Twelve Apostles

The Twelve Apostles were a group of followers whom Jesus appointed as his emissaries in the New Testament. Their names appear in Gospel lists, though the lists differ in some details.

Peter the Apostle: A Galilean fisherman and leading disciple of Jesus, called Peter in the Gospels and Cephas in some New Testament writings. The Gospels consistently place Peter at the forefront of the Twelve.
Apostle: A person sent as an authorized emissary; in the New Testament, the word also names particular messengers of Jesus. The Twelve are a defined group within the wider New Testament use of apostle.
Calling of the Apostles: The Gospel accounts in which Jesus calls disciples to follow him and, in some accounts, appoints the Twelve. These scenes show how the group is formed and given a mission.
Paul the Apostle: An early Christian missionary and letter-writer who claimed a commission as an apostle despite not belonging to the Twelve. Paul shows that apostolic authority extended beyond the group appointed during Jesus's ministry.
John the Apostle: A son of Zebedee and one of Jesus's Twelve Apostles in the Synoptic Gospels. John is named among the Twelve and paired with his brother James.
Disciple: A learner or follower who attaches themselves to a teacher or religious leader. The Twelve were disciples, but the Gospels describe many other followers too.
Sending of the Twelve: A Gospel episode in which Jesus sends the Twelve to preach and heal during his ministry. The mission makes the group's emissary role explicit.
Seventy disciples: A larger group of followers whom Jesus sends on a mission in Luke 10; some manuscripts number them seventy-two. Luke distinguishes this mission group from the Twelve.
James son of Zebedee: A Galilean fisherman and one of Jesus's Twelve Apostles, traditionally known as James the Greater. He belongs to the inner circle alongside Peter and John in several Gospel episodes.
Gospel: A narrative or proclamation about Jesus; the New Testament contains four canonical Gospel books. The Gospel books preserve the principal lists and stories about the Twelve.

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