Apostles of Christ: Twelve. What are they? Twelve Apostles of Christ: names and deeds

The Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to save the human race from sin and eternal death.

He revealed himself to the world on the Jordan River during His Baptism from John the Baptist. From that time on, people constantly followed Jesus, eager to see His miracles and hear His Divine word.

The Lord sought solitude for prayer. One day the Lord spent the night on one of the mountains surrounding Lake Galilee. There, in mysterious prayerful communication with God the Father, Jesus Christ prepared for the great event of the coming day. When the darkness of the night cleared, the Savior called His disciples. From among them He chose twelve apostles, that is, messengers. Christ chose exactly twelve apostles so that the people of the New Testament, the New Israel, like the people of the Old Testament, would also have twelve spiritual ancestors, twelve patriarchs.

All the disciples were Israelis. The Savior did not choose the rich, enlightened or powerful of this world, but the simplest people. Most of the apostles were fishermen from cities and villages close to the Lake of Galilee - Capernaum and Bethsaida. “And he appointed twelve of them to be with Him and to send them to preach, and so that they would have power to heal diseases and cast out demons: he appointed Simon, calling his name Peter. James of Zebedee and John, the brother of James, calling their names Boanerges , that is, “the sons of Thunder”; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James Alpheus, Thaddeus, Simon the Canaanite and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.”

The first apostle of the twelve was Simon, called Peter. Before being called to apostolic ministry, he was a simple fisherman. Peter was the only one of the disciples who, recognizing the Lord Jesus Christ walking on the sea, rushed to meet Him. Doubting his miraculous walking on water, he began to drown and was saved by Christ. The Apostle Peter is a man of an ardent heart and impetuous spirit. He was the first to confess His Teacher as the true Son of the Living God. His brother Andrei was honored to be the first to be among the disciples of Christ; according to ancient legend, while preaching through Thrace, Scythia and Sarmatia, the Apostle Andrew the First-Called reached the Dnieper Mountains. There the apostle installed a cross. Subsequently, the city of Kyiv arose here.

John the Theologian was Christ’s favorite disciple and apostle. He is called the apostle of love, since all his apostolic works are permeated with love and boil down to one thought: God is Love. Not a single word of the Savior escaped the attentive heart of John, not a single event passed without leaving a deep and saving trace in his soul. His whole life was a service of love to God and his neighbor.

The Apostle Nathanael (Bartholomew) was from Cana of Galilee. At first, he received the news of the appearance of the Messiah with distrust and even expressed contempt for Nazareth, where the Savior came from. Nathanael said: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” But then he deeply believed in Christ and received praise from the Savior: “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no guile.” According to legend, Nathanael preached the Gospel in India, Arabia, and Ethiopia.

According to the testimony of the Holy Scriptures, one of the twelve apostles, named Thomas, did not believe in the Resurrection of Christ. He believed only when he put his fingers into the wounds of the Savior. Repenting of his unbelief, the Apostle Thomas preached almost the entire earth and received the crown of martyrdom.

When choosing the apostles, the Lord did not attach importance to their social position. Both the despised publican Matthew, who humiliated his Levitical dignity by serving, and Simon the Zealot, a man who belonged to the number of irreconcilable enemies of Roman rule, were honored with a divine calling. The last to join the ranks of the apostles was Judas Iscariot. At their first meetings, Judas discovered sincerity and unfeigned devotion to the Savior. But the real reason for his presence among the apostles was money and worldly goods. Christ foresaw the coming betrayal of Judas, but chose him to be one of the twelve.

The Lord gave him the opportunity to correct himself, to overcome the love of money and self-interest. But Judas did not take advantage of the Divine gift of supreme mercy.

Such was the gathering of the Savior’s closest followers and disciples. They were awarded the great honor of becoming successors to their Divine Teacher and preaching His teaching throughout the entire earth. The testimony of the apostles about the earthly life and preaching of our Lord Jesus Christ was preserved for the world in the form of the fundamental text of the New Testament. Thus, the works of the apostles became the foundation on which the entire teaching of the Holy Church was erected.

According to historical information, the apostles of Christ were tortured by the most cruel executions of that time:

1. Peter - crucified upside down.
2. Andrew - crucified.
3. Matthew - killed by the sword.
4. John - died a natural death.
5. Jacob, son of Alpheus - crucified.
6. Philip - crucified.
7. Simeon - crucified.
8. Thaddeus - killed by shooters.
9. James, brother of Jesus - stoned.

10. Thomas - pierced by a spear.
11. Bartholomew - crucified.
12. Jacob, son of Zebedee - killed by the sword.
13. Paul - languished in chains many times, preached the Gospel in the east and in the west, reached the ocean coast in the west and died the death of a martyr at the hands of the rulers.

The Twelve (brief historical data from the lives of the apostles of Jesus)

During his earthly life, Jesus Christ gathered thousands of listeners and followers around him, among whom the 12 closest disciples especially stood out. The Christian Church calls them apostles (Greek apostolos - messenger). The life of the apostles is set out in the book of Acts, which is part of the New Testament canon. And all that is known about death is that almost everyone, except John Zebedee and Judas Iscariot, died a martyr’s death.

Stone of Faith

The Apostle Peter (Simon) was born in Bethsaida on the northern shore of Lake Galilee in the family of a simple fisherman Jonah. He was married and, together with his brother Andrei, lived in fishing. The name Peter (Petrus - from the Greek word “stone”, “rock”, Aramaic “kephas”) was given to him by Jesus, who, having met Simon and Andrew, said to them: “Follow me, I will make you fishers of men.” Having become an apostle of Christ, Peter remained with him until the end of Jesus’ earthly life, becoming one of his favorite disciples. By nature, Peter was very lively and hot-tempered: it was he who wanted to walk on water in order to approach Jesus. He cut off the ear of the high priest's servant in the Garden of Gethsemane. On the night after the arrest of Jesus, Peter, as the Teacher predicted, fearing to get himself into trouble, denied Christ three times. But later he repented and was forgiven by the Lord. On the other hand, Peter was the first to answer without hesitation to Jesus, who asked the disciples what they thought about him, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.” After the Ascension of the Lord, the Apostle Peter preached the teachings of Christ in different countries and performed extraordinary miracles: he raised the dead, healed the sick and infirm. According to legend (Jerome of Stridon, On Famous Men, Chapter I), Peter served as Bishop of Rome for 25 years (from 43 to 67 AD). However, this legend is quite late, and therefore most modern researchers believe that the Apostle Peter arrived in Rome only in the early 60s of the 1st century AD.
During Nero's persecution of Christians, the Apostle Peter was crucified on an inverted cross in 64 (according to another version in 67-68), upside down. The latter was at the apostle’s own request, since Peter considered himself unworthy to die exactly the same death as Christ.

