Twelve Apostles

[Janetx]

A little lengthy, but as near to fact as I can get. Peter, Andrew, James bar-Zebedee (James the Greater) son of Zebedee and Salome), John, Philip/Phillip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, Jude Thaddeus, Simon the 'Zealous', James (son of Alpheus - not to be confused with James the Little, Less or Lesser) and Judas, who was replaced. Some say the replacement was Saul who became Paul (after he converted when he regained his sighted, having been blinded by bird droppings or smote by the hand of a god), but I lean toward the Matthias (Matthew No. 2) theory, who may have been the author of the Matthew Gospel. There were lots of disciples, even Apostles had their own disciples. There, now, is that clear as mud?

[Cetti]

I think I understand what you're asking Janet (let me know if it's not). You've already named the 12 Apostles, which was the official name given to the Disciples. They were also known as the 'inner twelve' the rest didn't figure much except as bit players. Matthias was the one that replaced Judas Iscariot (Acts1:15-26), but he didn't write Matthew's Gospel. In fact nobody really knows who the author was, but it has been attributed to Matthew (Levi) himself, Apostle and one-time tax collector. Matthew's source of information is said to be Mark - who's info came from Peter. The Apostle Paul was given a different commision - to be a missionery to the Gentiles, so he spent most of his time travelling round the Mediterranean, getting into some very sticky situations, which included falling out with everybody else! I've already written this once -and then it disappeared, so here goes again...

[froggequene]

Paul (Saul) never knew Jesus, not in the physical sense of the word anyway, the only time he ever saw him was in a vision on the road to Damascus.

[Janetx]

Cetti, I wasn't asking a question, but trying to answer the earlier twelve disciples one, but couldn't post to it. Sorry, I should have explained that :)