James and John (bo-an-erg-es'); sons of commotion. (uproar-agitation-disturbance) Thunder-to roar (noisy display-discord-friction) Mark 10:35-38 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? Mark 10:41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. Jesus told these two nervy-rude-impolite apostles of His, "Ye know not what ye ask". You don't know what you're talking about".

Luke 9:52-55 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. Face- A rrival. Jesus sent messengers before he arrived at villages on the way to Jerusalem, to acquire provisions and maybe a place to stay the night .The Samaritans could tell his face (direction ) was Jerusalem, and Jews had no dealings with Samaritans. John 4:9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Anyway-Jesus answers these hotheaded loudmouths, James & John. He says.

"Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of". You don't know what you're talking about. When Jesus asked James and John,"can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?", they answered and said "We can" and Jesus said indeed you will (Mark 10:39) . In Gethsemane, Jesus spoke of his death as a "cup" Mark 14:36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. The term "baptism" is a figure for suffering and death. Luke 12:50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened (afflicted- constrained- endangered) till it be accomplished! Acts 12:1-2 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. The apostle James said he could drink of the cup and he was the first to die, as is recorded in the Bible.

The apostle John wrote the Gospel of John and three Epistles. I John, II John and III John, AND the book of Revelation. It is of John that the Bible says. John 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. John 20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. John 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. John 21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? John 21:21-24 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. Christ's reply to this inquiry is "if I choose that he remain till I come, and do not suffer as you must, what is that to you. Mind thou thy own duty, or responsibility. As I told you in the beginning when I first chose you. "Follow Me". This seems to be a reference of Christ's purpose concerning John. That he should not die a violent death, like Peter, (history has it that Peter died by crucifixion-head down) [maybe this was in part for denying Him three times] but should tarry till Christ himself come for him by a natural death.. Historians tell us that John was the only one of all the twelve that did not actually die a martyr.

He was often in danger, in captivity and exile; but he died in his bed in a good old age. Christ calls out some of his disciples to resist unto blood, but not all. Though the crown of martyrdom is bright and glorious, yet the beloved disciple did not have to endure it. Some understand that Jesus willed that John should not die till after Christ's coming to destroy Jerusalem in 70 A.D .All the other apostles died before that time; but John survived it by many years. It could be that God willed it that one of the apostles should live so long as to close up the canon (writing) of the New Testament, which John did by writing the last verse in Rev., 22:21. What happened when Jesus was arrested in the garden? Mark 14:50 And they all forsook him, and fled. EXCEPT for Peter and John. John 18:15-18 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without.

Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. Peter followed afar off, that is, WAY BEHIND. Matt 26:58 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. Peter was watching from the outside and the apostle John had him brought inside. Peter was afraid to go inside but John was not. The high priest knew who Jesus' followers were. He knew who John was. OR it could be that Peter tried to go inside but because the leaders didn't know him, he was not allowed in. But at the cross Luke 23:49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

Acquaintance -Those well known to Christ, which surely would be the apostles, were not NEAR the cross, EXCEPT a few. John 19:25-27 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home Only five people are named that stood by, or near the cross. This is Jesus' mother Mary and His Aunt, and two other women named Mary, AND the apostle John. Why did Jesus give the apostle John the charge of caring for His mother, and not his brothers, his mothers "real sons"? It could be that it was because His brothers did not believe in Him at the time. John 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him. You may say that John is bragging on himself as the only gospels mentioning these things about John IS the apostle John.

But we can be sure God wants us to know these things because the Holy Spirit of God inspired these writings. You will notice the name of John, as the Disciple that Jesus loved is not mentioned. He is writing about himself, but he doesn't name himself until the next to the last verse he wrote in the gospel of John John 21:24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. All these things written about John that are not included in the other three gospels is explained in the above verse. This is the disciple, or I am the disciple that wrote these things concerning the apostle that Jesus loved. Even here he refers to himself as a third person. He doesnt say we know that my testimony is true, he says that his testimony is true. James the Apostle - The First to Be Martyred By Jack Zavada Updated February 16, 2016. The apostle James was honored with a favored position by Jesus Christ , as one of three men in his inner circle. The others were James' brother John and Simon Peter .

