APOSTLES
The Twelve Apostles were the closest disciples chosen by Jesus Christ during His ministry in Israel. They witnessed His teachings, miracles, crucifixion, and resurrection, and later became the first messengers of Christianity to the world.
Although the New Testament records many key moments of their lives, historical traditions and early Christian writings provide additional information about their journeys, missionary work, and martyrdom. After the resurrection of Jesus, the Apostles spread the Gospel across the Roman Empire and beyond, laying the foundations of Christian communities throughout the ancient world.
Below you will find brief historical biographies of each Apostle — including their origins, how they first met Jesus, their role in the early Christian church, and the traditions surrounding their later lives and deaths. Their stories form an essential part of the history of Israel, the Bible Land, and the beginnings of Christianity.
The Rock and Leader of the Early Church
Place of birth: Bethsaida, Galilee (in present-day Israel).
Age when he met Jesus: Approximately 25–30 years old.
Place and circumstances of meeting Jesus: Introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew near the Jordan River after Andrew had been following John the Baptist (John 1:40–42).
His fate after the execution of Jesus: Became a leading figure in the early Christian church, preached widely, and helped establish the church in Jerusalem and later in Rome.
Family of the apostle: Brother Andrew; married (Jesus healed his mother-in-law, Matthew 8:14).
Age and place of death: Around 64–68 AD in Rome; traditionally believed to have been crucified upside down during the persecution under Emperor Nero.
The Beloved Disciple and Theologian
John (son of Zebedee), c. AD 6 – c. AD 100
Place of birth: Probably Bethsaida, Galilee.
Age when he met Jesus: Approximately 18–22 years old.
Place and circumstances of meeting Jesus: Called by Jesus while fishing with his father Zebedee and brother James (Matthew 4:21).
His fate after the execution of Jesus: Became a major leader of the early church, traditionally associated with the churches of Asia Minor and the city of Ephesus; author of the Gospel of John, three epistles, and Revelation.
Family of the apostle: Son of Zebedee and Salome; brother of James.
Age and place of death: Around 100 AD in Ephesus; traditionally believed to have died of natural causes.
The Tax Collector Turned Evangelist
Matthew (Levi), c. AD 5 – c. AD 60–70
Place of birth: Probably Capernaum, Galilee.
Age when he met Jesus: Approximately 25–30 years old.
Place and circumstances of meeting Jesus: Called by Jesus while working as a tax collector in Capernaum (Matthew 9:9).
His fate after the execution of Jesus: Preached the gospel and is traditionally credited as the author of the Gospel of Matthew.
Family of the apostle: Son of Alphaeus (traditionally); no details about marriage.
Age and place of death: Around 60–70 AD; traditions place his death in Ethiopia or Persia.
The Apostle of Questions and Revelation
Thaddeus (Jude, son of James), c. AD 5 – c. AD 65–80
Place of birth: Possibly Galilee.
Age when he met Jesus: Approximately 25–30 years old.
Place and circumstances of meeting Jesus: Chosen by Jesus among the twelve apostles (Luke 6:16).
His fate after the execution of Jesus: Traditionally believed to have preached in Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia.
Family of the apostle: Identified as the son (or brother) of James in the New Testament.
Age and place of death: Traditionally believed to have died as a martyr in Persia.
The Little-Known Faithful Apostle
James (son of Alphaeus), c. AD 5 – c. AD 62
Place of birth: Probably Galilee.
Age when he met Jesus: Approximately 25–30 years old.
Place and circumstances of meeting Jesus: Chosen by Jesus as one of the twelve apostles (Matthew 10:3).
His fate after the execution of Jesus: Served in the early church; historical traditions about his later life vary.
Family of the apostle: Son of Alphaeus; possibly related to Matthew according to some traditions.
Age and place of death: Around 62 AD; traditions place his death in Jerusalem.
An Israelite Without Guile
Bartholomew (Nathanael), c. AD 5 – c. AD 68
Place of birth: Cana in Galilee (traditionally believed).
Age when he met Jesus: Approximately 25–30 years old.
Place and circumstances of meeting Jesus: Introduced to Jesus by Philip; Jesus described him as “an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile” (John 1:45–49).
His fate after the execution of Jesus: Traditionally believed to have preached in Armenia, India, and other eastern regions.
Family of the apostle: No details recorded in the New Testament.
Age and place of death: Around 68 AD, traditionally in Armenia; said to have been martyred.
The First Called Disciple
Place of birth: Bethsaida, Galilee.
Age when he met Jesus: Approximately 25–30 years old.
Place and circumstances of meeting Jesus: Originally a disciple of John the Baptist; followed Jesus after John declared Him the Lamb of God (John 1:35–40).
His fate after the execution of Jesus: Preached the gospel in regions around the Black Sea, Greece, and Asia Minor.
Family of the apostle: Brother of Simon Peter; no record of marriage.
Age and place of death: Around 60 AD in Patras, Greece; traditionally said to have been crucified on an X-shaped cross.
The Faithful Seeker Who Brought Others to Christ
Philip, c. AD 10 – c. AD 80
Place of birth: Bethsaida, Galilee.
Age when he met Jesus: Approximately 20–25 years old.
Place and circumstances of meeting Jesus: Personally called by Jesus shortly after Peter and Andrew (John 1:43–44).
