Every story of faith begins with a calling. In the quiet hills of Galilee, along the shores of the Sea where fishermen cast their nets, Jesus called twelve ordinary men to share in an extraordinary mission. These were the original Twelve Apostles — the first chosen witnesses of the Incarnation, the Resurrection, and the birth of the Church. Their names are etched not only in Scripture but in the very foundation of Christian faith, for through their lives and their martyrdoms, the message of Christ was carried into every nation and every heart that believed.
Dear friends in Christ, to speak of the Twelve Apostles is to speak of the roots of our faith. These were not scholars or rulers; they were simple men who left everything to follow a voice that called them beyond their understanding. In their weakness, we see our own humanity; in their faith, we see what grace can do. Today, we look deeply at who they were, what they were called to do, and how their witness still shapes the Church’s mission to this day.
The Calling of the Twelve
When Jesus called His disciples, He did not summon the powerful or the elite. The Gospels tell us: “He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He desired, and they came to Him. And He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach” (Mark 3:13–14).
This moment is not just a historical event but a revelation of God’s way: He builds His kingdom not through might, but through love and faithful obedience. Each Apostle was chosen personally, by name, as if the voice of God whispered into their hearts. Their diversity—fishermen, a tax collector, a zealot—reflected the unity that Christ would bring among all peoples.
The number twelve, echoing the twelve tribes of Israel, signifies a new covenant people. Just as the tribes of Israel represented the old covenant of God with His chosen nation, the Twelve Apostles symbolize the new covenant established in Christ’s blood, extending salvation to all humanity.
The Twelve by Name
The Gospels record their names: Peter, Andrew, James the Greater, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the Less, Thaddeus (Jude), Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.
Each name carries a story—unique, personal, and yet intertwined with the one great story of salvation.
Peter and Andrew
Peter, once Simon, was the fisherman whom Jesus called to be the “rock” upon which the Church would be built. His brother Andrew was the first to follow Jesus, showing quiet faith and joyful obedience. Andrew’s act of bringing others to Christ—most notably Peter himself—embodies the heart of evangelization.
James and John
The sons of Zebedee, known as “sons of thunder,” reveal the zeal that Christ would temper with love. John, the beloved disciple, would one day rest his head upon Christ’s chest and write words that would echo through eternity: “In the beginning was the Word…” (John 1:1). James, the first Apostle to be martyred, bore witness even unto death.
Philip and Bartholomew
Philip was quick to respond to Jesus’ call and eager to tell others: “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote” (John 1:45). Bartholomew (often identified with Nathanael) was the man of transparent heart, to whom Jesus said, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit.”
Matthew and Thomas
Matthew, the tax collector, left behind wealth and reputation to follow Christ—proof that grace can transform even the most unlikely soul. Thomas, remembered for doubting, gave one of the most profound confessions of faith: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). His journey from doubt to faith mirrors that of many believers today.
James the Less, Jude, and Simon
These lesser-known Apostles remind us that holiness is not measured by fame. James the Less served faithfully; Jude (Thaddeus) became a symbol of hope for the desperate; and Simon the Zealot left behind his revolutionary ambitions to follow the Prince of Peace.
Judas Iscariot
The name that causes sorrow. Judas, who betrayed Jesus for thirty silver coins, teaches us that freedom can be used for ruin or redemption. His tragedy stands as a warning—and a call—to humility and perseverance in grace.
Apostolic Witness and Martyrdom
The Apostles did not merely believe—they bore witness. After Pentecost, filled with the Holy Spirit, they went forth to the nations. Their voices proclaimed Christ crucified and risen, and their blood became the seed of the Church.
Tradition tells us:
- Peter was crucified upside down in Rome.
- Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped cross in Greece.
- James the Greater was beheaded in Jerusalem.
- John was exiled to Patmos, the only Apostle to die a natural death.
- Philip preached in Phrygia and was martyred there.
- Bartholomew was flayed alive for his faith.
- Matthew was killed while celebrating the Eucharist.
- Thomas was martyred in India.
- James the Less was thrown from the Temple walls.
- Jude and Simon were martyred together in Persia.
