The Twelve Apostles 

The apostles learned from Jesus about the kingdom of heaven, and Jesus learned much from them about the kingdom of men and of human nature. These twelve men represented many different types of human temperament, and they had not been made alike by schooling.

As a group, they were neither completely ignorant nor unlearned. All of them, with the exception of the Alpheus twins, were graduates of the synagogue schools and were well-versed in the Hebrew scriptures and much of the contemporary knowledge of the time. There were no better Jewish schools in all of Galilee than the Capernaum synagogue schools, from which seven of the disciples had graduated.

The fact that only one of Jesus' apostles deserted him, even though he repeatedly dashed their hopes and destroyed their aspirations for personal exaltation, is an elegant testament to the charm and righteousness of his earthly life.

The apostle’s respective parents raised them in the Jewish faith. Like all children, the lessons were set firmly. They loved their faith and stayed true to it. They knew of one God, the strength of the prophets, the importance of offering sacrifices as Moses did, and the cherished promise of a Messiah.

Jesus was a challenge. He offered a building block for all the world. The apostles laid this block on a Jewish wall. As humans, we often do the same, which is why there are so many houses of God. The question is, what did Jesus teach that would appeal and unite all people to one faith?

The Jews could not give up the dream of a conquering leader. The apostles were looking for positions in the new kingdom as late as the Last Supper where they grabbed seats that were based on position and how close they were to the seat of honor. Through every disappointment and clarifying lesson, the pursuit of power and status remained a motive for being an apostle.

But an overriding motive was growing stronger. They grew to love Jesus, as a friend, as someone to emulate, as one who loved them, and as the Son of God. As Matthew once said, “The more you understand some people, the less you admire them, but of this man, even the less I comprehend him, the more I love him.”

The crucifixion ended their dream of military conquest, and seeing Jesus in his resurrected form put things in a more spiritual light.

In less than a month after the bestowal of the Spirit of Truth at Pentecost, the apostles made more individual spiritual progress than during their almost four years of personal and loving association with the Master. The substitution of their message regarding the resurrection of Jesus for the saving gospel of sonship with God did not hinder the rapid spread of their teachings. On the contrary, this eclipse of Jesus' message by the new teachings about his person and resurrection appeared to greatly facilitate their preaching of the good news.

Andrew: Whether Jesus privately taught the apostles or preached to the multitude, Andrew was usually conversant with what was going on; he was an understanding executive and an efficient administrator. He rendered a prompt decision on every matter brought to his notice unless he deemed the problem to be one beyond the domain of his authority, in which event he would take it straight to Jesus. Of all the apostles, Andrew was the best judge of men. Andrew had a great gift for discovering the hidden resources and latent talents of young people.

Andrew admired Jesus because of his consistent sincerity and his unaffected dignity. He saw this when those who knew Jesus felt compelled to tell their friends about him because they genuinely wanted everyone to meet him.

When the later persecutions finally scattered the apostles from Jerusalem, Andrew journeyed through Armenia, Asia Minor, and Macedonia and, after bringing many thousands into the kingdom, was finally apprehended and crucified in Patrae in Achaia. It was two days before this robust man expired on the cross, and throughout these tragic hours, he continued to proclaim the glad tidings of the salvation of the kingdom of heaven.

Simon Peter: Peter, one of three personal aides to Jesus, was known for his impulsive and optimistic nature. He was an eloquent and dramatic speaker, a quick but not deep thinker, and was known for asking many questions, some of which were foolish. He was quick to decide and act but could be vacillating, swinging between extremes. Despite these flaws, his loyalty and friendship for Jesus were unwavering, yet he famously denied Jesus when faced with ridicule. Nevertheless, Peter played a crucial role in spreading Jesus' teachings and establishing the kingdom, becoming a prominent preacher alongside Paul.

The one trait which Peter most admired in Jesus was his supernal tenderness. Peter never grew weary of contemplating Jesus’ forbearance. He never forgot the lesson about forgiving the wrongdoer, not only seven times but seventy times and seven. He thought much about these impressions of the Master’s forgiving character during those dark and dismal days immediately following his thoughtless and unintended denial of Jesus in the high priest’s courtyard.

Peter went forth from Jerusalem proclaiming the glad tidings of the kingdom with power and glory until the fullness of his ministry had been accomplished; and he regarded himself as the recipient of high honors when his captors informed him that he must die as his Master had died — on the cross. And thus was Simon Peter crucified in Rome.

