Calling and Description of the first Quorum of the Twelve (in New Testament Church)

The Disciples (Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20)

Simon called Peter

Andrew his brother

James, son of Zebedee

John his brother

Matthew (Matthew 9:9)

(Luke 5:1-11)

Possibly a later event by the Lake of Gennesaret

Simon Peter

James and John, sons of Zebedee, partners with Simon

Some of the disciples may have received as many as five calls:

In Judea: John, Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip and Nathaneal (John 1:35-51)

In Galilee: Peter and Andrew, James and John (Matthew and Mark references)

In Galilee later (Luke): Simon, James, John

Called to the apostleship (Matt. 10:1-4): Peter, Andrew, James, John, Nathaneal (Bartholomew)

After the resurrection: Called back to their appointed ministries

The Apostles (Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:13-21, Luke 6:12-16)

In Luke 6:12, The Lord spends all night in prayer to God prior to calling the apostles.

From among his disciples, the Lord chose the Twelve whom he ordained and named apostles. Seven had received a preliminary call: Andrew, John, Simon Peter, Philip, Nathanael, James, Levi Matthew,

The Twelve:

1. Simon, the first apostle, known as Peter (son of Jona or Jonas), a fisherman. His brother Andrew and he were partners with James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They owned their boats and gave employment to others. Simon Peter was married before his call.

2. James I. His title (and that of John, his brother) was Boanerges (Sons of Thunder.) James was beheaded by Herod Agrippa (Acts 12:2) , the earliest of the martyrs.

3. John had been a disciple of the Baptist. One of the Sons of Thunder. Known as John the Revelator and John the Beloved. Writer of the fourth Gospel.

4. Andrew, son of Jona, brother of Simon Peter. One of the Baptist’s followers.

5. Philip. Lived in Bethsaida, the town of Peter, Andrew, James and John.

6. Bartholomew. Probably also the man called Nathanael in John’s Gospel, "an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." Lived in Cana of Galilee.

7. Matthew or Levi, son of Alpheus. He was a publican. Author of the first Gospel.

8. Thomas also known as Didymus (meaning a twin.) Known later as Doubting Thomas

9. James II, son of Alpheus. Could also be the James who was the brother of the Lord, the writer of the Epistle of James.

10. Judas (called Lebbeus Thaddeus by Matthew; Thaddeus by Mark; and Judas the brother of James by Luke. John calls him "not Iscariot."

11. Simon Zelotes called the Canaanite. Refers to the Zealots, a Jewish sect.