When Jesus called the brothers, James and John were fishermen with their father Zebedee on the Sea of Galilee . They immediately left their father and their business to follow the young rabbi. James was probably the older of the two brothers because he is always mentioned first. Three times James, John, and Peter were invited by Jesus to witness events no one else saw: the raising of the daughter of Jairus from the dead ( Mark 5:37-47 ), the transfiguration ( Matthew 17:1-3 ), and Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane ( Matthew 26:36-37 ). But James was not above making mistakes. When a Samaritan village rejected Jesus, he and John wanted to call down fire from heaven upon the place. This earned them the nickname "Boanerges," or "sons of thunder." The mother of James and John also overstepped her bounds, asking Jesus to grant her sons special positions in his kingdom. James' zeal for Jesus resulted in his being the first of the 12 apostles to be martyred.

He was killed with the sword on order of King Herod Agrippa I of Judea, about 44 A.D., in a general persecution of the early church . Two other men named James appear in the New Testament : James, the son of Alphaeus , another apostle; and James, the brother of the Lord, a leader in the Jerusalem church and author of the book of James . Accomplishments of the Apostle James: James followed Jesus as one of the 12 disciples . He proclaimed the gospel after Jesus' resurrection and was martyred for his faith. James' Strengths: James was a loyal disciple of Jesus. He apparently had outstanding personal qualities that are not detailed in Scripture, because his character made him one of Jesus' favorites. James' Weaknesses: With his brother John, James could be rash and unthinking. He did not always apply the gospel to earthly matters. Life Lessons from the Apostle James: Following Jesus Christ can lead to hardship and persecution, but the reward is eternal life with him in heaven. Hometown: Referenced in the Bible: The Apostle James is mentioned in all four Gospels and his martyrdom is cited in Acts 12:2 .

Occupation: Fisherman, disciple of Jesus Christ . Family Tree: Key Verses: Luke 9:52-56 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village. (NIV) Matthew 17:1-3 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah , talking with Jesus. (NIV) Acts 12:1-2 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.

(NIV) • New Testament People of the Bible (Index) Jack Zavada, a career writer and contributor for About.com, is host to a Christian website for singles. Never married, Jack feels that the hard-won lessons he has learned may help other Christian singles make sense of their lives. His articles and ebooks offer great hope and encouragement. To contact him or for more information, visit Jack's Bio Page . THE APOSTLE JAMES Privacy Policy The Apostle James ( Son of Zebedee ) Of the three apostles who comprised the inner circle of Jesus' disciples (Peter, James and John), we know the least about the apostle James. We do know, however, that the apostle James was the eldest brother of the apostle John and that their father's name was Zebedee (their mother's name was Salome.) James, his brother John, Peter and Andrew were all partners in a fishing business prior to being called by Christ Jesus to follow Him. Zebedee was, also, a partner in the business. There is some evidence that James was the first cousin of Jesus the Messiah and had been acquainted with Him from infancy. It is believed that his mother Salome was the sister of Jesus' mother Mary.

Not much is known of his ministry after Jesus' resurrection. It is believed, however, that he lived another 14 years before his martyrdom. In fact, the apostle James was the first apostle to suffer martyrdom. By order of Herod Agrippa I, James was beheaded in Jerusalem about the feast of Easter, 44 AD. It is believed that within this 14 year period, James visited the Jewish colonist and slaves in Spain to preach the Gospel. It has been said that when the apostle James was led out to die, a man who had brought false accusations against him walked with him to the place of execution. He had doubtless expected to see James looking pale and frightened but he saw him, instead, bright and joyous, like a conqueror who had won a great battle. The false witness greatly wondered at this and became convinced that the Savior in whom the prisoner by his side believed must be the true God or He could not impart such cheerfulness and courage to a man about to die.

