Thaddaeus
Simon the Cananaean
James
John
James
Andrew
Philip Philip
Bartholomew
Matthew
Thomas
Thomas
Bartholomew
Matthew
James the son of Alphaeus James, the son of
Simon, the Zealot
Alphaeus
Judas, the son of James Simon, the zealot
Judas Iscariot, who betrayed
Judas Iscariot, who betrayed
him
Judas Iscariot who became a
Judas, the son of
James

him traitor
Matthias
Student activity: look up your bibles and find the answers to the following:
 I was one of the two apostles who arranged for the last meal the twelve of us shared with Jesus (Luke 22:7-13). Jesus’ mother Mary came to live with me after
Jesus died (John 19:25-27). My name is ……………………………….

We were getting ready to go fishing with our father, Zebedee, when Jesus called us to follow him, we dropped our nets and went right away (Mark 1:19-20). Our names are………………………………………………….
 I was a follower of John the Baptist who pointed Jesus out to me and told me that
Jesus was “the Lamb of God”, I ran and told my brother and we became Jesus’ first apostles (John 1:35-42). Our names are………………………….

I was involved with the feeding of the 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish
(John 6:1-15). My name is……………………………………………….
 My nickname is “the doubter” (John 20:26-29. My real name is…………….

There is not that much known about me though my name appears on all the lists, I was known as the son of Alphaeus. (Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, Acts
1:13). My name is………………………………………………..
 My name also appears on all the lists, you will find me between Philip and
Thomas on Matthew’s list, I am……………………………………………

I was a tax-collector so I was not very popular. When he said: “Follow Me”, I did.
Mark and Luke call me Levi but I am better known as ……………… (Matthew
10:4)


I have the same name as another apostle before Jesus gave him a new name.
Sometimes I was known as the Zealot because I belonged to a political group called the Zealots. My name is……………………….. (Matthew 10:4)
 I sometimes cause confusion because I am known as Jude on Luke’s lists, however on Matthew and Marks lists I am known as………………………...
 I’m the one everyone remembers for what I did to Jesus. My name is……………………………………………….(Matthew 26:20-25)

I am the person who replaced Judas, look at Acts 1: 23-26 to find out my name. I am………………………………………………………