Eleven Apostles (Less Judas Iscariot) 

After the betrayal and subsequent suicide of Judas Iscariot, the eleven remaining apostles of Jesus found themselves in a tumultuous and uncertain situation. The initial shock of Judas's actions left them disoriented, questioning the integrity of their group and their individual discernment. This period was marked by deep introspection and emotional turmoil as the apostles grappled with the realization that one of their own could commit such a betrayal.

After Jesus' death, ten of the apostles stayed in Elijah and Mary Mark's upper chamber. Thomas was with them for a few minutes late Saturday night when they first met, but the apostles and Jesus' death overwhelmed him. He glanced at his colleagues and left the room, heading to Simon's house in Bethpage to grieve alone. Fear, sadness, and shame plagued the apostles, not doubt and despair.

Sunday was another dreadful day. The ten of them remained in the upper chamber behind locked doors. Thomas was still in Bethpage, but he would have fared better if he had stayed with his fellow apostles. Collectively, they might have fled Jerusalem, but they were afraid of being arrested by agents of the Sanhedrin if they were discovered elsewhere.

Throughout the day, the apostles experienced a wide range of emotions and responses to the possibility of Jesus’ resurrection. John maintained a steady belief in the resurrection, reinforcing his faith with reminders of Jesus’ predictions of his rise. This steadfast belief influenced some apostles like James and Nathaniel, but even John’s influence was somewhat diminished by his youth. Peter was particularly conflicted, oscillating between hope and despair as he pondered why Jesus would appear to others but not to them, especially troubled by his own denial of Jesus prior to the crucifixion. Meanwhile, James Zebedee initially advocated for proactive measures like visiting the tomb, though Nathaniel cautioned against any actions that might endanger them further.

As the day progressed, different apostles coped in their own ways. Andrew listened more than he spoke, relieved somewhat from the burden of leadership yet deeply perplexed by the day’s events. Nathaniel provided philosophical insights that helped stabilize the group, gradually inclining towards belief in the resurrection. In contrast, Simon Zelotes was overwhelmed by the collapse of his hopes for a temporal kingdom, too devastated to engage much with others. Philip, usually quiet, became more inquisitive, seeking to understand the implications of the resurrection fully. Matthew, distracted by logistical concerns such as the group’s finances, struggled to engage with the theological implications until after his personal encounter with the resurrected Jesus. James and Judas Alpheus, meanwhile, were somewhat detached from the theological debates, choosing instead to focus on their duties and trusting in their mother’s testament to having seen Jesus. Thomas, deeply despondent and torn between rejoining the apostles and his need for solitude, spent the day wandering alone, reflective and troubled.

Jesus' first appearance to an apostle was to Peter in a garden, forgiving him and encouraging him to continue spreading the gospel. Peter then excitedly shared this news with the other apostles. He then appeared to ten of the apostles, reassuring them of his resurrection and instructing them to go to Galilee. In his third, Jesus appeared to the eleven apostles a week later, specifically addressing Thomas' doubts. He allowed Thomas to see and touch him, leading Thomas to believe. Jesus then commissioned all the apostles to spread his message of love and service throughout the world, emphasizing the importance of faith and personal experience in revealing divine truth to others.

On the day of Pentecost, the apostles emerged from 40 days of hiding after the bestowal of the Spirit of Truth and began preaching about Jesus' resurrection. Peter's impassioned speech at the temple resulted in over 2,000 new believers. The apostles discovered a newfound spiritual power and insight, speaking in multiple languages to reach the diverse crowd. Despite the Jewish leaders' astonishment at their boldness, they refrained from interfering due to the large number of converts. By evening, the apostles had baptized thousands of new followers at the pool of Siloam. This event marked a significant turning point, with the apostles making more spiritual progress in less than a month than they had during their four years with Jesus.

The ministry of the apostles expanded rapidly beyond Jerusalem. They carried the teachings of Jesus throughout Judea and Samaria and eventually to the farther reaches of the Roman Empire. Each apostle developed a specific focus or region for their missionary work. For example, John eventually took his teachings to Asia Minor, Thomas ventured as far as India, and Peter became a central figure in both Jerusalem and later in Rome.

The apostles also faced significant challenges and persecution. Their unwavering commitment to spreading the message of Jesus often put them at odds with local religious authorities and Roman officials. Despite these hurdles, they continued their work, driven by a deep conviction in the truth of Jesus' message and their responsibility as his chosen messengers.