Twelve apostles

The twelve apostles were the men Jesus chose to be with him, to preach and to be his witnesses. Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot, and the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are written on the foundations of the New Jerusalem.

Chosen by Jesus

• Mark 3:13-19
  ¹³And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him. ¹⁴And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach, ¹⁵And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:and to have authority to drive out demons. ¹⁶And Simon he surnamed Peter;These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter), ¹⁷And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”), ¹⁸And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Canaanite,Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, ¹⁹And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.
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• Luke 6:12-16
  ¹²And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.In those days Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God. ¹³And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles: ¹⁴Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,Simon, whom He named Peter, and his brother Andrew; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; ¹⁵Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon called Zelotes,Matthew and Thomas; James son of Alphaeus and Simon called the Zealot; ¹⁶And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
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• John 15:16
  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
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The names of the twelve

• Matthew 10:2-4
  ²Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; ³Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alpheus, and Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus;Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.
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• Acts 1:13
  And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
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Sent out with authority

• Matthew 10:1
  And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.And calling His twelve disciples to Him, Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could drive them out and heal every disease and sickness.
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• Matthew 10:5-8
  ⁵These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. ⁶But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. ⁷And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ ⁸Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
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• Luke 9:1-2
  ¹Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.Then Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and power to cure diseases. ²And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
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• Acts 1:8
  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
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Judas and Matthias

• Matthew 26:14-16
  ¹⁴Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests ¹⁵And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. ¹⁶And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
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• Acts 1:15-17
  ¹⁵And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (a gathering of about a hundred and twenty) and said, ¹⁶Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit foretold through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus. ¹⁷For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.He was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”
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• Acts 1:21-26
  ²¹Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²²Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.beginning from John’s baptism until the day Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” ²³And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. ²⁴And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen ²⁵That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.” ²⁶And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
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Witnesses and foundation of the church

• Acts 2:42
  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
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• Acts 4:33
  And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And abundant grace was upon them all.
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• Ephesians 2:19-20
  ¹⁹Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, ²⁰And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
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Their reward

• Matthew 19:28
  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
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• Luke 22:29-30
  ²⁹And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father has bestowed one on Me, ³⁰That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
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• Revelation 21:14
  And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
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See also

• Peter
• Discipleship
• Great Commission
• Church
• Paul

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.