First Summoned

Apostle Andrew (Andrew the First-Called) was the brother of the Apostle Peter. Christ was the first to call Andrew as a disciple, and therefore this apostle is often called the First Called. According to the Gospel of Matthew and Mark, the calling of Andrew and Peter took place near Lake Galilee. The Apostle John describes the calling of Andrew, which took place near the Jordan immediately after the baptism of Jesus (1: 35-40). Even in his youth, Andrei decided to devote himself to serving God. Maintaining chastity, he refused to marry. Hearing that on the Jordan River John the Baptist was preaching about the coming of the Messiah and calling for repentance, Andrei left everything and went to him. Soon the young man became John the Baptist's closest disciple. Scripture conveys very meager information about the Apostle Andrew, but even from them one can form a completely clear picture of him. On the pages of the Gospel of John, Andrew appears twice. It is he who speaks with Jesus about the loaves and fishes before the miracle of feeding five thousand people, and also, together with the Apostle Philip, brings the Greeks to Jesus. Until the last day of the Savior’s earthly journey, Andrei followed him. After the death of the Lord on the cross, Saint Andrew became a witness to the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ. On the day of Pentecost (that is, fifty days after the Resurrection of Jesus), the miracle of the descent of the Holy Spirit took place in Jerusalem: the apostles received the gift of healing, prophecy and the ability to speak in different languages ​​about the deeds of Christ. The disciples of Jesus divided among themselves the countries where they were to carry the gospel message, turning the pagans to God. By lot, Andrew received Bithynia and Propontis with the cities of Chalcedon and Byzantium, as well as the lands of Thrace and Macedonia, Scythia and Thessaly, Hellas and Achaia. And he passed through these cities and countries. Almost everywhere where the apostle found himself, the authorities met him with cruel persecution, but, supported by the strength of his faith, the Apostle Andrew worthily endured all disasters in the name of Christ. The Tale of Bygone Years tells that upon arrival in Korsun, Andrei learned that the mouth of the Dnieper was nearby, and, deciding to go to Rome, he went up the river. Having stopped for the night in the place where Kyiv was later built, the apostle climbed the hills, blessed them and planted a cross. After his apostolic service in the lands of future Rus', Saint Andrew visited Rome, from where he returned to the Achaian city of Patras. In this place, Saint Andrew was destined to end his earthly journey by accepting martyrdom. According to legend, in Patras he stayed with a respected man named Sosia and saved him from a serious illness, after which he converted the inhabitants of the entire city to Christianity. The ruler in Patras at that time was a Roman proconsul named Egeates Antipates. His wife Maximilla believed in Christ after the apostle healed her from a serious illness. However, the ruler himself did not accept the apostle’s preaching, and at the same time, persecution of Christians began, which were called Nero’s persecutions. Egeat ordered the apostle to be thrown into prison, and then ordered him to be crucified. When the servants were leading Saint Andrew to execution, the people, not understanding what he had sinned and why he was being taken to crucifixion, tried to stop the servants and free him. But the apostle begged people not to interfere with his suffering. Noticing from a distance an oblique cross in the shape of the letter “X” placed for him, the apostle blessed him. Egeat ordered not to nail the apostle, but, in order to prolong the suffering, he was tied, like his brother, upside down. The apostle preached from the cross for two more days. On the second day, Andrei began to pray that the Lord would accept his spirit. Thus ended the earthly journey of the Holy All-Praised Apostle Andrew the First-Called. And the oblique cross, on which the Apostle Andrew suffered a martyr’s death, has since been called the St. Andrew’s Cross. This crucifixion is considered to have taken place around the year 70.

Age-old witness

The Apostle John (John the Theologian, John Zebedee) is the author of the Gospel of John, the Book of Revelation and three epistles included in the New Testament. John was the son of Zebedee and Salome, daughter of Joseph the Betrothed. Younger brother of the Apostle James. John, like the brothers Peter and Andrey, was a fisherman. He was fishing with his father and brother Jacob when Christ called him to be a disciple. He left his father in the boat, and he and his brother followed the Savior. The Apostle is known as the author of five books of the New Testament: the Gospel of John, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd epistles of John and the Revelation of John the Theologian (Apocalypse). The apostle received the name Theologian because of the naming of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of John as the Word of God. On the Cross, Jesus entrusted John with the care of his mother, the Virgin Mary. The further life of the apostle is known only from church traditions, according to which, after the Dormition of the Mother of God, John, according to the lot that fell to him, went to Ephesus and other cities of Asia Minor to preach the Gospel, taking with him his disciple Prochorus. While in the city of Ephesus, the Apostle John preached to the pagans about Christ. His preaching was accompanied by numerous and great miracles, so that the number of Christians increased every day. During the persecution of Christians, John was taken in chains to trial in Rome. For confessing his faith in Christ, the apostle was sentenced to death by poisoning. However, after drinking a cup of deadly poison, he remained alive. Then he was assigned a new execution - a cauldron of boiling oil. But the apostle, according to legend, passed this test unharmed. Seeing this miracle, the executioners did not dare to tempt the will of the Lord any longer, and sent John the Theologian into exile on the island of Patmos, where he lived for many years. After a long exile, the Apostle John received freedom and returned to Ephesus, where he continued to preach, teaching Christians to beware of emerging heresies. Around 95, the Apostle John wrote the Gospel, in which he commanded all Christians to love the Lord and each other, and thereby fulfill the Law of Christ. The Apostle John lived on earth for more than 100 years, remaining the only living person to see Jesus Christ with his own eyes.
When the time of death came, John left the city with seven disciples and ordered a cross-shaped grave to be dug for him in the ground, in which he lay down. The disciples covered the apostle's face with a cloth and buried the grave. Having learned about this, the rest of the apostle’s disciples came to the place of his burial and dug it up, but did not find the body of John the Theologian in the grave.

Shrine of the Pyrenees

Apostle James (James Zebedee, James the Elder) is the elder brother of John the Theologian. Jesus called the brothers Boanerges (literally “sons of thunder”), apparently for their impetuous nature. This character was fully demonstrated when they wanted to bring fire down from heaven onto the Samaritan village, as well as in their request to give them places in the Kingdom of Heaven on the right and left sides of Jesus. Together with Peter and John, he witnessed the resurrection of Jairus's daughter, and only they allowed Jesus to witness the Transfiguration and the Battle of Gethsemane. After the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus, James appears in the pages of the Acts of the Apostles. He participated in the establishment of the first Christian communities. Acts also reports his death: in 44, King Herod Agrippa I “killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.” It is worth noting that James is the only one of the apostles whose death is described on the pages of the New Testament. The relics of Jacob were transported to Spain, to the city of Santiago de Compostela. The second discovery of the saint's relics took place in 813. At the same time, a legend arose about the preaching of Jacob himself on the Iberian Peninsula. By the 11th century, the pilgrimage to Santiago acquired the status of the second most important pilgrimage (after the pilgrimage to the Holy Land). When the day of remembrance of the Apostle James, July 25, falls on a Sunday, the “Year of St. James” is declared in Spain. At the end of the 20th century, the tradition of pilgrimage was revived. The capital of Chile, Santiago, is named after the Apostle James.

Family student

The Apostle Philip is mentioned in the lists of apostles in the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and also in the Acts of the Apostles. The Gospel of John reports that Philip was from Bethsaida, from the same city as Andrew and Peter, and was called third after them. Philip brought Nathanael (Bartholomew) to Jesus. On the pages of the Gospel of John, Philip appears three more times: he talks with Jesus about bread for the multitude, brings the Greeks to Jesus, and asks Jesus to show the Father at the Last Supper. According to Clement of Alexandria and Eusebius of Caesarea, Philip was married and had daughters. Philip preached the Gospel in Scythia and Phrygia. For his preaching activities he was executed (crucified head down) in 87 (during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian) in the city of Hierapolis in Asia Minor. The memory of the Apostle Philip is celebrated by the Catholic Church on May 3, and the Orthodox Church on November 27: on this day the Nativity fast begins, which is why it is otherwise called Philip.