The man himself, therefore, became a convert to Christianity and was condemned to die with James the apostle ( both were consequently beheaded on the same day and with the same sword.) About the same period, Timon and Parmenas (two of the seven original deacons) suffered martyrdom ( the former at Corinth and the latter at Philippi in Macedonia.) Purchase Online (The Search for the Twelve Apostles) The information above is compiled from the book "The Search for the Twelve Apostles" by William Steuart McBirnie Ph.D, Copyright 1973 Jesus' Disciples Names: List, Meaning and Occupation by Amit Christian 50 Comments The Greek word for the Disciple is ‘mathetes‘ meaning a ‘learner’ or ‘follower’. The word means accepting and following the views and practices of a teacher. Apart from having a large following of people, Jesus chose twelve disciples during his earthly ministry. The list is mentioned in Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:13-16 and Acts 1:13.

The original twelve disciples are also called the ‘apostles’ (Greek – ‘apostolos‘ meaning ‘one who is sent out with a special commission as a fully authorized representative of the sender, like an ambassador). This bible study lesson lists the names and meaning of these disciples and their occupations. (Also check out conditions of Christian discipleship ) Peter: (Greek: Petros meaning ‘Rock’) – Peter was one of the most prominent of the 12 disciples. He was a natural spokesperson and also the leader of the early Christian church. His original Hebrew name was Simon, a common popular Hebrew name. Jesus gave him a name ‘Kephas‘, an Aramaic name. John translated into it Greek ‘Petros‘ meaning Rock. (John 1:42 – “you will be called Cephas.”) Peter was a native of Bethsaida (John 1:44), was the brother of Andrew, lived in a fishing town- Capernaum. (Mark 1:29) He was a fisherman by occupation on the Sea of Galilee . He was a married man.

(Mark 1:30, 1 Cor 9:5) John:(Meaning – God is gracious) John was originally the disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:35), and was introduced to Jesus in John 1:35-39. He was the brother of James and the son of Zebedee. He lived in Capernaum in Galilee, but most probably a native of Bethsaida. He was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee along with his brother and father. (Mark 1:19-20). He was one of the three disciples, closest to Jesus, the others being Peter and James. James:(Greek Iakobos– the English word for Jacob meaning Israel or he who supplants his Brother). James was the son of Zebedee (Mark 4:21), the older brother of John (Mat 17:1), by occupation a fisherman along with his brother and father at the Sea of Galilee , in partnership with Peter and Andrew. (Luke 5:10). He was the first disciple (apostle) to be martyred.

(Acts 12:2) Andrew:(Greek –Andreas, meaning ‘Manly’, man), was the brother of Simon Peter, the son of Jonas, lived in Capernaum like his brother, , and was a fisherman by occupation. He brought Peter, his brother, to Jesus. (John 1:25-42) Philip:(Greek – Philippos, meaning ‘Lover of horses’). He was a close friend of Andrew and Peter, and a native of Bethsaida (John 1:44). Jesus called Philip near Bethany where John the Baptist was preaching (John 1:43). He was the one who persuaded and brought Nathaniel to Jesus. (John 1:45-51) Bartholomew:(Greek –bartholomaios meaning Son of Talmai). He is mentioned in all the four lists of the apostles in the New Testament. There is no other reference to him in the New Testament. Nothing much is known about him.

Thomas:(Greek –Thomas from Aramaic –te’oma meaning ‘twin’) He is also called ‘Didymus’ or ‘the Twin’ (John 11:16, 20:24, 21:2). When Jesus appeared to the apostles after His resurrection, Thomas was not present with them. Later on, when the disciples told him about Jesus’ appearance, he would not believe them, until Jesus showed Himself a week later. (John 20:24-29). His occupation is unknown. Matthew: (Greek –maththaios– meaning ‘gift of Yahweh’) is also called ‘Levi’ (Mark 2:14, Luke 5:27). He was a tax collector by occupation. Jesus called him to be one of his disciples, when he was at the tax office (Mat 9:9, Mark 2:14). He is ascribed to be the author of the Gospel according to Matthew. James: He was one of the apostles of Christ. He was the son of Alphaeus.. Nothing much is known about him. Thaddaeus: He is mentioned in two of the four lists of Jesus’ disciples.

