Origins & Early Life

In Christian theology and ecclesiology, the apostles, particularly the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Twelve Disciples or simply the Twelve), were the primary disciples of Jesus according to the New Testament. During the life and ministry of Jesus in the 1st century AD, the apostles were his closest followers and became the primary teachers of the gospel message of Jesus. There is also an Eastern Christian tradition derived from the Gospel of Luke that there were seventy apostles during the time of Jesus' ministry. The word comes from the Koine Greek apóstolos, meaning a messenger or envoy, with a sense closer to delegate than to messenger.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The gospels and Acts give four lists of the Twelve which differ slightly in the names, and the Gospel of John refers to the Twelve without ever listing them. The commissioning of the Twelve Apostles during the ministry of Jesus is described in the Synoptic Gospels. After his resurrection, Jesus sent eleven of them (as Judas Iscariot by then had died) in the Great Commission to spread his teachings to all nations. Peter, James and John form an inner circle within the group, alone present at the raising of Jairus' daughter, the Transfiguration...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

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