An Israeli without guile

There is a unanimous opinion among biblical scholars that Nathanael mentioned in the Gospel of John is the same person as Bartholomew. Consequently, Apostle Bartholomew is one of the first disciples of Christ, called fourth after Andrew, Peter and Philip. In the scene of the calling of Nathanael-Bartholomew, he utters the famous phrase: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Jesus, seeing him, said: “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no guile.” According to legend, Bartholomew, together with Philip, preached in the cities of Asia Minor, especially in connection with the name of the Apostle Bartholomew, the city of Hierapolis is mentioned. According to a number of historical evidence, he also preached in Armenia, and therefore is especially revered in the Armenian Apostolic Church. He died a martyr's death: he was flayed alive.

Patron of accountants

Levi Matthew became the author of the Gospel of Matthew. Sometimes the Gospels call him Levi Alpheus, that is, the son of Alpheus. Levi Matthew was a tax collector, that is, a tax collector. In the text of the Gospel of Matthew, the apostle is called “Matthew the Publican,” which perhaps indicates the author’s humility. After all, publicans were deeply despised by the Jews. The Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Luke report the calling of Matthew Levi. However, almost nothing is known about Matthew's further life. According to some sources, he preached in Ethiopia, where he was martyred; according to others, he was executed for preaching Christianity in the same Asia Minor city of Hierapolis. The Apostle Matthew is considered the patron saint of the city of Salerno (Italy), where his remains are kept (in the Basilica of San Matteo), and also the patron saint not of tax officials, which is the first thing that comes to mind, but of accountants.

Believer twin

The Apostle Thomas was called Didymus - “twin” - he was so similar in appearance to Jesus. One of the moments of the gospel history associated with Thomas is the “confidence of Thomas.” The Gospel says that Thomas did not believe the stories of the other disciples about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ until he saw with his own eyes the wounds from the nails and the ribs of Christ pierced by a spear. The expression “Doubting Thomas” (or “infidel”) has become a common noun for the distrustful listener. “Thomas, who was once weaker than the other apostles in faith,” says St. John Chrysostom, “became by the grace of God more courageous, zealous and tireless than all of them, so that he went around with his preaching almost the entire earth, not being afraid to proclaim the Word of God to the savage peoples.” The Apostle Thomas founded Christian Churches in Palestine, Mesopotamia, Parthia, Ethiopia and India. The apostle sealed the preaching of the Gospel with martyrdom. For the conversion to Christ of the son and wife of the ruler of the Indian city of Meliapora (Melipura), the holy apostle was imprisoned, where he was tortured for a long time. After which, pierced by five spears, he died. Parts of the relics of St. Thomas the Apostle are found in India, Hungary and Mount Athos. The island of Sao Tome and the capital of the state of Sao Tome and Principe, the city of Sao Tome, are named in honor of Thomas.

Cousin

In all four Gospels, the name of Jacob Alpheus is given in the list of apostles, but no other information is reported about him. It is known that he was the son of Alphaeus (or Cleopas) and Mary, the sister of the Virgin Mary, and therefore a cousin of Jesus Christ. James received the name Younger, or Lesser, so that he could be more easily distinguished from the other apostle - James the Elder, or James of Zebedee. According to church tradition, the Apostle James is the first bishop of the Church of Jerusalem and the author of the canonical Council Epistle. The whole circle of post-biblical patericon stories about the life and martyrdom of James the Righteous is associated with it. After the Descent of the Holy Spirit, Apostle James Alpheus made missionary travels together with Apostle Andrew the First-Called, preaching in Judea, Edessa, Gaza, and Eleutheropolis. In the Egyptian city of Ostratsin, Saint James martyrically completed his apostolic labors by death on the cross.

Not a traitor

Judas Thaddeus (Judas Jacoblev or Lebway) is the brother of James Alpheus, the son of Alphaeus or Cleopas (and, accordingly, another cousin of Jesus). In the Gospel of John, Judas asks Jesus at the Last Supper about his coming resurrection. Moreover, he is called “Judas, not Iscariot” to distinguish him from Judas the traitor. In the Gospel of Luke and Acts, the apostle is called Judas of Jacob, which was traditionally understood as Judas, the brother of James. In the Middle Ages, the Apostle Jude was often identified with Judas, the brother of Jesus Christ mentioned in the Gospel of Mark. Nowadays, most biblical scholars consider the apostle Judas and Judas, the “brother of the Lord,” to be different persons.
A certain difficulty in this regard is caused by establishing the authorship of the Epistle of Jude, included in the canon of the New Testament, which may belong to the pen of both. According to legend, the Apostle Jude preached in Palestine, Arabia, Syria and Mesopotamia, and died a martyr’s death in Armenia in the second half of the 1st century AD. e.

Fighter against Rome

Information in the Gospels about Simon the Canaanite is extremely scarce. He is mentioned in the Gospel lists of the apostles, where he is called Simon the Zealot or Simon the Zealot to distinguish him from Simon Peter. The New Testament does not provide any other information about the apostle. The name Canaanite, which biblical scholars have sometimes erroneously interpreted as “from the city of Cana,” actually has the same meaning in Hebrew as the Greek word “zealot,” “zealot.” Either this was the apostle’s own nickname, or it could mean his belonging to the political-religious movement of the Zealots (Zealots) - irreconcilable fighters against Roman rule. According to legend, the holy Apostle Simon preached the teachings of Christ in Judea, Egypt and Libya. Perhaps he preached together with the Apostle Judas Thaddeus in Persia. There is information (unconfirmed) about the visit of the Apostle Simon to Britain.
According to legend, the apostle suffered a martyr's death on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus: he was sawed alive with a saw. He was buried in the city of Nikopsia, the location of which is also controversial. According to the official theory, this city is the current New Athos in Abkhazia; according to another (more probable), it was located on the site of the current village of Novomikhailovsky in the Krasnodar Territory. In the 19th century, on the supposed site of the exploits of the apostle, near the Apsara Mountain, the New Athos Monastery of Simon the Canaanite was built.

Thirteenth Apostle

Judas Iscariot (Yehuda ish-Krayot, “Yehuda of Kerioth”) is the son of Simon, the apostle who betrayed Jesus Christ. Judas received the nickname “Iscariot” among the apostles to distinguish him from another disciple of Christ, the son of James, Judas, nicknamed Thaddeus. Referring to the geographical location of the city of Kerioth (Krayot), most researchers agree that Iscariot was the only representative of the tribe of Judah among the apostles.
After Jesus Christ was sentenced to crucifixion, Judas, who betrayed him, returned 30 pieces of silver to the high priests and elders, saying: “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They answered: “What is that to us?” Leaving the pieces of silver in the temple, Judas left and hanged himself. Legend has it that Judas hanged himself on an aspen tree, which since then began to tremble with horror at the slightest breeze, remembering the traitor. However, it acquired the properties of a magical weapon capable of killing vampires. After the betrayal and suicide of Judas Iscariot, Jesus' disciples decided to choose a new apostle to replace Judas. They chose two candidates: “Joseph, called Barsaba, who was called Justus, and Matthias,” and, having prayed to God to indicate whom to make an apostle, they cast lots. The lot fell to Matthias.