(Mat 10:3, Mark 3:18). In the other two lists he is variously called as Jude of James, Jude Thaddaeus, Judas Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus. Nothing else is known about him apart from the mention of his names in the two lists. Simon the Zealot: He is another disciple of Jesus. He was a member of a party later called as the ‘Zealots’ (Matthew 10:4, Mark 3:18) Judas Iscariot: He is the disciple who betrayed Jesus. His last name ‘Iscariot’ is from the Hebrew word ‘Ish Kerioth‘ meaning ‘a man from Kerioth’, a place in the south of Judah (Joshua 15:25). He was a treasurer of the group. (John 12:6,13:29). After his betrayal of Jesus, he grieved for his actions and committed suicide . (Matthew 27:5). He is always mentioned last in the list of apostles.

Matthias: After Judas committed suicide after his betrayal of Jesus (Matthew 27:3–10), the eleven disciples selected Matthias as the twelfth disciple. Acts 1: 23-26 – So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. —————————— Check out our eBook, The Miracles of Jesus Christ – 7-part Bible Study Series on the Healing Miracles of Jesus Christ for Small Groups & Personal Study. Apostle Portraits Greek from Aramaic: Rock Original name in Greek (Simon): Hearing Simon Peter, the son of Jonah of Bethsaida ( Matthew 16:17 ), lived in Capernaum ( John 1:42 ) as a skilled fisherman of Galilee. While Peter may have spoken colloquial Greek, his native tongue would have been Aramaic.

According to Mark 1:30 , Peter had a wife whose mother was healed by the Lord from a terrible fever. Both he and his brother, Andrew, were fishing partners with the sons of Zebedee ( Mark 1:16 ), James and John. As seen in Matthew 4:18-19 , Christ had called these men into a new service - to be "fishers of men." From this righteous command, Peter and the others learned to pick up their cross and follow Christ, the Son of the living God. Beforehand, Peter had been discipled by John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ ( John 1:35-42 ). Peter was instrumental in the proclamation of the Good News after the resurrection of Christ. After a full life of spreading the beloved gospel, tradition holds that Peter was martyred in Rome between AD 60-69. He was crucified upside down, considering himself unworthy to die the same death of his Lord. He has been considered the first traditional bishop of Rome and his tomb is believed to be under the high altar in the Basilica of St. Peter of Rome. Unlike many of the disciples, we can identify well with Peter.

His shortcomings of little and faltering faith in Christ are all too common in our own lives ( Matthew 14:28-30 ). However, throughout scripture, he is known as the Rock ( Matthew 16:18 ). From Pentecost onwards, he would become a "Pillar Apostle" ( Galatians 2:9 ) and a foundational stone for the other apostles. Before Christ entered his life, he had been considered arrogant boasting and a man of rash action. But then, from the moment of his calling by Jesus to his denial of Christ, he became a man of impulse and childlike simplicity mixed with much insecurity. These character flaws began to change after two influential interactions with Christ. Both the appearance of Jesus after the resurrection ( Luke 24:34 ) and Christ's commission to "feed my sheep" ( John 21:15 ) brought a new light to the life of Peter. He was often singled out by Jesus ( Mark 8:29-33 ) and was present for many miracles and amazing experiences (e.g.

the raising of Jarius's daughter to life ( Mark 5:25-41 ), the transfiguration ( Mark 9:2-8 ), and the arrest of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane ( Mark 14:43-50 ). Peter took the leadership role of the early church and became known for his numerous miracles in the name of Jesus Christ. Throughout history, Peter has been particularly remembered for his threefold denial, his repentance, and the threefold commission of Christ. Although Peter was a diamond in the rough, God faithfully used him to show the beautiful grace found in Christ and the simplicity of faith in the Omnipotent God. Andrew Greek: Manly As the brother of Simon Peter, Andrew was also a disciple of John the Baptist and was the first follower of Jesus to be identified by name. His interaction with Christ caused him to immediately leave and tell Peter of the Messiah, the Son of God ( John 1:35-42 ). Eventually, he and Peter left their fishing business to follow their beloved Saviour. Within the glorious ministry of Christ, Peter and Andrew witnessed amazing marvels and miracles.

