Apostle

Alternate meaning: See Apostle (Mormonism)

The Christian Apostles were Jewish men who were "sent forth" (as indicated by the Greek word apostolos), by Jesus to preach Christianity to both Jews and Gentiles, across the world.

"He called unto him his disciples, and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles." — Gospel of Luke vi. 13.

The original twelve apostles

According to the Gospels of Mark (3:16-19) and Matthew (10:2-4), the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus Christ near the beginning of his ministry were:

Simon Peter
Andrew
James and John, the sons of Zebedee
Philip
Bartholomew
Matthew (sometimes identified with Levi, son of Alphaeus)
Thomas, also known as Judas Thomas Didymus ("the twin")
James son of Alphaeus
Thaddaeus-Jude Thaddaeus- (called in some manuscripts of Matthew Lebbaeus)
Simon the Canaanite (called in Luke and Acts "Simon the Zealot")
Judas Iscariot

The list in the Gospel of Luke omits Thaddaeus (6:13-16), but includes Judas, son of James; Thaddaeus is also called "Judas the Zealot" in some Old Latin translations of Matthew 10:3.

The Gospel of John, unlike the Synoptic Gospels, does not offer a list of apostles, nor does the author even state their number. However, the following apostles appear in the fourth gospel: Andrew, Peter, Philip, Nathanael, Thomas, Judas "not Judas Iscariot", Judas Iscariot, the 'Beloved Disciple' (usually thought to be John himself), and "the sons of Zebedee (James and John)".

The 12th apostle

Judas Iscariot having betrayed Christ, and then in guilt hanged himself before Christ's resurrection (in one Gospel account), the apostles were then eleven in number. According to Acts 1:23-26, between the ascension of Christ, and the day of Pentecost, the remaining apostles selected a twelfth apostle by casting lots. The lot fell upon Matthias, who then became the last of the "twelve apostles" in the New Testament.

Additional apostles

In his writings, Paul also described himself as an apostle (e.g. Romans 1:1 and other letters); specifically he referred to himself as 'the Apostle to the Gentiles' (Romans 11:13). He also described some of his companions as apostles (Romans 16:7).

The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews refers to Jesus as the first apostle of the Christian confession.

In Acts 14:14, Barnabas is called an apostle.

James the brother of Jesus is also called an apostle in the Bible.

Later Christianizing apostles

A number of successful pioneering missionaries are known as "Apostles". In this sense, in the traditional list below, the "apostle" first brought Christianity (or Arianism in the case of Ulfilas and the Goths) to a land. Or it may apply to the truly influential Christianizer, such as Patrick's mission to Ireland, where a few struggling Christian communities did already exist. The reader will soon think of more of the culture heroes.

"Apostles"

Apostle to the Abyssinians: Saint Frumentius
Apostle of Andalusia: Juan de Avila, 1500 - 1569
Apostle of the Ardennes: Saint Hubert, 656 - 727
Apostle to the Armenians: Saint Gregory the Illuminator, 256 - 331
Apostle to Brazil: Jos� de Anchieta, 1533 - 1597
Apostle to Karantania: Bishop Virgilius of Salzburg (745-84)
Apostle to the Cherokees: Cephas Washburn
Apostle to the English: Saint Augustine, died 604
Apostle to the Franks: Saint Denis (3rd century)
Apostle to the Frisians: Saint Willibrord, 657 - 738
Apostle to the Gauls: Saint Irenaeus, (130 - 200
Apostle to the Gauls: Saint Martin of Tours, 338 - 401
Apostle to the Gentiles: Saint Paul
Apostle to the Germans: Saint Boniface, 680 - 755
Apostle to the Goths: Bishop Ulfilas
Apostle to Hungary: Saint Anastasius, 954 - 1044
Apostle to India: Saint Thomas
Apostle to the "Indians" (Amerindians): John Eliot, 1604 - 1690
Apostle to the Indies (West): Bartolomm� de las Casas, 1474 - 1566
Apostle to the Indies (East): Saint Francis Xavier, 1506 - 1552
Apostle to Ireland: Saint Patrick, 373 - 463
Apostle to the Iroquois, Francois Piquet, 1708 - 1781
Apostle to the North: Saint Ansgar, 801 - 864
Apostle to the Parthians: Saint Thomas
Apostle of Peru: Alonzo de Barcena, 1528 - 1598
Apostle to the Picts: Saint Ninian, 5th century
Apostle to the Scots: Saint Columba, 521 - 597
Apostle to the Slavs: Saint Cyril, c 820 - 869
Apostle to the Slavs: Saint Methodius

Some Eastern Orthodox saints are given the title specific to the Eastern rites "equal-to-the-apostles". The myrrh-bearing women, who went to anoint Christ's body and first learned of his resurrection, are sometimes called the "apostles to the apostles" because they were sent by Jesus to tell the apostles of his resurrection.

Many Charismatic churches consider apostleship to be a gift of the Holy Spirit still given today (based on 1 Corinthians 12:28). The gift is associated with church leadership or church planting.