Deputy by lot

Apostle Matthias was born in Bethlehem, where from early childhood he studied the Law of God from the sacred books under the guidance of Saint Simeon the God-Receiver. Matthias believed in the Messiah, followed him relentlessly and was chosen to be one of the 70 disciples whom the Lord “sent out two by two before Him.” After the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Matthias preached the Gospel in Jerusalem and Judea along with the other apostles. From Jerusalem with Peter and Andrew he went to Syrian Antioch, was in the Cappadocian city of Tyana and in Sinope. Here Apostle Matthias was imprisoned, from which he was miraculously released by Apostle Andrew the First-Called. Then Matthias went to Amasia and Pontic Ethiopia (present-day Western Georgia), repeatedly being exposed to mortal danger. He performed great miracles in the Name of the Lord Jesus and converted many people to faith in Christ. The Jewish high priest Anan, who hated Christ, who had previously given the command to throw James, the brother of the Lord, from the heights of the temple, ordered the Apostle Matthias to be taken and presented to the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem for trial. Around the year 63, Matthias was condemned to death by stoning. When Saint Matthias was already dead, the Jews, hiding the crime, cut off his head as an opponent of Caesar. According to other sources, the Apostle Matthias was crucified on the cross. And according to the third, least reliable, he died a natural death in Colchis.

Please tell us the biography of the Apostles!

The word “apostle” itself has an interesting etymology. Initially, the Greek word existed in the form of an adjective and was used when mentioning sea vessels - it turned out something like “transport vessel”. It also denoted the very fact of sending a flotilla for military purposes or to found a new colony, or the flotilla itself. Closer to the time of Christ, this word began to be used in the meaning of “messenger,” but its use in this meaning was very rare. Usually the messenger was designated as or.

New Testament usage gave this word a special, fundamentally new meaning. If you believe Luke 6:13, then Jesus Himself gave it this meaning, although I think it is a translation of some Aramaic word. It is noteworthy that it is mainly used by Luke and Paul, while in the other 3 gospels this word is used only 4 times (in the Synodal translation this is reflected in only 2 places). Matthew, Mark and John call the closest disciples of Jesus simply “the twelve,” apparently by analogy with the 12 tribes of the people of Israel: “... when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matt. 19:28)

The task of the twelve is explained by Luke in the following text: “Having called the twelve, he gave power and authority over all demons and to heal diseases, and sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (Luke 9:1,2)

In Acts, Luke narrows the task of the apostles: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8), which, one might assume, allows any serious witness of Jesus to be given the status of apostle. Paul understands apostleship precisely in this vein, therefore he calls his relatives Andronicus and Junia apostles: “Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and prisoners with me, who were glorified among the Apostles and who believed in Christ before me.” (Rom. 16:7). Paul had no doubts about his apostleship, and he often devoted very extensive fragments to confirming his highest status in the Church (this was necessary as support for his preaching). Barnabas, Paul’s companion, is also called an apostle (Acts 14:14).

But let's return to the Twelve and talk about them in more detail. There are several lists given in the New Testament.

“[set up] Simon, calling his name Peter, James Zebedee, and John, the brother of James, calling them Boanerges, that is, “sons of thunder,” Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.” (Mark 3:14-19)

“And the names of the twelve Apostles are these: the first Simon, called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James the Zebedee and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the publican, James Alphaeus and Levbeus, called Thaddeus, Simon the Canaanite and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him.” (Matt. 10:2-4)

“When the day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James Alphaeus and Simon, nicknamed Zealot, Judas Jacob and Judas Iscariot, who later became a traitor.” (Luke 6:13-16)

You can notice that in these lists the first, fifth and ninth places are always occupied by the same ones - Peter, Phillip and Jacob Alfeev. Thus, the twelve students were, as it were, divided into 3 groups, each of which had a leader - the eldest of the four (this is approximately what always happens in small groups). The first group includes Peter with his brother Andrew and two more brothers - John and James of Zebedee. These four make up the circle of disciples closest to Jesus - they are the only ones present at the resurrection of Jairus’s daughter and the Transfiguration, Jesus talks with them about His Second Coming, and only they ask them to stay awake in the Garden of Gethsemane.

You should also note some differences in the lists. Simon the Canaanite and Simon the Zealot are one and the same person. The words Kananite and Zealot have approximately the same meaning - zealot. Judah Jacob and Levi Thaddeus are also presumably the same person.

Now let's talk about each of them in more detail.

Apostle Peter also known in the Bible as Simon and Cephas. The Hebrew name of the apostle is Simeon. Peter was a resident of Bethsaida in Galilee, where he went fishing with his father and brother (John 1:44). Peter was married, which was a very rare case among the apostles. Peter wrote the two conciliar epistles included in the NT (he is their most likely author).

Andrey, Peter's brother was first a disciple of John the Baptist (perhaps Peter was one of John's disciples). Andrew was the first to be called by Jesus. According to legend, the Apostle Andrew preached in Scythia and, having passed through Rus', reached Scandinavia. A short story about this is contained in The Tale of Bygone Years.

John and James Zebedee, like Peter and Andrew, were also from Bethsaida. Jesus called them “sons of thunder” - Boanerges. Presumably, John was the youngest and James was the eldest. The mother of John and James was Salome, as can be seen from the comparison of Mark. 16:1 and Matt. 27: 56. If we reconcile the evidence of the Synoptic Gospels with the Gospel of John (John 19:25), it turns out that Salome was the sister of the Virgin Mary, and John and James were cousins ​​of Jesus. James was the first of the apostles to suffer martyrdom, being killed by the sword on the orders of Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:2). There is no reliable evidence about John's death. John is credited with the authorship of the fourth Gospel, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd epistles and Revelation, the last book of the Bible.

Philip He was also a native of Bethsaida and was called by Jesus shortly after Andrew and Peter. It is known that Philip was married, like Peter, and he had daughters, on whose stories the famous collector of stories about the apostles and evangelists Papias of Hierapolis relied. The Apostle Philip is often confused with Philip the Evangelist, who baptized the Ethiopian eunuch. The latter, by the way, also had daughters (Acts 21:9)

Philip had a friend Nathanael- “An Israeli in whom there is no guile,” which also makes sense to be mentioned in a conversation about the apostles.

Thomas the Twin- (the name “Thomas” is consonant with the Aramaic word for “twin”). Probably his original name was Judas, since in John. 14:22 he is called “Judas not Iscariot”, but in one of the ancient Syrian manuscripts “Judas Thomas”. The second name was more commonly used to avoid confusion with Judas the Traitor.

Matthew was a publican - a tax collector (Matthew 9:9), whom the population of Judea considered an accomplice of the Roman occupiers. Matthew's father Alpheus, and Alpheus, the father of the Apostle James, are probably different people. Matthew is the probable author of one of the Gospels.

Bartholomew. Almost nothing is known about Bartholomew. But we have good reason to identify him with Nathanael. Presumably the name of the apostle was Nathanael bar Tolemai (Nathanael son of Tolemai). Note the Greek spelling of the name Bartholomew - . The Synoptics say nothing about Nathanael, and the 4th Gospel does not say anything about Bartholomew. From Jesus' conversation with Nathanael in John. 1:47-51 we can conclude that he became one of the apostles, especially since John mentions him in the final part of the Gospel (John 21:2), which describes the appearance of Jesus to the fishing apostles. Remembering Nathanael's friendship with Philip, we can more clearly imagine the characteristics of the second four apostles (as I spoke about above).

Jacob Alfeev- leader of the last four. Almost nothing is known about him, other than the assumption that he was “James the less,” the son of Mary and brother of Josiah (Mark 15:40) Presumably the author of the epistle of James.