Among them, Christ used five loaves of bread from a boy, brought forth by Andrew, to feed the five thousand people who had gathered to hear the word of God ( John 6:8 ). We find the last appearance of Andrew before the Passover festival in Jerusalem, and after the triumphal entry on the first Palm Sunday. Men from Greece approached Philip and Andrew hoping to see the Christ: "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Both Philip and Andrew returned to Jesus and told Him of these men ( John 12:21 ). Later in his ministry, Andrew preached the gospel to the Scythians, Sogdians, and the Sacae in Sebastopolis, Ethiopia, in AD 80. Because he would not submit to the Roman idols, he was crucified by Aegeas, the governor of the Edesenes, and buried in Patrae, in Archaia. James and John (Sons of Zebedee) Greek: Sons of Thunder While mending their fishing nets, the sons of Zebedee, James and John, were called by Jesus to be "fishers of men." The two brothers and Peter formed the innermost circle of Jesus closest companions.

They became the eyewitnesses of the life, work, and resurrection of Christ Jesus. They were present to attest to the resurrection of Jarius's daughter, to the transfiguration of the Lord, and to the events in the garden of Gethsemane. They became known as the "Sons of Thunder" for their high spirits and zeal as seen in their desire to destroy an unfriendly Samaritan city ( Luke 9:51-56 ). However, they were also dedicated to the purpose of their Lord and played a significant part in the church. Fifteen years after hearing the call of the Lord upon the shores of Galilee, James was killed under the rule of King Agrippa I. "Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword" ( Acts 12:1-2 ). The martyrdom of James is the only biblical and reliable account of a death of one of the twelve apostles. John was referred to as "one of the disciples, whom Jesus loved," in the gospel of John and is said to be the author of the fourth gospel.

John is the only disciple to be recorded as being present at the crucifixion of Christ. After the death of Jesus, he took the Lord's mother, Mary, as his own. He was also the first to see the glorious sight of the empty tomb. John was one of the early leaders of the church and thus became known as a "Pillar of the Church" ( Galatians 2:9 ). According to tradition, John was banished to the Island of Patmos ( Revelation 1:9 ) after he survived being thrown into boiling oil under Domitian. On that desolate Island, John received visions of the future and words from the Lord to seven churches. The compilation of these visions and letters formed the Book of Revelation. John Foxe also adds that he was released from Patmos and allowed to return to Ephesus in the year of A.D. 97. Philip Philip is mentioned in all three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) as the man from Bethsaida who was a disciple of John the Baptist. Both Philip and Andrew appear together in the listings of the apostles found in the gospels and in the Book of Acts.

In the Book of John, he is portrayed as one who had a deep understanding of the Old Testament prophecy and of the coming Messiah; as well, he demonstrated a heart for missions ( John 1:43-46 ; 12:21-22 ). However, he struggled with spiritual insight evidenced in his converse with Christ at the feeding of the five thousand ( John 6:5-7 ; 14:7-9 ). There is some dispute over the events of Philip's later life and ministry. A second century Ephesian tradition believes he died at Hierapolis, roughly one hundred miles inland of Ephesus. Another tradition says Philip was crucified; and as a result, medieval art often depicts Philip on the cross. Bartholomew Greek from the Aramaic: Son of Tomai Bartholomew is found in all four lists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts) of the apostles and was present during the selection of Matthias.

Many scholars associate Bartholomew with the surname "Nathanael." If the identification of Bartholomew with Nathanael is correct, Philip brought Bartholomew (Nathanael), a native of Cana of Galilee ( John 21:2 ), to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah. Yet, Jesus was already familiar with Bartholomew as seen in John 1:48-51 : Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe ? You will see greater things than these." And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. In the Gospel of John, he is mentioned with the seven apostles during the Lord's last post-resurrection appearance ( John 21:2 ).

