Most people know Jesus had 12 disciples. And they might be able to tell you the names of a couple. Can you name all 12?

John – Peter – James are the most prominent by mention of name in the NT. Andrew too gets quite a bit of air time. But what about the others.

Of course Peter was first called Simon – Jesus renamed him. Then there’s Philip, Bartholomew sometimes called Nathanael. Thomas too gets some mention, and is noted for his “doubting” though his humanity is admirable I think. He too is sometimes called Didymus. There’s Matthew, the author of the first book of New Testament, and also is referred by another name – Levi (who went on to begin a famous pant manufacturer – just kidding!!)

James the lesser, who was the son of Alphaeus and Mary and had a brother John. The other James who is his brother of John and they were referred to as the Sons of Thunder! James was the first of the disciples to be martyred. If you know the story – the Church was praying for Peter because he was arrested with James, and would have been the next to be killed but an angel came and released Peter who made his way to where they were praying but they didn’t believe at first that it was him! Yup – pray but be surprised when God answers!

Then there’s the disciple Thaddaeus, who is also called Jude or Lebbaeus. Then there’s the other Simon who was a zealot, so he’s called Simon the Zealot!

And that just leaves Judas – famous for betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. He was replaced by Matthias.

And just what does it mean to be a disciple – the word means follower or learner. Later they were called apostles because they were “sent out”.

Which raises the question, are we disciples? Can we be referred as disciples? Of course if we are followers of Jesus!

And so knowing The Bible, and being in step with The Spirit, is very important because, as John writes:

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”