Judah son of Jacob also little known. Some identify him with Jude, the brother of the Lord, the author of the Epistle of Jude, which is included in the NT canon. We should talk about the brothers of the Lord in detail. Their names are Jacob, Josiah (Joseph), Simon and Judas (Mark 6:3, Matthew 13:55-56). Several assumptions can be made here. First, they could be Jesus' siblings, children of Mary. There are indications in the Gospels that Jesus had not only brothers, but also sisters (Matt. 13:56, Mark 3:32, Mark 6:3), so this assumption looks quite convincing. But according to many, such a position harms the dogma of the virgin birth (which is based solely on the Gospel evidence), so the more widespread opinion is that the brothers of Jesus are the children of Joseph from his first marriage or are his cousins, the sons of Mary, the wife of Alpheus, the sister of the Virgin Mary. The latest version seems to me the most interesting. It was put forward by Jerome the Blessed in his treatise “Against Helvidius on the Eternal Virginity of Blessed Mary.”

It is known about James, the brother of the Lord, that Jesus appeared to him after his resurrection as one of the first (1 Cor. 15:7). Jacob led the Jerusalem community (Gal. 1:19, 2:9, Acts 12:17) and had the nickname Jacob the Righteous (Fair). According to the testimony of Josephus, he was killed by a crowd of opponents of Christians for his faith. (“Jewish Antiquities” 20.9)

Simon Zelotes. We know that the Zealots were an extremist group in the days leading up to the Jewish War. Could this apostle have previously belonged to the Zealots? There is no evidence for the existence of a group of Zealots in the time of Jesus, and we can assume that Simon was called a Zealot (zealot) because of his special spiritual zeal. However, the word “zealot” was never used independently and always went with the definition of jealousy - for example, a zealot of the law. This word became a common noun only in relation to extremist partisans, so we can assume that this group was already quite developed at the time of Jesus and Simon belonged to it.

Famous apostles include: Pavel. The Apostle Paul bore the name Saul (Saul) and came from the tribe of Benjamin, to which the famous king belonged (Phil. 3:5, Rom. 11:1). It is possible that the future apostle was named in honor of King Saul. Most likely, Paul was married, since a member of the Sanhedrin could not be unmarried. But from Paul's letters we learn that his wife was not with him. Since Paul became an apostle while still very young (the word “youth” indicates that he was just beginning to grow a beard), it can be assumed that he was not a widower, and his young wife left him when he abandoned his high position in society and devoted himself entirely to the service of Christ. The apostle received the name Paul after the proconsul of the island of Cyprus, Sergius Paul, converted to Christianity (Acts 13:7). Paul's letters occupy most of the New Testament.

Paul was the first to fulfill the apostolic mission stated in (Acts 1:8). He was a witness of Jesus in Jerusalem and throughout Judea and Samaria and even to the ends of the earth. “The end of the earth” is Rome. Paul led the Roman community and was executed under Emperor Nero. In Rome, Peter, who replaced Paul, was also executed.

Among theologians one can find a statement about the alleged discord between the apostles, the confrontation between Paul and the Jerusalem Christians, associated with Paul’s eternal enemies - the Judaizers. Such a position, although it seems quite logical, does not have a solid basis in the documents of church history and can only be considered as one of the possible reconstructions of those distant events. For example, representatives of the Tübingen school, the authors of this historical concept, considered Paul’s polemic with Simon Magus, described in the tendentious adventure novel “Pseudo-Clementines,” dating back to the early Middle Ages, as Paul’s polemic with Peter. The other arguments are no more convincing than this one. However, as often happens, the dubious hypothesis was quickly elevated almost to the rank of dogma. The Tübingen concept of early Christian history has long been refuted in the West, but in our country, which has only recently moved away from widespread atheism, the theological concept, rejected a hundred years ago, seems quite relevant. This sad situation is due to the almost complete absence of serious research in Russian, although recently it has been felt that the situation is gradually beginning to change for the better.

How did the apostles of Christ die?

Firstly, this is not so important, because such information is not in the Bible. Perhaps out of curiosity or to know in general.

Secondly, all the disciples of Jesus Christ died a martyr's death - for their faith. Peter was crucified upside down because he refused the honor of dying like Jesus. For the same reason, the cross of the Apostle Andrew was in the shape of the letter X, hence the St. Andrew's cross.

Paul was a citizen of Rome, therefore he had the privilege of a quick, non-painful death - his head was cut off. The Apostle John was the only one who died a natural death. Already in old age, he wrote all his messages, because his messages are the last books of the Bible in time. His Gospel is the last. And he wrote the last book - Revelation - in exile on the island (or rather islet) of Patmos.

Let us begin the topic of “the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ” with the fact that in the book of Revelation it is written:

‘’I, John, saw the holy city Jerusalem, new, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. The wall of the city has twelve bases, and on them are the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb'' (Rev. 21:2,14).

Apostle – means ‘sent’; however, in this passage of Scripture we see that the role of these twelve chosen ones is special, the highest of people. And in this article, we will try to figure out what significance the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ carry within themselves, and we will penetrate into the secrets of the prophetic actions [signs] that happened to these followers of our Lord.

So let's start with the story:

‘’And God said again to Moses, Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel: The Lord God of your fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob sent me to you. This is My name forever, and I will be remembered from generation to generation” (Ex. 3:15).

1. Abraham is the father of all believers and the prototype of the Heavenly Father (Rom. 4: 3, 10, 11.).
2. Isaac, served a type of Christ, sacrificed by the Father (Gen. 22:15-18. John 3:16.).
3. But Jacob [from whom twelve sons were born - the patriarchs of Israel (Acts 7:8.)], prophetically represents the Holy Spirit.

The twelve apostles of spiritual Israel were born from the Holy Spirit.

The Lord said to these followers:

‘Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the rebirth, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones judge the twelve tribes of Israel'' (Matt. 19:28).

However, which twelve tribes of Israel are being referred to here?

• Christ made a promise: ‘’I have other sheep which are not of this fold, and these I must bring: and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16).
• And since the calling of the Roman Cornelius in 36 AD. (Acts 10), it should be considered that the new spiritual Israel consists not only of Jews. The Apostle Paul wrote: “All of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is no longer Jew or Gentile; there is neither slave nor free; neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise'' (Gal.3:27-29. Eph.2:11-13,19-22.).
• Thus, what the Lord warned the carnal Israelites about was fulfilled: ‘’and they will come from the east and the west, and the north and the south, and will lie down in the kingdom of God. And behold, there are those who are last who will be first, and there are those who are first who will be last” (Luke 13:29,30).

From the history of Israel's journey through the desert it is narrated:

‘’And they came to Elim; there was] twelve water sources And seventy date trees, and they encamped there by the waters” (Ex. 15:27).

This was also a prophetic sign. For example:

1. Israel had twelve patriarchs and the heads of the tribes of Israel. Also, since the time of Moses, it has been elected seventy elders Israel [Sanhedrin] (Num. 11:16,17.).
2. Christ sent before Him twelve apostles(Luke 9:1.); then some more seventy students(Luke 10:1.).
3. When the first miracle with the loaves was performed, there remained twelve baskets of bread(Mark 8:19.); the second is seven (Mark 8:20,21.).

So what does the sign with twelve streams and seventy date trees mean?

David's Psalm reads:

''Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked and does not stand in the way of sinners... And he will be like a TREE planted by streams of water which bears its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not wither; and whatever he does, he will prosper” (Ps. 1:1,3).