However, little information is revealed about his life and ministry with Christ. According to Foxe's Book of Marytrs, he has been said to have preached throughout India and translated the Gospel of Matthew into their tongue. Later in his ministry, Bartholomew was beaten, crucified, and beheaded in Albinopolis, Armenia for the sake of his Master. Thomas Hebrew: A twin Known as "Doubting Thomas," he was the pessimistic, loyal, and practical disciple whose suspicions of the resurrection vanished as he touched the wounds of his risen Master. He was present in the upper room during Pentecost (when the Holy Spirit descended upon the believers). However, very little of the New Testament mentions him again. It seems that there are three significant occurrences involving Thomas and Christ. The first occasion begins when Jesus was hounded out of Jerusalem and was seeking a quiet and secluded town for safety. When word came of Lazarus's illness, Jesus waited two days before leaving for Bethany that the Father would be glorified. Although Thomas was frightened, he was loyal to his Master and accompanied Him during the dangerous travels.

We come to understand the threatening situation and the loyalty of Thomas in John 11:16 : "Let us also go, that we may die with Him." A second reference to Thomas's interaction with Christ can be found in the upper room, during the Last Supper, before the arrest of Jesus. Jesus sat among his disciples and told them of His coming departure: "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." And Thomas responded with, "Lord, we known not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?" From this simple question came the beautiful answer that many Christians cherish today. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Indeed, He is the way and the life. By His grace, Christ is our daily strength and satisfaction. By His redeeming blood, we have access to the Almighty God. Third, we rejoin the disciples in the upper room after the crucifixion of Christ as they hid from the Jews.

Then Christ appeared to them in all His glorious magnificence; yet Thomas was not among the disciples ( John 20:19-24 ). Being the practical man that he was, Thomas did not believe the other disciples when they had told him of their risen Lord. One week later, the followers of Christ hid once more from the Jews in the upper room. It was then when Christ appeared a second time and Thomas realized his Saviour had indeed raised from the dead. "Thus saith He to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing." As Thomas came to grips with the glorious understanding of his risen King, he cried, "My Lord and My God!" According to tradition, Thomas traveled to Persia and South India, where he founded the ancient Mar Thoma Church, in Travancore and Cochin, now called Kerala. He has been recognized for writing an apocryphal book that may have been written in the second century. It has also been said that Thomas was martyred near Madras at Mount St. Thomas.

Matthew Greek: Gift of God Originally named Levi, Matthew, was a Jew from Capernaum ( Mark 2:14 ). In Matthew 9:9 , responding to Christ, he immediately "arose and followed Him" and began a new life serving the Lord. Many biblical scholars see this as a representative of how Christians should react when Jesus Christ exhorts them to seek the path of righteousness ( Matthew 16:24 ). The call of Matthew is told in all three of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) as Jesus makes an unexpected choice to call forth a tax collector to be His disciple. As a tax collector, or publican, Matthew transferred taxes from both local merchants and farmers to the Roman state. In that day, tax collectors were seen as thieves because they often took taxes for personal gain. Immediately after he rose to follow the Lord, Matthew gave Jesus a large banquet in which he invited many tax collectors and sinners ( Luke 5:29 ). The Pharisees criticized Jesus for dining with such an appalling group of wretched sinners; yet Jesus rebuked them saying," I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance" ( Luke 5:32 ).

Indeed, He came to save sinners from all condemnation and eternal destruction. What a wonderful comfort to cherish! May we immediately rise up and seek Christ with all our hearts and souls. Thus, we will spend eternity in His everlasting and glorious presence! Within his gospel, Matthew reveals the Messiah to be the fulfillment of the Old Testament law: for the Son of God is the true sacrificial lamb ( Hebrews 10:10 ). Based upon the work of Mark, Matthew portrays the life of Christ in a more complete manner through long dissertations, as seen in the Sermon on the Mount. Throughout his book, Matthew emphasizes the teaching of Christ as a source of guidance for the church. In his later ministries, Matthew preached to Ethiopia and all of Egypt and was later killed with a spear under the leadership of King Hircanus. James (Son of Alphaeus) While his name appears in the four New Testament listings of apostles, little is known about James. He is usually identified with "James the Younger," the son of Mary (not the mother of Jesus), and the brother of Joses ( Mark 15:40 ; Matthew 27:56 ).

