The Thirteen Disciples
(Not Twelve?)
The 13 disciples are listed in Matthew 10:1-4, Mark 3:14-19, Luke 6:12-16, and Acts 2:12. See also Matthew 4:18-12 and Mark 1:16-20, where Simon and Andrew and James and John, the fishermen, are called.
John mentions a Nathanael in 1:43-51 as having been called (“follow me”), but Nathanael is not mentioned in the synoptic Gospels, and John appears uninterested in identifying a special group of 12. However, in John 21:2, Simon Peter, Thomas the Twin, Nathanael of Cana, the sons of Zebedee, and “two others of his disciples” are identified as being together in a post-resurrection gathering by the Sea of Tiberius (the Sea of Galilee).
Acts 1:23-26 states that after the crucifixion, the disciples cast lots to decide who would take Judas Iscariot’s place. Two candidates were put forward Joseph Barsabbas (literally “son of the father”) surnamed Justus, and Matthias. The lot fell on Matthias.
The only reason that there are 13 disciples instead of 12 is that Luke substitutes Judas the son of James in place of Thaddaeus (a/k/a Lebbaeus). It is doubtful that this Judas is the same person as Thaddaeus/Lebbaeus, but it is not impossible.
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Simon-Peter |
Simon-Peter is Andrew’s brother. Peter (based on the Greek word for rock) is also known as Cephas (Aramaic for rock). There are two Simons that were disciples. |
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Andrew |
Andrew is Simon-Peter’s brother. |
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James Zebedee |
James Zebedee is John’s brother. The two are also named Boanerges (sons of thunder). James Zebedee is sometimes known as James the Great, to distinguish him from James Alphaeus.. |
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John Zebedee |
John Zebedee is the brother of James the Great. He is possibly the same person as John-Mark. This is probably the “disciple whom Jesus’ loved.”[1] |
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Matthew Alphaeus |
Matthew is probably the same person as Levi, the son of Alphaeus.[2] If so, Matthew is the brother of James the Lesser. |
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James Alphaeus |
There are two James,’ James the Lesser, “the son [or brother] of Alphaeus,” and James Zebedee. |
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Judas Alphaeus(?), the son of James |
Judas is either the brother or son of James, depending on whether you are reading the KJV or the RSV. Assuming this James to be James Alphaeus, we either have three Alphaeus brothers, or two brothers and a son and nephew. The reason that there are thirteen disciples rather than twelve, is
that Luke 6:16 (and Acts 2:13) identifies Judas the son of James as a
disciple, and eliminates Thaddaeus/Lebbaeus from the list. Judas the son of James is not mentioned by the other Gospel writers, and Thaddaeus/Lebbaeus is not mentioned in Luke/Acts. |
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Simon |
There are two Simons, Simon-Peter and Simon the Cananaen/ Canaanite/Zealot. Mark mentions Simon the Cananaen/ Canaanite, whereas Luke speaks of Simon the Zealot. A Canaanite would ordinarily be thought of as a Gentile, but if this Simon is the same person as Simon the Zealot, then that cannot be the case. |
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Judas Iscariot |
There are two Judas’ if Luke is to be believed. The other is Judas Alphaeus(?) the son of James. |
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Thaddaeus |
Thaddaeus is left off of Luke’s list. Some versions of Matthew list Lebbaeus in place of Thaddaeus or as being the same person as Thaddaeus. |
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Thomas |
The doubter. |
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Bartholomew |
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Phillip |
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