• Trees are the shepherds of spiritual Israel (1 Pet. 5:1-4. Luke 12:42-44.).
• And here twelve streams- these are the apostles of Christ.

It was through the actions and ordination of the apostles that in the first century the Holy Spirit was given - “water” (John 4:12-14. John 7:37-39.). In this sense, they were the patriarchs of spiritual Israel among the sons of the Heavenly Kingdom (Galatians 4:22-26.).

So: the passage from Rev. 21:14. [''The wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb''] confirms the importance of such a structure, which we discussed in this article. Next, we will discuss how important the work of some of the apostles of Jesus Christ was; and we will try to understand the meaning and significance of some of the prophetic actions that occurred with these “streams” of the Holy Spirit, the patriarchs of Christianity.

Apostle Peter

Before his calling, this apostle was a fisherman, and his name was Simon (Luke 5:4-10.).

According to his desire (Rom. 9:11; 11:6.), the Most High Yahweh chose him as the leading apostle from the twelve first disciples of Christ. And the Lord said to Simon:

‘You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it; And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:18,19).

It cannot be said that this apostle was the ruler and judge of Christianity. The Apostle Paul put it well on this matter:

‘’…It is God who works in you both to will and to do according to [His] good pleasure’’ (Phil. 2:13).

Therefore, Peter, serving as an apostle, did not act according to his personal human discretion - but was guided exclusively by the Holy Spirit from the Most High.

And what “keys of the Kingdom” can we note in this regard?

Our Master said: ‘’you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”(Acts 1:8)

.

1. ''in Jerusalem and in all Judea'' ... Peter's sermon on the feast of Pentecost and the establishment of the church of Christ in Jerusalem (see Acts 2:1,14,36-42.).
2. ''in Samaria'' ... the establishment of the church in Samaria, and the giving of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of the hands of the apostles: Peter [and John] (Acts 8:14,15,25.).
3. ‘’and even to the ends of the earth’’ ... the calling of the pagan Cornelius and his household (Acts 11:1-18.). ***Judging by Daniel’s prophecy that “one week shall establish the covenant for MANY” (Dan.9:27.), this happened a little more than three years after the death of Christ.

The Apostle Peter was hot and emotional by nature. Sincerely loving his Lord [having only two swords], he was not afraid to fight with the clear majority in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:51.). However, he clearly overestimated his capabilities and did not understand that “every man is a liar” (Rom. 3:4.). Claiming that he would never deny Christ, he denied three times (Luke 22:54-61. 2 Cor. 13:1.). Why did it happen?

Firstly: the understanding that they needed to pray was closed to them. Jesus warned: “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation: the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38). This meant that they loved their Teacher - but their “flesh” remained weak, doomed to infidelity. “And when he returned, he found them sleeping again, for their eyes were heavy, and they did not know what to answer Him” (Mark 14:40).

Secondly: there is a principle about which the Apostle Paul wrote: “And so that I would not become exalted by the extraordinaryness of the revelations, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me, so that I would not become exalted” (2 Cor. 12:7. Also: Luke 22:31,32.).

Before Peter is appointed to “feed the sheep” of the Lord (John 21:15-17.), it is he who needs the “rod of correction”, indicating that he was not installed as a “rock of the church” for his own sake. works - but according to the election of grace.

Apostle Paul

• Before his apostolic calling, his name was Saul [Saul] (Acts 9:1-15.).
• Higher spiritual education provided an opportunity to move up the career ladder of the clergy (Acts 22:3,24-29.).
• Subsequently, his high knowledge of the Scriptures and understanding of the Holy Spirit affected the style of presentation of his messages. Places such as: Rom.9:8-33. 1 Corinthians 10:1-11. Galatians 4:22-31. , also, the book of the epistle “Hebrews” reveals the truly deep thoughts of the prophetic images of the Old Testament times.

However, it should be noted that no less interesting is the history and meaning of his calling, as well as the ministry itself. The violent persecution of Christians, and subsequently the fact that he himself became a Christian, has a deep spiritual meaning - what?

The Apostle Paul wrote about himself:

‘I am the least of the Apostles, and am not worthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the church of God’ (1 Cor. 15:9).

“Me, who was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and an offender, but was shown mercy because [he] acted out of ignorance, in unbelief. But for this reason I received mercy, so that Jesus Christ in me first might show all long-suffering, as an example to those who will believe in Him for eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:13,16).

‘’For whom I am appointed a preacher and an apostle—I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth’’ (1 Tim. 2:7).

Firstly: [like the Apostle Peter] before receiving the greatest ministry of the apostles, Paul was guilty - and pardoned. And this was for the same reason as with Peter’s denial: “So that I would not become exalted by the extraordinary revelations, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me, so that I would not become exalted” (2 Cor. 12:7). If Peter was convicted of unfaithfulness, then Paul was caught in anger.

Secondly: pay attention to the fact that he was from the tribe of Benjamin (Rom. 11:1.), an apostle of the GENTILES - what connection is there in this? [*** Benjamin is the son of Rachel, the beloved wife of Jacob, or Israel. He was second after Joseph - Joseph is a prophetic image of Christ. See: Gen.41:39-46; 48:13,14,17-20. Jer.31:6,15-18,23-25].

The story of how, after the death of Solomon, Israel was divided into two kingdoms, shows that the kingdom of Judah consisted of two tribes: Judah and Benjamin (1 Kings 11:29-35; 12:19,20.). Benjamin was the younger brother of Judah - how is this prophetically reflected in spiritual Israel, i.e. Christianity? The Apostle Paul wrote:

‘’There is no longer Jew nor Gentile... for you are all one in Christ Jesus. But if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:28,29).

‘For he is not a Jew who is [such] outwardly, nor is circumcision that is outwardly in the flesh. But [he] is a Jew inwardly, and [that] circumcision [which is] in the heart is according to the Spirit... ‘’ (Rom. 2:28,29).

The prophecy of the Lord from John 10:16 shows that the Gentiles, having become one kingdom with Judah, will be figurative “Benjamites,” the younger brothers of the Jews. This is clear from Paul's words:

''Remember, therefore, that you who were once pagans according to the flesh, who were called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcised by the flesh [circumcision] done by hands, that you were at that time without Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and atheists in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were once far away have been brought near by the Blood of Christ. For He is our peace, having made both one and destroyed the barrier that stood in the middle. …you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household” (Eph. 2:11-14,19).

So: the fact that the Apostle Paul from the tribe of Benjamin was the apostle of the spiritual “Benjamites”-pagans was not an accident.

“But for this reason I received mercy, so that Jesus Christ in me first would show all long-suffering, as an example to those who will believe in Him for eternal life.”(1 Tim. 1:16) – what does this mean?

We will find the key to the answer here: ‘

“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a special people, to proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; once not a people, but now the people of God; [once] those who had not received mercy, but now they have received mercy. ...and lead a virtuous life among the pagans, so that for the reasons for which they slander you as evildoers, when they see your good deeds, they glorify God on the day of visitation. For you have been called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, so that we might follow in His footsteps.”(1 Peter 2:9,10,12,21).

Also, the prophet Isaiah, in the 19th chapter (Isaiah.19:1,2,16-25.) indicates that just like the Apostle Paul himself [but in ignorance] - so the spiritual pagans [non-believers] will persecute the followers of Christ . But those who acted this way out of their own misunderstanding, the Almighty will have mercy on them, and they will repent. We can also see this idea in the prophecy from the book of Revelation: ‘’...the others were overcome with fear and gave glory to the God of heaven’’(Rev. 11:3,7,8,13. Compare: Luke 23:47,48.).