James Zebedee: James had strong feelings and a fiery temper that he often justified as righteous anger after the fact. He excelled as a public speaker, although he could alternate between quiet and talkative moods while sometimes remaining silent for days. His outstanding trait was his ability to see all sides of an issue. He was one of three personal aides to Jesus, and he came closest among the twelve in understanding the real significance of his teachings. James was a balanced thinker, a good planner, level-headed, modest, and dedicated to unpretentious daily service.

The characteristic of Jesus which James most admired was the Master’s sympathetic affection. Jesus’ understanding interest in the small and the great, the rich and the poor, made a great appeal to him.

James was the first of the apostles to experience martyrdom, being put to death with the sword by Herod Agrippa. James was thus the first of the twelve to sacrifice his life upon the new battle line of the kingdom. Agrippa feared James more than any other apostle. Despite his quietness, he was brave and determined when his beliefs were challenged. James lived his life fully, and when the end came, he bore himself with such grace and fortitude that even his accuser and informer, who attended his trial and execution, was so moved that he ran to join Jesus' disciples.

John Zebedee: John was the youngest of the twelve apostles and closely associated with Jesus in his family affairs. The mistaken idea of John being the disciple whom Jesus loved may have been partly due to John being one of the three personal aides to Jesus. John's character had many positive traits, such as dependability, promptness, courage, faithfulness, and devotion, but was marred by his concealed conceit. His youth and perhaps some indulgence may have contributed to this trait, but he matured into a very different person from the self-admiring young man who initially joined the apostles at age twenty-four.

Those characteristics of Jesus which John most appreciated were the Master’s love and unselfishness; these traits made such an impression on him that his whole subsequent life became dominated by the sentiment of love and brotherly devotion. He talked about love and wrote about love. When the aged bishop of Ephesus could no longer stand in the pulpit and preach but had to be carried to church in a chair, and when at the end of the service he was asked to say a few words to the believers, his only utterance was, "My little children, love one another."

John traveled much, labored incessantly, and after becoming bishop, settled down at Ephesus. He directed his associate, Nathan, in the writing of the so-called “Gospel according to John” at Ephesus when he was ninety-nine years old. Of all the twelve apostles, John Zebedee eventually became the outstanding theologian. He died a natural death at Ephesus in 103 CE when he was one hundred and one years of age.

Philip: Philip was characterized by his methodical reliability, but his weakness lay in his inability to envision beyond the obvious. Despite his commonplace nature, Jesus appreciated Philip's genuine, down-to-earth character. He patiently addressed Philip's numerous questions and encouraged him, understanding that such individuals, though prosaic, represented many in the broader audience who found comfort in seeing someone relatable elevated to a prominent position in the kingdom. Philip was the steward of the apostles, and it was his duty to ensure they were always supplied with provisions.

The one quality of Jesus that Philip continuously admired was the Master’s unfailing generosity. Philip never found anything in Jesus that was meager, miserly, or stingy, and he worshiped this ever-present and consistent generosity.

As the one-time steward of the twelve, Philip was a mighty man in the kingdom, winning souls wherever he went; and he was finally crucified for his faith and buried at Hierapolis.

Nathaniel: At twenty-five, Nathaniel was one of the youngest apostles and hailed from Cana, where he supported his elderly parents. Well-educated and honest, Nathaniel had a tendency toward pride and preconceived judgments. However, he was open to change and quickly transformed his opinions after encountering Jesus. Known for his philosophical musings and a keen sense of humor, Nathaniel’s duty was to look after the families of the twelve.

Nathaniel most revered Jesus for his tolerance. He never grew weary of contemplating the broadmindedness and generous sympathy of the Son of Man.

Nathaniel’s father (Bartholomew) died shortly after Pentecost, after which this apostle went into Mesopotamia and India proclaiming the glad tidings of the kingdom and baptizing believers. Nathaniel later died in India.

Matthew Levi: Matthew's strong point was his wholehearted devotion to the cause. That he had been taken in by Jesus and his apostles was the cause for overwhelming gratitude on the part of the former revenue collector. The great and useful life of Matthew, the business man of Capernaum, has been the means of leading thousands upon thousands of other business men, public officials, and politicians, down through the subsequent ages, also to hear that engaging voice of the Master saying, “Follow me.” Matthew really was a shrewd politician, but he was intensely loyal to Jesus and supremely devoted to the task of seeing that the messengers of the coming kingdom were adequately financed.