Their lives were spent like oil poured out before the Lord—a fragrant offering of love and fidelity.
They carried Christ’s words not just in their memory, but in their very being. What began in a small circle of twelve became the living heartbeat of the Church’s mission: to make disciples of all nations.
Apostolic Succession: The Living Continuity of the Church
The mission of the Twelve did not end with their deaths. Before their departure, they appointed successors—bishops—to continue teaching, sanctifying, and guiding the faithful. This sacred continuity, known as Apostolic Succession, ensures that the faith we profess today is the same faith handed down from the Apostles themselves.
In the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, this succession is unbroken, forming a living link between the first disciples and today’s pastors. The bishops, as successors of the Apostles, are entrusted with the same mission: to proclaim Christ faithfully, guard the deposit of faith, and shepherd the people of God.
This is why, in every creed and confession, we profess our belief in “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.” The word apostolic is not a mere title—it is the lifeblood of continuity, the assurance that the same Gospel preached by Peter and Paul is proclaimed today from every pulpit and altar.
Lessons from the Twelve for Today
Faith in Weakness
Each Apostle had moments of failure—Peter’s denial, Thomas’s doubt, their collective fear at the Cross. Yet Christ did not abandon them. He met Peter on the shore, Thomas in the upper room, and all of them in their fear. Their story reminds us that God’s grace is stronger than our weakness.
The Apostles teach us that sanctity is not perfection, but perseverance in love.
Unity in Diversity
From a tax collector to a zealot, the Apostles came from opposite ends of society. Yet in Christ, they found unity of heart and mission. The Church today, too, is called to be one body made up of many members—diverse, yet united in Christ’s love.
The Call to Mission
The word apostle means “one who is sent.” Every Christian shares in this mission. We are all sent into the world to bear witness—to speak of Christ not only with words but with our lives. The faith of the Apostles lives on when we forgive, when we serve, when we love without condition.
The Twelve and the Church’s Identity
The Apostles are the pillars of the Church. In the Book of Revelation, St. John sees the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven: “The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:14)
Their names, written upon the foundations of heaven itself, remind us that the Church is built not on human wisdom but on divine revelation entrusted to living witnesses. The Apostles remind us that faith is not an idea but a relationship—a living encounter with the Risen Lord.
The Spiritual Legacy of the Apostles
Through the centuries, devotion to the Apostles has nurtured the life of the Church. Their feasts, relics, and writings have inspired saints, missionaries, and faithful believers across the world. The Apostles’ Creed, rooted in their witness, continues to summarize the essentials of Christian belief.
When we recite, “I believe in God, the Father Almighty… and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,” we echo the same faith they proclaimed. Their faith is our faith; their mission is our mission.
The Church’s mission, therefore, is not a new invention in every age—it is the ongoing unfolding of the apostolic life: to know Christ, to love Him, and to make Him known.
A Living Apostolic Faith
To be Christian is to belong to the same story that began with the Twelve. The same Spirit that descended at Pentecost still moves in the hearts of believers today. The same Gospel that Peter preached still brings life to souls.
When we look at the Apostles, we see what the grace of God can accomplish in ordinary lives surrendered to Him. They were fishermen, tax collectors, zealots—but in the hands of Christ, they became instruments of salvation.
In every generation, Christ still calls new apostles—men and women of courage, humility, and love—to carry His light into a darkened world. Each of us, in our own way, is invited to take up the apostolic mission: to be witnesses of the Resurrection, bearers of mercy, and heralds of hope.
Reflect and Pray
The story of the original Twelve Apostles is not a tale of the past—it is the living heartbeat of our faith. Through their courage, the Gospel reached the world; through their prayers, the Church endures.
Let us remember that the same Lord who called them now calls us by name. He asks not for perfection, but for trust.
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit.”
— John 15:16
May the witness of the Apostles strengthen our faith and renew our zeal to follow Christ wherever He leads.
Lord Jesus, as You called the Twelve to walk with You, grant that we too may answer Your call with generous hearts. Fill us with the courage of Peter, the love of John, and the perseverance of all who bore witness to Your name. May their faith inspire ours, and their mission continue through us. Amen.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
