The Twelve Apostles were the group of disciples specially chosen by Jesus Christ to learn from Him, assist His ministry, and later spread His message. Their stories appear throughout the four Gospels and the Book of Acts. Although they came from different backgrounds and had different personalities, they shared an important role in the beginning of Christianity.
The word “apostle” means someone who is sent on a mission. Jesus selected twelve men, a number that reflected the twelve tribes of Israel. The group included Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot. Some biblical lists use slightly different names, such as Judas son of James instead of Thaddaeus.
Several apostles were fishermen before following Jesus. Peter and Andrew were brothers, as were James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Matthew had worked as a tax collector, an occupation often disliked by other Jews because tax collectors served the Roman system. Simon was called the Zealot, possibly connecting him with strong opposition to Roman rule.
The apostles traveled with Jesus as He taught crowds, healed the sick, performed miracles, and visited towns throughout Galilee and Judea. They listened to His parables and asked questions when they did not understand. Jesus also sent them out to preach, heal, and announce the coming of God’s kingdom.
The Gospels do not present the apostles as perfect people. They sometimes argued about which of them was greatest, misunderstood Jesus’ teachings, or struggled with fear and doubt. Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, Thomas doubted the resurrection at first, and Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.
After Judas’s death, Matthias was chosen to take his place. Following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, the apostles received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. They then preached publicly, established Christian communities, and faced opposition because of their faith. Peter and John became especially prominent in the early chapters of Acts.
A Twelve Apostles word search helps readers become familiar with the names, relationships, occupations, and experiences of Jesus’ closest followers. As they complete the puzzle, readers can revisit their calling, missionary work, moments of weakness, growth in faith, and important contribution to the early Church.
Related Word Searches:
Jesus Christ | Last Supper | New Testament | Paul
ANDREW, ANOINTED, APOSTLE, BETRAYAL, CALLED, DISCIPLE, FAITH, FISHERMAN, GALILEAN, GOSPELS, HOLY LAND, ISCARIOT, JAMES, JESUS, JOHN, JUDAS, MATTHEW, MESSIAH, MINISTRY, MIRACLES, PETER, PHILIP, THADDEUS, THOMAS
ANDREW – One of the Twelve Apostles, brother of Simon Peter, originally a fisherman from Bethsaida. He was the first disciple called by Jesus and later became a missionary spreading Christianity.
ANOINTED – A sacred act of applying oil to a person, symbolizing divine selection or blessing. Jesus, meaning “the Anointed One,” was anointed by God for His holy mission and ministry.
APOSTLE – A title given to the twelve men chosen by Jesus to spread His teachings. The word means “one who is sent,” reflecting their mission to carry the Gospel to the world.
BETRAYAL – The act of Judas Iscariot handing Jesus over to the authorities for thirty silver coins. This devastating act of disloyalty led directly to Jesus’s arrest, trial, and crucifixion.
CALLED – Jesus personally summoned each of His twelve apostles, inviting them to leave their former lives behind. This divine calling transformed ordinary men into dedicated followers with an extraordinary spiritual mission.
DISCIPLE – A devoted follower and student of Jesus who learned His teachings and principles. The apostles were disciples, committed to living according to Christ’s word and spreading His transformative message.
FAITH – The cornerstone of the apostles’ spiritual journey, representing complete trust and belief in Jesus Christ. Their unwavering faith enabled them to perform miracles and endure persecution for their beliefs.
FISHERMAN – Several apostles, including Peter, Andrew, James, and John, were fishermen before Jesus called them. Jesus famously told them He would make them “fishers of men,” transforming their earthly trade spiritually.
GALILEAN – Most of the twelve apostles came from Galilee, a northern region of ancient Israel. Jesus also conducted much of His ministry in this area, around the famous Sea of Galilee.
GOSPELS – The four sacred books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John that document the life and teachings of Jesus. They serve as the primary source of knowledge about Jesus and His apostles.
HOLY LAND – The sacred region in the Middle East where Jesus lived, ministered, and was crucified. The apostles walked this blessed territory, witnessing miracles and spreading the foundational teachings of Christianity firsthand.
ISCARIOT – The surname of Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus. The name likely refers to a town called Kerioth. Judas remains history’s most infamous traitor, deeply tied to Jesus’s arrest and death.
JAMES – Two apostles shared this name. James, son of Zebedee, was brother of John and among Jesus’s inner circle. James, son of Alphaeus, was another faithful follower who served the early church.
JESUS – The central figure of Christianity, believed to be the Son of God. He selected the twelve apostles, taught profound spiritual truths, performed extraordinary miracles, and sacrificed Himself for humanity’s salvation.
JOHN – Son of Zebedee and brother of James, John was among Jesus’s closest apostles. Known as the “Beloved Disciple,” he wrote the Gospel of John, three epistles, and the Book of Revelation.