But that’s not all... The Lord said: ‘’Before all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute [you], delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, and bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake; this will be for your testimony”(Luke 21:12,13). Although these words mostly refer to the sign of the coming of Christ and the end of the days of the wicked world—typically [as a prophetic sign for the last days], this also happened to the Apostle Paul.

During Paul’s journey to Jerusalem, one of the prophets stated this: “He took Paul’s belt and, having tied his hands and feet, said: Thus says the Holy Spirit: the man whose this belt is will be bound by the Jews in Jerusalem and delivered into the hands of the Gentiles.” '' (Acts 21:11). To which the apostle replied: ‘’I not only want to be a prisoner, but I am ready to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus’’(Acts 21:13).

This was not the rash heroism of the martyr; by the Holy Spirit he understood his destiny as a preacher of the Heavenly Kingdom (Acts 20:22-24.). Taking advantage of the fact that he was a Roman citizen (Acts 22:25-29.), the Apostle Paul was able to testify first in Jerusalem (Acts 22:30; 23:1,11.), then in Caesarea and Rome (Acts 25 :23;26:1,21-23,32.).

It is also interesting to note that during the trip to Rome, the ship on which the Apostle Paul was sailing was caught in a storm - and this also has a symbolic meaning.

We offer you some Scriptures on this topic for your own reflection: (Mark 4:23-25.). Luke 21:25. Acts 27:13-15,20. Daniel 11:40,41,45. Psalm 123:1-8. Luke 8:22-25; 18:1-8.

Apostle John

The Apostle John, brother of James [of the sons of Zebedee], was probably the youngest of the apostles. They were also called ‘’Voanerges’’ – i.e. ‘’Sons of Thunder’’ (Mark 3:17.); The reason for this was most likely an impetuous temperament. Until Pentecost 33 AD they were closed to understanding the essence of Christ’s coming to earth. And when the Samaritans did not accept their Teacher, they turned to Him

: ''God! Do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and destroy them, just as Elijah did?’’ (Luke 9:54).

Also, the mentality of the Israelis [as well as other peoples] encouraged them to have a prominent position in society - therefore vanity was not alien to them.

‘Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee and her sons came to Him [Jesus], bowing and asking Him for something. He said to her: what do you want? She says to Him: command that these two sons of mine may sit with You, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left in Your Kingdom. When the ten [disciples] heard [this], they were indignant at the two brothers” (Matt. 20:20-28).

Nevertheless, by the calling of the Lord [like his brother, James], John was almost always present at the most important events. For example:

1) Resurrection of Jairus’s daughter – Mark 5:22,23,37.

2) Vision of the glory of Christ on the holy mountain - Luke 9:27-31. 2 Peter 1:16-18.

3) Evidence of suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane - Mark 14:32-34. 1 Peter 5:1. Besides the fact that the Apostle John was most likely the most beloved disciple of the Lord [and the trustee of His mother - John 19:26,27.], he also had a special calling...

John himself talks about it this way: ‘’... when you were young, you girded yourself and went where you wanted; and when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and lead you where you do not want to go. He said this, making it clear by what death [Peter] would glorify God. And having said this, he said to him: follow me. Peter, turning, sees the disciple following him, whom Jesus loved, and who at the supper, bowing to His chest, said: Lord! who will betray you? When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus: Lord! what about him? Jesus says to him: If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? you follow Me. And this word spread between the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus did not tell him that he would not die, but: if I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?’’ (John 21:18-23).

What do the words mean: “If I want him [John] to remain until I come”?

If we read such scriptures about the sign of the coming of Christ as: Luke 21:5-24. Mat.24:1-8,15-18. Mark 13:1-16. , we can notice that the Lord spoke about two periods of time. And the first part of the prophecies points to the destruction of Jerusalem, as the main representative of the kingdom of Judah - Luke 23:28-30.

This “coming” in the first century was absentee, conditional. It was a prophetic model showing how, at the end of the wicked world, Babylon the Great - adulterous Christianity that had apostatized from its Lord - would be destroyed.

Why can it be understood this way? The Apostle Paul wrote:

‘There is no need to write to you about times and seasons, brethren, for you yourselves know for sure that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety,” then destruction will suddenly come upon them, just as the pain of childbirth comes upon a woman with child, and they will not escape” (1 Thess. 5:1-3).

As a type, this situation occurred during the time of the prophet Jeremiah. His prophecies stated:

‘Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, my servant, and even the beasts of the field I have given to serve him. And if any nation and kingdom does not want to serve him, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and does not bow his neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I will punish this people with sword, famine and pestilence, says the Lord, until I destroy them by his hand. Jer.27:6,8).

However, the Jews refused to surrender into the hands of this king. And the false prophets prophesied to Jerusalem: ''The Lord said: peace will be with you... trouble will not come to you.'(Jer.23:17. Ezek.13:9-11.). As a result, almost all the inhabitants of Jerusalem during the time of King Zedekiah were destroyed (see the book Lamentations of Jeremiah).

The same situation with Jerusalem occurred in the first century (see: Ps. 2:1-12.). Greater Nebuchadnezzar – ‘Golden Head’ (Dan.2:37,38.), i.e. Jesus Christ said: ‘Do you think that those eighteen people on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them were more guilty than all those living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.’’(Luke 13:4,5) – what did this mean?

In the gospel we read: ‘’When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is approaching: then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; and whoever is in the city, come out of it; and whoever is in the surrounding area, do not enter it, for these are the days of vengeance, so that all that is written may be fulfilled.”(Luke 21:20-22). At that time, it was important to listen to the preaching of Christ's followers about repentance and salvation. However, the majority of the inhabitants of Jerusalem in 70 AD. refused to leave the city or surrender. That year, more than a million Jews were killed in this city; the city itself was destroyed.

The same thing will happen with the harlot from the book of Revelation: ‘’…For she says in her heart: “I sit as a queen, I am not a widow and will not see sorrow!” Therefore in one day plagues will come upon her, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned with fire, for the Lord God who judges her is strong.”(Rev. 18:7(b),8). That is, when she speaks ''peace and security''- destruction will suddenly befall her (1 Thess. 5:3.).

So: what did the words from John 21:22,23 mean? about the coming of Christ?

The Apostle Peter spoke to the Jewish people: ''Save yourself from this corrupt generation''(Acts 2:40). However, he did not live to see the events that took place in the second half of the sixties, when it was necessary to flee Jerusalem. He was probably executed by the Romans shortly before these events. But John was the only apostle who survived the time of this conditional coming - the last days of Judea. He was a typical representative of those Christians about whom the Apostle Paul wrote:

‘’I tell you a secret: we will not all die, but we will all change. Suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed” (1 Cor. 15:51,52).

The last ruler who will dominate the wicked world will achieve extraordinary power - Daniel 8:23-25. Due to the fact that the devil himself will give him such opportunities, with his cruelty and sophistication he will bring many disasters to Christianity (Dan.7:25,26. Jer.30:7.). However, the true church of Christ on earth will not be completely destroyed, and some will remain alive.

