Thaddeus (also known as Jude)

Thaddeus was born in Galilee (Palestine) in 1 AD and suffered martyrdom in 65 AD in Beruit Lebanon (Persia) with Simon, the apostle known as the Zealot.

He is known to have preached the gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Libya.

His body was taken from Beruit and brought to Rome Italy and placed in a crypt in St. Peter's Basilica.

Philip

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_the_Apostle

Philip is from the town of Bethsaida located northwest of the Sea of Galilee near Capernaum.

He did mission work in Asia, and preached also in Greece, Syria and Phrygia and in Samaria. Jesus tested Philip (John 6:5-7) when Jesus asked him how they would feed so many.

Philip was beheaded in the city of Hierapolis.

James, son of Zebedee

James is the one who was first martyred for his faith in Jesus. He was beheaded by Herod Agrippa I.

He did missionary work in Samaria and traveled through out Palestine and visited Spain afterwards.

James is also one of the disciples who seems to be close to Christ as he was there at the Transfiguration, at the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was praying, and when Jesus raised the daughter of Jarius.

James is the son of Zebedee and brother to John.

Bartholomew

Bartholomew, also sometimes referred to as Nathanel. Philip is the one who brought "Nathanel" to Jesus.

He brought Christianity to the Armenians in the 1st Century and also it is believed he did some work on the island of Lipari where it is reported his body washed up on the shore. It is also said he did missionary work in Armenia, Eastern Turkey, Northern Iraq, NW Iran and India.

Bartholomew is also one of the disciples to have witnessed Jesus ascending into heaven.

Simon the Zealot

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_the_Zealot

Though not much is known of this Simon, his name seems to suggest something. What would he be so Zealous about?

It is known he was martyred in AD74 and did missionary work in Egypt before he joined Thaddeus in Persia and Armenia.

Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus

Judas also means Ioudas, a form of Judah, in the Greek language. His father is Simon Iscariot from Kerioth, a city of Judah from the Gospel of John.

We all know that Judas was the handler of the money bag and betrayed Jesus with 30 pieces of silver and kissed Jesus in front of the soldiers of Caiaphas who then took Jesus to be crucified.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_Iscariot


The bible tells us we can not love money and GOD, that we must choose. This story seems to suggest that Judas had chosen his love of money over GOD, therefore leaving him vunerable to Satan.

Doubting Thomas

Have you heard the old expression "Your such a doubting thomas?" Ever wonder where it came from? Mmmm...could be that this is where it originated from. One of Christ's own disciples who doubted.

Thomas' missionary work took him to Persia, China and India. He died in about 72 AD in Chennai, India but he is best known for not believing Christ had returned after the ascension and had to place his own hands upon Christs wound sites to know it was Him. "Doubting Thomas"

click on these links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle
http://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/CN500APOSTLES%20FATE.htm
http://www.biblepath.com/thomas.html

The Calling of a Tax Collector

Matthew...who was also called Levi, was the son of Alphaeus and brother to James the Lesser.

He was a tax collector when Jesus called him to come be His disciple. Matthew got up and left to go with Jesus that day.

Matthew is known to have been a missionary in Persia, Ethiopia and Egypt. He was martyred in Egypt or Parthia and is the writer of the book of Matthew in the bible. He was a very well educated man of his time.

click on these links:

http://www.biblepath.com/matthew1.html
http://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/CN500APOSTLES%20FATE.htm

The First Four Called to Discipleship

Matthew 4:18-22 - As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come follow me, " Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

To boldly get up and just walk away to follow Jesus! I'm not sure I could just walk away from family and friends, people I've known all my life, but deep down I've always wondered about how my life would be if I did just that. Where would GOD take me? Who would I meet? What would I do?

Simon (called Peter by Jesus) was the first chosen. A fisherman who was a Galilean. A loved disciple who denied Christ 3 times before the cock crowed. He is considered to be the first Pope by the Roman Catholics. Links of historical info. on Simon Peter can be clicked on below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter
http://www.biblepath.com/peter.html

Andrew, brother of Simon Peter, in business with him in the family fishing business. It is said Andrew was the first to follow Jesus and introduce his brother, Simon Peter, to Jesus. Andrew preached to the Scythian's, in Instanbul Turkey, and also in Greece where he eventually died as a martyr, hanging on the cross until dead.
http://www.biblepath.com/andrew.html
http://www.ewtn.com/library/mary/andrew.htm

James, son of Zebedee, referred to as Saint James the Greater to distinguish him from James the lesser, son of Alphaeus. James was also a fisherman in Galilee. Son of Jonah(john) and Salome, brother of John the Apostle. He is said to have preached to the Spanish people about Christ and his remains are buried in Santiago de Compostela in Spain. He was martyred by sword on the orders of Agrippa I.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_James_the_Great
http://www.biblepath.com/james_a.html

John, brother of James and son of Zebedee. Also a fisherman in Galilee. He pastored the church in Ephesus and is the only apostle to have lived out his life and not been martyrd for spreading the word of GOD. John was exiled to Patmos for a time where he was given the word of Revelations to record.
http://www.biblepath.com/john1.html
http://www.apostle.org/lectures.patmos.htm

A disciple of Christ believes in GOD, in Christ as the son of GOD, and the Gospel as faith, and they also have characteristics that define them as belonging to Christ. They are Commitment(2 Cor.4:8-11), Consecration (Romans 12:1-2), and Perspective (Colossians 1:24).

Instructions Jesus Gave to the Twelve Disciples

Matthew 10: 5-42

In this book are the instructions Jesus gives to the twelve disciples. I wonder what we would look like today if those of us who tell ourselves we are disciples of Christ or followers and did exactly as Jesus said to his twelve disciples. What a difference our lives would be!! And to change someone elses' life too.

Instructions were:
Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans
Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel
Preach this message: the kingdom of Heaven is near
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy
Drive out demons
Freely give
Do not take any gold, silver or copper in your belts
Take no bag for the journey
Take no extra tunic, sandals or staff
Search the town for a worthy person and give this house your greeting and let your peace rest on it.

These were only a handful of instructions Jesus would give the twelve during His time with them before His crucifixtion. To give up everything you own, your family, your material wealth, and to take nothing at all with you, no money, no extra clothes, wow...to rely soley on God to provide all.