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Twelve Apostles Facts & Worksheets

The Twelve Apostles were Jesus Christ’s 12 closest followers

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The 12 Apostles, also known as the 12 disciples or ‘The Twelve,’ were Jesus Christ’s 12 closest followers. Later, after Jesus’ death, each of them became major leaders in the belief system that led to the birth of Christianity and helped spread the gospel throughout the world.

See the fact file below for more information on the Twelve Apostles or alternatively, you can download our 29-page Twelve Apostles worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

DEFINITION AND ROLE OF THE APOSTLES

  • The word apostle is a derived word from Ancient Greek apóstolos, meaning ‘one who is sent off,’ from the verb apostéllein, ‘to send off.’
  • The 12 Apostles were the foundation of the church. They were vital in spreading the gospel to the people both during Jesus’ earthly ministry and after His ascension. 
  • They learned from Jesus the Christ and assisted him in carrying out his mission on Earth while He was with them.
  • They were present to witness the fulfillment of what had been prophesied by the Prophets decades before the birth of Jesus.
  • Regardless of the disciples’ backgrounds or occupations, Jesus saw their potential. He called them to be the “fishers of men” and as future missionaries to the world.

THE TWELVE APOSTLES

  • Simon Peter
    • Simon, Jonas’ son, lived in Bethsaida and Capernaum and was a fisherman before Jesus appointed him as one of his disciples. 
    • Peter was named Simon by his father, then Jesus gave him the nickname ‘Cephas,’ which translates to Peter and means ‘rock’ in Greek. 
    • He was the natural leader and spoke for the other 11 disciples. Despite the fact that Peter denied Jesus three times after his arrest, he was redeemed after the resurrection. He failed numerous times throughout his discipleship but later regained the courage and conviction to minister the gospel.
  • Andrew
    • Andrew is the younger brother of Peter. Like his brother, he was also a fisherman. He was a disciple of John the Baptist before following Jesus. The Bible stated that he did so by John’s request because he knew Jesus was the Messiah (John 1:35-37).
    • Andrew was also a key figure in the spread of the gospel. Many scholars believe he preached as far as Scythia, Greece, and Asia Minor. 
  • James
    • James is the son of Zebedee and Salome, as well as John’s brother. He was also a fisherman in Bethsaida, Capernaum, and Jerusalem.
    • He was briefly mentioned in the New Testament (Acts 1:13). He was present in Jerusalem’s upper room after Jesus ascended to heaven. 
  • John 
    • John the Evangelist is the brother of the Apostle James and, like his brother, was also a fisherman.
    • He is one of four gospel authors who have made important contributions to the books of the New Testament. He wrote the books of 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and The Revelation while jailed on the Island of Patmos.
    • He is also the disciple who wrote significantly about love, signifying his close relationship with Jesus who taught a lot about the subject.
  • Philip
    • Philip, like Peter and Andrew, was from Bethsaida. Philip was immediately convinced that Jesus was indeed the Messiah as prophesied by Moses. 
    • In the holy scriptures, Philip is best known for bringing Nathanael (or Bartholomew) to Jesus (John 1:45-46). In later years, he preached in Greece, Syria, and Phrygia.
  • Bartholomew
    • Bartholomew, originally named Nathaniel, was the son of Talmai, who lived in Cana. Of the 12 Apostles, he was the only one who had royal or noble ancestry. 
    • The New Testament says little about him, but he is known to have been an avid student of the Bible.
    • He was also a scholar of the law and of holy men and is regarded as one of the Church’s most active and bold missionaries.
  • Matthew
    • Matthew, known as Levi, lived and worked in Capernaum. He was a publican and a tax collector, two of the most criticized persons in Jewish society. 
    • Tax collectors at that time were deeply despised for being extremely unjust when charging citizens.
    • However, Jesus recognized Matthew’s potential and chose him. When Matthew heard Jesus say, “Follow me,” he dropped everything, obeyed, and followed him. 
    • Matthew was the first person to record Jesus Christ’s teachings and is one of the authors of the four gospels, He wrote the The Gospel According to Matthew in Hebrew.
  • Thomas
    • Thomas Didymus, also known as ‘Doubting Thomas,’ lived in Galilee. According to scholars, his Hebrew name was Thomas), and his Greek name was Didymus. He was a pessimist who couldn’t believe things until he witnessed them for himself.
    • Thomas is well-known for his refusal to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead until he saw the nail holes in Jesus’ hands and feet and the spear gash on his side. 
  • James, the Son of Alpheus
    • James, is also referred to as ‘James the Less’ (Mark 15:40), or ‘Lesser.’ Lesser was interpreted as ‘younger;’ some versions refer to him as ‘James the Younger’ and later ‘James, the Brother of Jesus.’
    • Apart from the fact that he was a disciple, little is known about James, the son of Alpheus.
    • James is hailed as an encouragement to those who are called to live in holiness and obedience. 
    • As Christians say, “Our callings are just as certain and God-honoring, but few will ever recognize our names on this earth.”
  • Simon the Zealot 
    • Simon the Zealot was a Canaanite from Galilee. He is also one of the Apostles least mentioned in the Bible.
    • He is only mentioned four times in the New Testament, in places where the names of the disciples are listed; no details are given about him other than that he was a Zealot.
  • Judas Thaddeus 
    • Jude Thaddeus, also known as Lebbeus, was the younger brother of James. It is said that he lived in obscurity as one of the Twelve. 
    • In John 14:22, he asked Jesus, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the rest of the world?” Judas appeared overly preoccupied with this question. Christ replied that He would reveal Himself to anyone who loved Him.
  • Judas Iscariot 
    • The last of the 12 Apostles, Judas Iscariot, is known for betraying Jesus. He was the elected treasurer of the group because they thought he was good with money. 
    • However, biblical accounts in John 12:4-6 say that he was untrustworthy. In exchange for 30 pieces of silver, he betrayed Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16).