It was the Master’s forgiving disposition that Matthew most appreciated. He would never cease to recount that faith only was necessary in the business of finding God. He always liked to speak of the kingdom as “this business of finding God.”

It was in Thrace that certain unbelieving Jews conspired with the Roman soldiers to cause his death.

Thomas Didymus: Thomas was not highly educated, but he possessed a keen, analytical mind. He was exceptionally honest and loyal while he also struggled with suspicion and pessimism. His association with Jesus and the apostles began to transform him, instilling faith and changing his mental outlook. His strength lay in his analytical abilities and unwavering courage once he made up his mind, while his weakness was his persistent doubt and suspicion. He played a role in organizing the apostolic work, managing itineraries, and was effective in his work, but his moods could be inconsistent. Thomas's steadfast belief in Jesus showcased his genuine character and logical thinking, becoming a testament to Jesus' authenticity and work on earth, even for those with doubts.

The other apostles held Jesus in reverence because of some special and outstanding trait of his replete personality, but Thomas revered his Master because of his superbly balanced character. It was this matchless symmetry of personality that so charmed him. He probably enjoyed the highest intellectual understanding and personality appreciation of Jesus of any of the twelve.

Thomas continued preaching and baptizing until he was apprehended by the agents of the Roman government and was put to death in Malta.

James and Judas Alpheus: The twins were good-natured, simple-minded helpers, and everybody loved them. The multitudes of the common people were greatly encouraged to find two like themselves honored with places among the apostles. They were tasked with crowd control and providing general support to the apostles. James and Judas, who were also called Thaddeus and Lebbeus, had neither strong points nor weak points. The nicknames given to them by the disciples were good-natured designations of mediocrity. They were “the least of all the apostles,” but they knew it and felt cheerful about it.

James Alpheus especially loved Jesus because of the Master’s simplicity. These twins could not comprehend the mind of Jesus, but they did grasp the sympathetic bond between themselves and the heart of their Master. Their minds were not of a high order; they might even reverently be called stupid, but they had a real experience in their spiritual natures. They believed in Jesus; they were sons of God and fellows of the kingdom.

Judas Alpheus was drawn toward Jesus because of the Master’s unostentatious humility. Such humility linked with such personal dignity made a great appeal to Judas. The fact that Jesus would always enjoin silence regarding his unusual acts made a great impression on this simple child of nature.

The twins served faithfully until the end, until the dark days of trial, crucifixion, and despair. They never lost their heart faith in Jesus, and, with the exception of John, were the first to believe in his resurrection. But they could not comprehend the establishment of the kingdom. Soon after their Master was crucified, they returned to their families and nets.

Simon Zelotes: Simon was responsible for organizing recreational activities and diversions for the apostolic group, excelling in inspiring faith in those who hesitated to join the kingdom. However, his material-mindedness posed a challenge in transitioning from a Jewish nationalist to a spiritual internationalist. Despite his fiery nature and penchant for debate, he evolved into a powerful preacher of peace, becoming skilled at dealing with legalistic and intellectual minds. Simon's rebellious spirit found a new direction in his loyalty and love for Jesus, embracing the higher concepts of the kingdom of heaven.

The one thing about Jesus that Simon so much admired was the Master’s calmness, his assurance, poise, and inexplicable composure.

Simon went to Alexandria and, after working up the Nile, penetrated into the heart of Africa, everywhere preaching the gospel of Jesus and baptizing believers. Thus he labored until he was an old man and feeble. And he died and was buried in the heart of Africa.

Judas Iscariot: Judas was the only Judean among Jesus' disciples and one of the best-educated of the twelve. He served as their treasurer with efficiency and integrity until his betrayal of Jesus. Despite his business acumen and organizational skills, Judas was marked by pride, a tendency to prejudge, and an inability to understand himself sincerely. His resentment and desire for revenge eventually led him to betray Jesus. However, the Master had always known of Judas's weaknesses and tried to save him, but Judas's bitterness and confusion ultimately drove him to carry out his nefarious plan of betrayal.

There was no special trait about Jesus that Judas admired above the generally attractive and exquisitely charming personality of the Master. Judas was never able to rise above his Judean prejudices against his Galilean associates; he would even criticize in his mind many things about Jesus. He entertained the notion that Jesus was timid and somewhat afraid to assert his own power and authority.

After betraying Jesus, the renegade Judas, who sold his friend for thirty pieces of silver to satisfy his long-nurtured desire for vengeance, rushed out and committed suicide, the final act in the drama of fleeing the realities of mortal existence.