Paper 139 Overview: The Twelve Apostles

The twelve apostles represented diverse human temperaments and backgrounds, yet despite Jesus repeatedly challenging their personal ambitions, only Judas Iscariot abandoned him. Jesus learned about humanity through these men while they learned about spiritual realities from him. Though often considered unlearned, most apostles were actually well-educated in Hebrew scriptures, being graduates of synagogue schools and merely lacking formal rabbinical training.

Each apostle was drawn to Jesus for different reasons and responded uniquely to his teachings based on their individual personalities and backgrounds. After Jesus departed, most of these men traveled extensively, establishing the early Christian church and often facing persecution and martyrdom for their faith. Their stories reveal how ordinary individuals with both strengths and weaknesses can be transformed when dedicated to a spiritual cause, even without extraordinary powers or abilities.

The remarkable loyalty of eleven of the twelve apostles demonstrates the extraordinary impact of Jesus' life and teachings. Even though Jesus repeatedly disappointed their expectations about establishing an earthly kingdom, these men remained faithful to him. Through their relationship, Jesus gained valuable insights into human nature, while they learned profound truths about the spiritual kingdom.

The apostles came from varied backgrounds, with many carrying gentile ancestry due to the forced conversion of Galilee's population a century earlier. Contrary to common misconception, they were not uneducated; most were synagogue school graduates with thorough training in Hebrew scriptures. They lacked rabbinical training but possessed diverse life experiences that equipped them for their future mission of sharing Jesus' message throughout the world.

Andrew was the oldest apostle at 33 years of age when chosen, a year older than Jesus himself. He was born in Capernaum, remained unmarried, and lived with his brother Simon Peter, both working as fishermen. Andrew possessed excellent organizational skills and administrative abilities, which made him the natural choice to serve as chairman and director of the apostolic group, though he was not an effective public speaker like some of the others.

As the first chosen, Andrew maintained his role as dean of the apostolic corps throughout Jesus' ministry. He demonstrated remarkable discernment in recognizing Judas Iscariot's troubled nature before the others and provided wise counsel during the early church's formation. After Jesus' ascension, Andrew created personal records of Jesus' sayings and activities that were circulated among early Christian teachers. He journeyed through Armenia, Asia Minor, and Macedonia, bringing thousands to the kingdom before eventually being crucified in Patrae, Achaia, where he endured two days of suffering on the cross while continuing to proclaim the gospel message.

Simon Peter was thirty years old when he joined the apostles, was married with three children, and lived in Bethsaida near Capernaum. Jesus gave him the nickname "Peter" as a playful reference to his impulsive and erratic nature, though this name later gained significant spiritual meaning. Peter's personality contained striking contradictions—he was optimistic, eloquent, and a natural leader, yet also impulsive, sometimes thoughtless, and prone to emotional extremes.

Peter's greatest admiration for Jesus centered on the Master's extraordinary tenderness and forgiveness. Despite his famous denial of Jesus before the crucifixion, Peter found redemption and became a powerful evangelist for early Christianity. His relationship with Andrew demonstrated remarkable brotherly harmony, with neither showing jealousy toward the other's abilities or achievements. After Jesus' resurrection, Peter traveled extensively establishing churches from Jerusalem to Corinth, and according to tradition, was eventually crucified in Rome. His wife, who had worked alongside him in his ministry, was reportedly thrown to wild beasts in the Roman arena on the day of Peter's martyrdom.

James Zebedee, nicknamed with his brother John as "sons of thunder," was thirty years old when chosen as an apostle. He was married with four children and worked as a fisherman in partnership with his brother John and with Andrew and Peter. James possessed a complex temperament, combining periods of quiet reflection with occasional outbursts of fiery indignation when provoked, though he usually justified these emotional displays as "righteous indignation."

James demonstrated remarkable ability to see all sides of a problem and grasp the deeper significance of Jesus' teachings. His relationship with John, though occasionally strained, demonstrated how siblings with strong personalities could work together effectively in a common cause. James became the first apostle to experience martyrdom when Herod Agrippa had him executed by the sword. In his final moments, James displayed such dignity and grace that his accuser was so deeply moved that he declared himself a follower of Jesus and willingly died alongside James.

John Zebedee was the youngest apostle at twenty-four years old and was unmarried when he joined Jesus. He functioned as Jesus' personal representative in family matters, especially concerning Jesus' mother Mary. Along with Peter and James, John formed the inner circle of apostles who were most often with Jesus during pivotal moments of his ministry. Despite being sometimes called "the disciple whom Jesus loved," this description stemmed more from John's own perception than any actual favoritism on Jesus' part.

John's strongest personality trait was his dependability, though he struggled with conceit and intolerance, especially in his younger years. His life was deeply influenced by witnessing Jesus' homelessness and family difficulties. After Jesus' death, John became a pillar of the Jerusalem church and later settled in Ephesus, where he wrote Revelation during his exile on Patmos and helped produce the Gospel bearing his name. John lived to the remarkable age of 101, dying of natural causes in 103 CE, becoming the only apostle to avoid a violent death.

Philip was twenty-seven years old, newly married, and living in Bethsaida when Jesus called him as the fifth apostle. His fellow apostles nicknamed him "curiosity" because he constantly asked questions, many of which seemed simplistic or unnecessary to the others. Philip was methodical and practical in his thinking but lacked imagination and spiritual insight. His greatest strength was his reliable, systematic approach to responsibilities, while his greatest weakness was his literal-mindedness.

