Almanac › Peoples & groups

The Twelve

Greek οἱ δώδεκα. Literally "the twelve". Also called The twelve apostles, Twelve disciples, Apostles, Hoi dodeka.

The twelve Jesus chose “that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach,” listed four times and always in the same three groups of four.

Matthew, Mark, Luke and Acts each name the twelve. The order changes from list to list, but never between the groups: the same four men are always together, and each group is always headed by the same man, Simon Peter, then Philip, then James the son of Alphaeus. Judas Iscariot always comes last, and Acts names eleven, because he is dead; the lot then falls on Matthias, “counted with the eleven apostles.” One place has two names. Matthew’s tenth is “Lebbaeus, who was also called Thaddaeus,” and Mark calls him Thaddaeus, where Luke and Acts have “Judas the son of James.” Most readers take them as one man, as the drawing does, but the text never says so. Matthew calls the tax collector Matthew where Mark and Luke tell the same call of Levi, and John never lists the twelve at all: his Nathanael is joined to Bartholomew only by tradition.

The four lists of the twelve apostles, side by side Matthew, Mark, Luke and Acts each list the twelve in three groups of four. The order changes inside each group but never between them, and each group is always headed by the same man: Peter, Philip, then James the son of Alphaeus. Acts lists eleven, and Matthias is chosen to make twelve. Matthew 10:2–4 Mark 3:16–19 Luke 6:14–16 Acts 1:13, 26 Simon, who is called Peter Andrew, his brother James the son of Zebedee John, his brother Philip Bartholomew Thomas Matthew the tax collector James the son of Alphaeus Lebbaeus, called Thaddaeus Simon the Zealot Judas Iscariot Simon (named Peter) James the son of Zebedee John, the brother of James Andrew Philip Bartholomew Matthew Thomas James, the son of Alphaeus Thaddaeus Simon the Zealot Judas Iscariot Simon, named Peter Andrew, his brother James John Philip Bartholomew Matthew Thomas James the son of Alphaeus Simon called the Zealot Judas the son of James Judas Iscariot Peter John James Andrew Philip Thomas Bartholomew Matthew James the son of Alphaeus Simon the Zealot Judas the son of James Matthias, by lot (1:26)
The four lists of the twelve, in their own order
Matthew 10:2–4Mark 3:16–19Luke 6:14–16Acts 1:13, 26
Simon, who is called PeterSimon (named Peter)Simon, named PeterPeter
Andrew, his brotherJames the son of ZebedeeAndrew, his brotherJohn
James the son of ZebedeeJohn, the brother of JamesJamesJames
John, his brotherAndrewJohnAndrew
PhilipPhilipPhilipPhilip
BartholomewBartholomewBartholomewThomas
ThomasMatthewMatthewBartholomew
Matthew the tax collectorThomasThomasMatthew
James the son of AlphaeusJames, the son of AlphaeusJames the son of AlphaeusJames the son of Alphaeus
Lebbaeus, called ThaddaeusThaddaeusSimon called the ZealotSimon the Zealot
Simon the ZealotSimon the ZealotJudas the son of JamesJudas the son of James
Judas IscariotJudas IscariotJudas IscariotMatthias, by lot (1:26)
Each column is one list, in its own order. A line joins the same man from list to list; the lines cross only inside a group of four, never between groups, and each group is headed by the same man (in bold). The dashed line joins Thaddaeus to Judas the son of James, who hold the same place; the text never says they are one man. Acts names eleven, and Matthias is chosen by lot to make twelve. Matthew 10:2–4 · Mark 3:16–19 · Luke 6:14–16 · Acts 1:13, 26.

Where it appears

See also

All 84 almanac entries