His fate after the execution of Jesus: Preached in Asia Minor and possibly Greece.
Family of the apostle: The New Testament does not mention his parents or marital status.
Age and place of death: Around 80 AD in Hierapolis (modern Turkey); traditionally believed to have been martyred.
The Doubter Who Believed
Thomas (Didymus), c. AD 5 – c. AD 72
Place of birth: Possibly Galilee.
Age when he met Jesus: Approximately 25–30 years old.
Place and circumstances of meeting Jesus: Called as one of the twelve disciples early in Jesus’ ministry (Matthew 10:3).
His fate after the execution of Jesus: Known for missionary work in the East; strong traditions link him to the spread of Christianity in India.
Family of the apostle: Not mentioned in the New Testament.
Age and place of death: Around 72 AD in Mylapore, India; traditionally believed to have been martyred by spear.
The Zealous Missionary
Simon the Zealot, c. AD 5 – c. AD 65–75
Place of birth: Probably Galilee.
Age when he met Jesus: Approximately 25–30 years old.
Place and circumstances of meeting Jesus: Called by Jesus as one of the twelve apostles (Luke 6:15).
His fate after the execution of Jesus: Traditions say he preached in Egypt, North Africa, and Persia.
Family of the apostle: No family details recorded in the New Testament.
Age and place of death: Traditionally believed to have died as a martyr in Persia.
The First Apostolic Martyr
James (son of Zebedee), c. AD 3 – AD 44
Place of birth: Probably Bethsaida or Capernaum, Galilee.
Age when he met Jesus: Approximately 20–25 years old.
Place and circumstances of meeting Jesus: Called by Jesus while fishing with his father Zebedee and brother John on the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:21–22).
His fate after the execution of Jesus: Became one of the leaders of the early Jerusalem church.
Family of the apostle: Son of Zebedee and Salome; brother of John the Apostle.
Age and place of death: Around 44 AD in Jerusalem; executed by the sword under King Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:1–2).
The Betrayer of Jesus
Judas Iscariot, c. AD 5 – AD 30–33
Place of birth: Kerioth in Judea (likely origin of the name “Iscariot”).
Age when he met Jesus: Approximately 25–30 years old.
Place and circumstances of meeting Jesus: Chosen by Jesus as one of the twelve apostles and served as the group’s treasurer (John 12:6).
His fate after the execution of Jesus: Betrayed Jesus to the authorities; afterward he experienced remorse and took his own life (Matthew 27:3–5).
Family of the apostle: Son of Simon Iscariot (John 6:71).
Age and place of death: Around AD 30–33 near Jerusalem
The apostles did not all meet Jesus at the same moment. Most joined Him during the early period of His ministry in Galilee, especially around the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Bethsaida, and the Jordan River region.
The Twelve Apostles first came together as a complete group when Jesus chose them from among His wider circle of disciples, most likely in Galilee, after a night of prayer. This event is described in Luke 6:12–16, where Jesus named the Twelve and appointed them as apostles. From that moment, they formed His closest circle of followers and witnesses.
The Twelve Apostles spent approximately two to three years together during the public ministry of Jesus Christ. They traveled with Him through Galilee, Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem, witnessing His teachings, miracles, crucifixion, and resurrection.
Their first major separation came after the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus in Jerusalem, around AD 30–33, when the disciples were scattered in fear. After the resurrection, they gathered again and remained together for a time in Jerusalem. Their final separation happened gradually after Pentecost, when they began preaching the Gospel in different regions of the ancient world.
The apostles of Jesus Christ lived in a multicultural world where several languages were commonly used. In everyday life, they likely spoke Aramaic or Hebrew, while Greek was widely used across the eastern Roman Empire and became the language of the New Testament.
As a result, many apostles are known by different forms of their names depending on the language and historical context. Some names reflect their Hebrew or Aramaic origin, others appear in their Greek form in the Bible, and some apostles were also known by alternative names or titles that described their character, family background, or role.
The list below presents each apostle with:
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their commonly known English name
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their traditional Hebrew or Aramaic form (transliterated into English letters)
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their Greek name as found in the New Testament
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and other names or titles by which they may have been known
Understanding these variations helps to better connect the biblical text with the historical and cultural world in which the apostles lived.
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Peter — Shimon / Kepha — Simon Petros — also called Cephas, Simon Bar-Jonah
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Andrew — Andrai / Andreas —Andreas
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James, son of Zebedee — Yaakov ben Zavdai — Iakobos ho tou Zebedaiou
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John, son of Zebedee — Yohanan ben Zavdai — Ioannes
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Philip — Philippos — Philippos
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Bartholomew — Bar-Talmai / Netanel — Bartholomaios — also called Nathanael
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Matthew — Mattityahu / Levi — Matthaios— also called Levi
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Thomas — Toma / Yehudah Toma — Thomas / Didymos — also called Didymus
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James, son of Alphaeus — Yaakov ben Chalfai — Iakobos ho tou Alphaiou
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Thaddeus — Yehudah / Taddai — Ioudas Iakobou / Thaddaios
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Simon the Zealot — Shimon ha-Kanai — Simon ho Zelotes
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Judas Iscariot — Yehudah Ish-Kerioth — Ioudas Iskariotes