JUDAS – The apostle who betrayed Jesus to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver. After Jesus was condemned, Judas was overcome with remorse and tragically took his own life in despair.
MATTHEW – A tax collector called by Jesus to become an apostle, also known as Levi. He authored the first Gospel of the New Testament, documenting the life and teachings of Jesus with detail.
MESSIAH – The long-awaited savior prophesied in the Old Testament, believed by Christians to be Jesus Christ. The apostles recognized Jesus as the Messiah and dedicated their lives to proclaiming this powerful truth.
MINISTRY – The active public work of Jesus and His apostles, involving preaching, healing, and teaching. The apostles continued Jesus’s ministry after His resurrection, establishing Christian communities throughout the ancient Mediterranean world.
MIRACLES – Extraordinary supernatural events performed by Jesus and, later, His apostles. These included healing the sick, raising the dead, and calming storms, serving as powerful signs of divine authority and presence.
PETER – Originally named Simon, Peter was a fisherman who became the leader of the twelve apostles. Jesus gave him the name “Peter,” meaning rock, and declared he would build His Church upon him.
PHILIP – An apostle from Bethsaida who was among the first called by Jesus. Philip brought Nathanael to Christ and later evangelized Samaria, performing miracles and baptizing many converts into the early Christian faith.
THADDEUS – Also known as Judas, son of James, Thaddeus was one of the lesser-known apostles. He is believed to have preached in Persia and Mesopotamia, and is venerated as a patron of desperate causes.
THOMAS – Known as “Doubting Thomas” for questioning Jesus’s resurrection until he saw the wounds himself. Despite his initial doubt, Thomas became a courageous missionary believed to have spread Christianity as far as India.
ANDREW, ANOINTED, APOSTLE, BETRAYAL, CALLED, DISCIPLE, FAITH, FISHERMAN, GALILEAN, GOSPELS, HOLY LAND, ISCARIOT, JAMES, JESUS, JOHN, JUDAS, MATTHEW, MESSIAH, MINISTRY, MIRACLES, PETER, PHILIP, THADDEUS, THOMAS
The Twelve Apostles were men personally chosen by Jesus Christ to spread His teachings. They included Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon, and Judas Iscariot.
Their primary mission was to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations. They preached, performed miracles, established early churches, and laid the foundational framework for what became worldwide Christianity.
Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty silver coins, possibly driven by greed or disillusionment. His act of betrayal fulfilled ancient prophecy and directly led to Jesus’s arrest, trial, and crucifixion in Jerusalem.
After the resurrection, the apostles spread Christianity across the known world. Most faced persecution and died as martyrs, courageously giving their lives rather than renouncing their faith in Jesus Christ.
After Judas’s death, the remaining apostles selected Matthias as his replacement. He was chosen by casting lots from among the devoted followers who had witnessed Jesus’s ministry and resurrection firsthand.
Quest for the Historical Apostles: Tracing Their Lives and Legacies by W. Brian Shelton. Shelton cuts through centuries of legend and myth to deliver the most honest, evidence-based portrait of all twelve apostles — what they actually did, where they went, and how they died.
At least four were fishermen, one was a tax collector, and none were formally trained religious scholars or priests.
They were crucified, beheaded, or stoned for refusing to deny their faith, demonstrating extraordinary courage and unwavering conviction in Jesus Christ.
This symbolic renaming indicated Peter’s future role as the foundational leader upon whom Jesus declared He would build His Church.
Ancient Christian communities in Kerala, India, claim direct founding by Thomas, calling themselves “Saint Thomas Christians” today.
These lists appear in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts, with slight name variations, reflecting different traditions within the early Christian communities.
1. What does the word “apostle” mean?
A. One who is sent
B. One who teaches
C. One who prays
2. Which apostle had worked as a tax collector before following Jesus?
A. Matthew
B. Andrew
C. Thomas
3. Who replaced Judas Iscariot after his death?
A. Barnabas
B. Matthias
C. Paul
4. Which apostle is traditionally believed to have traveled as far as India?
A. Philip
B. Thomas
C. Peter
5. How many times does the Bible list the Twelve Apostles as a group?
A. Two times
B. Three times
C. Four times
Answers
1. A. One who is sent. The word describes someone sent on a mission, reflecting the apostles’ responsibility to spread Jesus’s message.
2. A. Matthew. Matthew, also known as Levi, worked as a tax collector before Jesus called him to become an apostle.
3. B. Matthias. The remaining apostles selected Matthias by casting lots from among followers who had witnessed Jesus’s ministry.
4. B. Thomas. Ancient Christian tradition connects Thomas with India, where Saint Thomas Christian communities remain today.
5. C. Four times. Lists of the Twelve appear in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts, with some slight differences in names.