This distinction of "younger" or "less" (Gk ho mikros) differentiates him from James the brother of Jesus and James the son of Zebedee. The terms "younger" or "less" refer to his younger age, smaller physique, and less significance. His mother, Mary, was among the crowd at the crucifixion of Jesus and the discovery of the empty tomb ( Matthew 27:56 ; Mark 15:40 ; 16:1 ; Luke 24:10 ). Simon the Zealot Before his calling to follow Christ, Simon was a zealous nationalist who wanted to drive out the Romans from the cities; his group tactics often resulted in bloody conflict. Both the Gospel of Luke and Book of Acts link Simon with Judas (not Iscariot) throughout their writings. Little is known about the lives of both Simon and Judas (not Iscariot). According to the apocryphal book, The Passion of Simon and Jude, we are told their lives ended in martyrdom in Persia.

Thaddaeus Greek: "Large Hearted" and "Courageous" Unlike the other apostles, Thaddaeus claims three separate names: Thaddaeus ( Matthew 10:3 ), Judas, son of James ( Mark 3:18 ), and Labbaeus (not found in the Revised Standard Version). However, little is know about the life and ministry of Thaddaeus. The New Testament records only one event involving Thaddeus: his question to Jesus during a message to the disciples after the Last Supper: Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him ( John 14:22 ). Judas Iscariot Some believe the name "Iscariot" identifies Judass place of origin, since his father is described as "Simon Iscariot" ( John 6:71 ; 13:2 , 26 ).

After his calling to seek the Lord, Judas Iscariot became the treasurer for the twelve disciples ( John 12:4-6 ; 13:29 ). Because this position is not given to one of greedy and irresponsible conduct, it may be assumed that he showed positive characteristics before the other followers of Christ. However, the Gospel of John tells us that during his time as treasurer, Judas had become a thief, stealing from the treasury funds ( John 12:6 ). Judas has become infamous for his betrayal of Jesus. Both Luke and John render him to be under the influence of Satan himself ( Luke 22:3 ; John 13:2 ). It may have been his greed that motivated him to betray Jesus for a worthless amount of thirty pieces of silver ( Matthew 26:14-16 ; Mark 14:10-11 ; Luke 22:3-6 ).

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas led a band of soldiers to Jesus and identified Him with a kiss ( Matthew 26:47-56 ; Mark 14:43-52 ; Luke 22:47-53 ; John 18:2-12 ). Yet when Jesus was condemned to death, Judas was filled with great remorse and returned the pieces of silver to the priests. Then Judas departed from the temple and committed suicide by hanging himself ( Matthew 27:3-10 ; Acts 1:18-19 ). After the resurrection of Christ, Matthias replaced Judas within the circle of the twelve apostles ( Acts 1:26 ). Matthias Greek: Gift of Jehovah Before 120 followers of Christ, Peter gave an account of the life, ministry, and the death of Judas Iscariot. Because of the loss of Judas, a replacement was in order to fill the gap within the original twelve apostles. It was necessary to select one who had known them since the Lord's baptism by John to the resurrection of the Son of Man. These twelve witnesses would represent the twelve tribes of Israel.

Thus, these followers of Christ gathered together to cast lots between two candidates: Joseph called Barsabas (Justus) and Matthias. "And they drew lots for them, and the lots fell to Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles" ( Acts 1:26 ). Many believe that Barsabbas and Matthias were among the seventy disciples who were sent out to proclaim the gospel ( Luke 10:1 ). However, neither one is mentioned again in Scripture, nor is there any account for their later ministries. Paul of Tarsus Greek from Latin: Little Paul, the author of thirteen New Testament Epistles, was born as an Israelite in Tarsus of Cilicia ( Acts 22:3 ; Philippians 3:5 ). His original name was Saul. He studied under Gamaliel in Jerusalem ( Acts 22:3 ) and became a Pharisee ( Philippians 3:5 ). He was present at the stoning of Stephen ( Acts 7:58 ; 8:1 ) and later became a persecutor of the church ( Acts 8:1-3 ; Philippians 3:6 ).