THE IMPACT OF THE APOSTLES

  • After Jesus’ resurrection, He gave the Great Commission to the 11 disciples to spread the gospel to all nations (excluding Judas Iscariot, who had committed suicide after betraying Jesus). This is known as the dispersion of the Apostles. 
  • The Disciples were later referred to as the Apostles, and Matthias was chosen by lot to replace Judas Iscariot.
  • The Apostles became the instruments of spreading Christianity around the world as they traveled as far as India. 
  • They did not seek to change the world; rather, they sought to proclaim that Jesus had changed their lives. 
  • By proclaiming Christ and His blessings, many lives were transformed, churches were established, and the world recognized the Christian faith.

Twelve Apostles Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about the Twelve Apostles across 29 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about the Twelve Apostles also known as the Twelve Disciples of Jesus Christ who became some of the pillars of Christianity.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Twelve Apostles Facts
  • The Teacher
  • Disciple vs. Apostle
  • Apostles’ Creed
  • An Apostle
  • The Twelve
  • The Chosen Ones
  • Story in Pictures
  • Peter, the Apostle
  • Fishers of Men
  • Christianity Today
  • 12 Apostles of Victoria

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the names of the Twelve Apostles?

The twelve people considered to be the apostles are Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alpheus, Simon the Zealot, Judas Thaddeus, and Judas Iscariot.

What’s the difference between an apostle and a disciple?

In Christianity, anyone who spreads the word of God and Jesus is considered to be a disciple. An apostle is considered someone chosen specifically by Jesus to spread his message.

Why are the Twelve Apostles important?

The Twelve Apostiles are important to Christianity because these people spread the word of Jesus during his life and after it. They were the primary teachers of the gospel.

When did the Twelve Apostles exist?

These individuals lived during the life of Jesus and after his death, so the first century CE.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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