As the apostles' steward, Philip managed their provisions with thorough efficiency. Jesus showed extraordinary patience with Philip's frequent questions, never rebuking him for his lack of spiritual perception. This kindness greatly impacted Philip, who later became an effective personal worker in spreading the gospel. Philip's wife joined him in his evangelistic work after they fled Jerusalem during the persecutions. Both died as martyrs when Philip was crucified in Hierapolis, with his wife being stoned to death after standing at the foot of his cross encouraging him to remain faithful.

Nathaniel was twenty-five years old when he joined the apostles, brought to Jesus by his friend Philip. As the youngest in his family of seven, he remained unmarried and supported his aging parents in Cana. The apostles acknowledged his exceptional honesty and sincerity by giving him the nickname meaning "without guile." Nathaniel's primary weakness was his pride regarding his family, city, and nation, though his perspective changed dramatically after meeting Jesus.

Nathaniel's unique combination of philosophical depth and playful humor made him beloved among the apostles. He often relieved tense situations with appropriate humor or philosophical insight when discussions became heated. Nathaniel was responsible for caring for the apostles' families during their absences, a task he performed with great faithfulness and compassion. After Pentecost, Nathaniel journeyed to Mesopotamia and India to spread Jesus' teachings. He died in India, though the circumstances of his death were not recorded by early Christian historians.

Matthew Levi, chosen by Andrew as the seventh apostle, was a customs collector or tax gatherer in Capernaum. At thirty-one years old, he was married with four children and possessed moderate wealth, making him the only financially well-off member of the apostolic group. Matthew served as the financial representative and publicity spokesman for the twelve, utilizing his business acumen and social skills to benefit the growing movement.

Matthew's strongest attribute was his wholehearted devotion to the cause after experiencing Jesus' acceptance despite his socially despised profession. He carefully documented Jesus' teachings, which later formed the basis for written gospel accounts. Unknown to his fellow apostles, Matthew contributed substantially from his personal fortune to support their ministry. After leaving Jerusalem during the persecutions, Matthew traveled through Syria, Cappadocia, Galatia, and Thrace preaching and baptizing until he was killed by enemies of the faith. His presence among the apostles kept the door open for many social outcasts who might otherwise have felt unwelcome.

Thomas, chosen by Philip as the eighth apostle, was twenty-nine years old, married with four children, and worked as a fisherman after previous experience as a carpenter and stone mason. Despite being known in later times as "doubting Thomas," his fellow apostles recognized him more for his logical, analytical mind and courageous loyalty than for skepticism. His questioning nature arose from his scientific temperament rather than from personal doubt.

Thomas excelled in analyzing situations but struggled with pessimism and suspicion, partly due to his unhappy childhood. His reverence for Jesus stemmed from appreciation for the Master's balanced character—his combination of strength and gentleness, firmness and compassion. In the apostolic council, Thomas often advocated cautious approaches but would faithfully execute group decisions even when he had opposed them. After Pentecost, Thomas traveled extensively, preaching in Cyprus, Crete, North Africa, and Sicily until his execution in Malta, where he had begun writing an account of Jesus' life shortly before his death.

James and Judas Alpheus, twin brothers chosen by James and John Zebedee, were twenty-six years old and married fishermen living near Kheresa. James had three children while Judas had two. These twins were remarkably similar in appearance, mental abilities, and spiritual perception, representing the average and commonplace qualities of humanity. They were neither strong nor weak in most respects, simply steady and reliable followers who served without distinction.

The twins functioned primarily as managers of the multitudes during Jesus' teaching sessions, organizing ushers and maintaining order among the crowds. Their greatest contribution was demonstrating that ordinary people could participate meaningfully in spiritual movements. Jesus accepted and valued them despite their simplicity, showing that the kingdom welcomed all sincere believers regardless of intellectual capacity or social standing. After Jesus' crucifixion, the twins returned to their fishing trade and families, feeling they had fulfilled their role in the spiritual work and lacking the abilities needed for the more complex phase of establishing the kingdom.

Simon the Zealot, chosen by Simon Peter as the eleventh apostle, was twenty-eight years old and lived in Capernaum. Before joining Jesus, he had been a merchant and then a fiery patriot in the Zealot organization that advocated forceful resistance against Roman rule. As an apostle, Simon organized recreational activities and relaxation periods, bringing his enthusiasm and energy to this role with great efficiency.

Simon's greatest strength was his unwavering loyalty and inspirational fervor, which helped many wavering individuals commit to the kingdom. His greatest challenge was transforming from a Jewish nationalist to a spiritually-minded internationalist, a transition Jesus worked patiently to facilitate. After the Jerusalem persecutions, Simon initially withdrew in despair but later rallied to preach throughout Egypt and North Africa. He lived to old age, continuing his missionary work until his death in the heart of Africa, far from his Galilean homeland.

Judas Iscariot, the twelfth apostle chosen by Nathaniel, was thirty years old and unmarried, the only Judean among the twelve Galileans. His wealthy Sadducee parents had disowned him when he joined John the Baptist's movement. Judas was well-educated and possessed considerable financial skills, which led to his appointment as treasurer for the apostolic group, a role he fulfilled competently until his betrayal of Jesus.

Unlike the other apostles who admired specific qualities in Jesus, Judas found the Master generally charming but secretly criticized him and questioned his methods. Over time, Judas developed increasing resentment, suspicion, and isolation from his fellow apostles. The turning point came when Mary anointed Jesus with expensive perfume, which Judas considered wasteful. This incident crystallized his growing bitterness, leading him to arrange Jesus' betrayal for thirty pieces of silver. After Jesus' arrest, Judas experienced profound regret but, unlike Peter who found redemption after his denial, chose suicide rather than seeking forgiveness.