While he was seeking to have Christians bound, he was converted on the road to Damascus as Christ appeared to him ( Acts 9:1-9 ). He went into Damascus ( Acts 9:10-19 ) and then to Arabia for a period of time ( Galatians 1:17 ) before returning to Jerusalem ( Acts 9:26-29 ; Galatians 1:18 ). Eventually, he met with Barnabas and ministered with him in Antioch ( Acts 11:25-26 ). Soon he began to go on various missionary journeys to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles. He was then imprisoned in Rome on two occasions and was martyred under Caesar Nero. Please visit the timeline of Paul the Apostle for a detailed chronology of Paul's life. Barnabas Greek from the Hebrew: Son of Exhortation Originally from Cyprus ( Acts 4:36 ), Barnabas settled Jerusalem. Both he and Paul of Tarsus (whose close friend he would become) shared similar Jewish roots ( Acts 4:36 ) and Hellenistic backgrounds of the Jewish Diaspora.

The first appearance of Barnabas in the New Testament can be found among the earliest converts, selling his lot of land and giving the profit to the apostles ( Acts 4:36 ). He quickly became well liked and a respected leader within the apostolic circle. Paul and Barnabas began a close partnership within the work of ministry. Their common background in the Diaspora and their traditional training as a Pharisee and Levite may have brought about the strong companionship. Because of the heavy persecution of the Hellenized Christians, many believers were scattered as far as Phoenicia and Syria. Thus the church of Antioch was established in Syria, which would become the future headquarters of Paul's journeys. The leaders in Jerusalem soon elected Barnabas to be the superintendent of the church and he, in turn, chose Paul to be his assistant. Barnabas accompanied Paul on a missions trip that covered approximately 1,400 miles of territory as they proclaimed the gospel and encouraged the body of Christ. During the first tour, Paul and Barnabas traveled to Cyprus with John Mark.

Acts 12:25 and 13:5 imply that John Mark was in Antioch and later teamed with Paul and Barnabas. However, when Paul and Barnabas decided to climb the mountains to Antioch of Pisidia, John Mark turned back. During this first tour, Paul became the spokesperson, and even engaged in vigorous discussions within the council. Barnabas was also given recognition and even a divine title in Acts 14:12 . Unlike Paul, he never experienced violence or stoning while ministering to others. Following their first journey, Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem to settle the controversial issue of the law and circumcision. After a stimulating debate, it was decided that gentiles could be given admittance to the church if they conform to certain social customs of the Jews. After a successful trip, Barnabas suggested that John Mark join them on the next journey. Yet Paul felt otherwise and the team divided. Paul traveled with another entourage and Barnabas and John Mark journeyed to Cyprus. In any case, the dispute did not end the friendship between Paul and Barnabas.

In a letter to the Corinthians, Paul uses both he and Barnabas as an example of apostles who still maintain a working trade while serving in ministry and they refused to accept charity from churches. Indeed, Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark all make vital contributions to the Christian faith and the New Testament. Sources: Wilkins, Michael J. "Disciples" in Joel B. Green, et al. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1992), p. 180. Brownrigg, Ronald. Who's Who in the New Testament, (Nashville, Tennessee: Pillar Books for Abingdon Press, 1971) Wilkins, Michael J. "Barnabas" in Joel B. Green, et al. Dictionary of Paul and His Letters. (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993), p. 66-67. Foxe, John; Foxe's Christian Martyrs of the World, (Uhrichsville, Ohio: Barbour and Company Inc, 1989) Lockyer, Herbert.

All the Apostles of the Bible, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1972) CONTENT DISCLAIMER: The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry. Search

Question: In the Bible who was the father of the disciples James and John?
Answer: Zebedee