Judas Iscariot. The essence of betrayal

Of the twelve chosen apostles (Mark 3:13-19.), most likely, Judas Iscariot was the only representative of the tribe of Jews - the rest were Galileans (Acts 2:7. Matt. 4:14-23.). The betrayal of the Jew, Judas, was a significant feature that reflected the attitude of the overwhelming majority of Jews towards Christ: ‘’he came to his own, and his own did not receive him’’ (John 1:11. Matt. 23:33-38.).

‘He who puts his hand into the dish with Me will betray Me; However, the Son of Man comes, as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed: it would have been better for this man not to have been born” (Matt. 26:23,24).

So where can we read that, ‘ 'as it is written about Him''? - let's look at history...

After the sin, [Christ's forefather], David, was told:

‘’The sword shall never depart from your house... Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will bring evil upon you out of your house...’ (2 Samuel 12:9-11.).

The sin was twofold: fornication and murder. And this was subsequently reflected in the actions of his sons: Amnon and Absalom, who committed the same sins. But the expression: ‘’The sword shall never depart from your house FOREVER’’, indirectly shows that ''Son of David'', Christ, will have to take upon himself the atonement for the sins of the entire house [city] of David. The prophet Isaiah wrote about this:

• ‘’How the faithful capital, full of justice, became a harlot! Truth dwelt in her, but now - murderers” (Is. 1:21).
• ‘Hear now, house of David! ... Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin will be with child and give birth to a Son, and they will call His name Immanuel” (Is. 7:13,14.
• Also, see: 2 Samuel 7:12,14. Isaiah 53:4-6.).

In the time of David, the prototype of Judas Iscariot was Ahithophel, the king's closest adviser (2 Sam. 16:23; 17:1-4,23.). Later about Ahithophel, David wrote this:

‘’For it is not the enemy who reproaches me, but I would bear it; It is not my hater who glories over me; I would hide from him. But you, who were the same to me as I, my friend and my close one, with whom we shared sincere conversations and went together to the house of God’’ (Ps. 55:13-15).

However, this was only a prophetic image for the future, and in fact, indicated the betrayal of ''closest friend'', i.e. Judas Iscariot. And for a clear example, it is worth comparing these two scriptures: Psalm 40:5,10-13. + John 13:18. From the fortieth Psalm we see that David, describing his suffering, points not only to his closest adviser, but this is also a prophecy indicating the betrayal of the “Son of David” - by Judas Iscariot [also, see: Acts 2:25 -31.].

What can the story of Judas teach us personally?

The Apostle John says:

''Jesus answered: the one to whom I dip a piece of bread and give it. And, having dipped the piece, he gave it to Judas Simon Iscariot. And after this piece Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, “Whatever you are doing, do it quickly” (John 13:26,27).

The fact that the devil came in and forced Judas to betray his Master does not show that Iscariot was a puppet victim. Despite the fact that the Son of Man [went] as it was written about Him, the reason for Judas’ betrayal was that he was a wicked man and a thief (John 12:4-6. Psalm 109:7,17.). The Apostle Paul wrote:

‘’in a large house there are vessels not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; and some in honorable, and others in low, use. Therefore, if anyone is clean from this, he will be a vessel of honor, sanctified and useful to the Master, qualified for every good work” (2 Tim. 2:20,21).

Judas was that unclean ‘vessel’ that was used for ‘low use’. In the letter to the Hebrews, the Apostle Paul explains:

‘’Strive to have peace with everyone and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. So that there may not be any fornicator or wicked person [among you], who, like Esau, would renounce his birthright for one meal. For you know that after this he, desiring to inherit the blessing, was rejected; He could not change [his father’s] thoughts, although he asked with tears” (Heb. 12:14,16,17).

This is exactly the situation with Iscariot, ''those who did not have holiness''. Having renounced his ''birthright'' for wicked gain - but later repenting of his betrayal, he had already brought upon himself the inevitable curse that David wrote about in Psalm 109.

But Judas was not only a collective image of the apostate Jews of the time of Christ - it is also a lesson for us, and an image for the time of the sign of the second coming of the Lord.

In the letter of the Apostle Peter, we read a warning:

‘’There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will introduce destructive heresies and, denying the Lord who bought them, bring upon themselves quick destruction. And many will follow their depravity, and through them the path of truth will be reproached. And out of covetousness they will entice you with flattering words; judgment has long been ready for them, and their destruction does not sleep. ... They will receive retribution for iniquity, for they put pleasure in everyday luxury; disgraces and defilers, they enjoy their deceptions, feasting with you. Their eyes are filled with lust and incessant sin; they seduce unsteady souls; their hearts are accustomed to covetousness: they are the sons of the curse. Leaving the straight path, they lost their way, following in the footsteps of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness” (2 Pet. 2: 1-3, 13-15).

Upon careful and detailed study of this passage of Scripture, we see that it speaks of apostates from the holy covenant, false Christs and false prophets. These ''sons of the evil one'', at the end of time, the wicked world will betray their fellow Christians for their own gain. We can read about that time and retribution for these crimes in the book of the prophet Obadiah. Also, these scriptures testify to this: Dan.8:23-25. Daniel 11:30-32,39. Matthew 24:10-12,23,24. Rev. 13:11-13; 19:20. Matthew 7:15,16,22,23,26,27.

We will not describe in detail the events of recent days, as you can find information about this in other articles. The essence of the theme about Judas is to point out the importance of sincerity and purity; in the end, this will affect everyone living on earth.

''For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [according to] what he has done while in the body, whether good or bad'' (2 Cor. 5:10. / Rev. 20:7-9. 2 Thess. 2:10-12).

And then [if someone did not keep himself in spiritual purity], like the Apostle Jude, all our secrets will one day be revealed.

Over the years of his life, Jesus acquired many followers, among whom were not only common people, but also representatives of the royal court. Some wanted healing, while others were just curious. The number of people to whom he passed on his knowledge was constantly changing, but one day he made a choice.

12 apostles of Christ

The specific number of followers Jesus chose for a reason, because he wanted the people of the New Testament, as in the Old Testament, to have 12 spiritual leaders. All the disciples were Israelis, and they were not enlightened or rich. Most of the apostles were previously ordinary fishermen. The clergy assure that every believer should memorize the names of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. For better memorization, it is recommended to “link” each name to a specific fragment from the Gospel.

Apostle Peter

The brother of Andrew the First-Called, thanks to whom the meeting with Christ took place, received the name Simon from birth. Thanks to his devotion and determination, he was especially close to the Savior. He was the first to confess Jesus, for which he was called the Stone (Peter).

1. The apostles of Christ were distinguished by their characters, so Peter was lively and hot-tempered: he decided to walk on the water to come to Jesus, and cut off the ear of a slave in the Garden of Gethsemane.
2. At night, when Christ was arrested, Peter showed weakness and, frightened, denied him three times. After some time, he admitted that he had made a mistake, repented, and the Lord forgave him.
3. According to scripture, the apostle was the first bishop of Rome for 25 years.
4. After the coming of the Holy Spirit, Peter was the first to do everything to spread and establish the church.
5. He died in 67 in Rome, where he was crucified upside down. It is believed that St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican was built on his grave.

Apostle Peter

Apostle Jacob Alfeev

The least is known about this disciple of Christ. In the sources you can find such a name - James the Less, which was invented to distinguish him from another apostle. Jacob Alfeev was a publican and preached in Judea, and then he and Andrew went to Edessa. There are several versions about his death and burial, some believe that he was stoned by the Jews in Marmarik, while others believe that he was crucified on the way to Egypt. His relics are located in Rome in the Church of the 12 Apostles.

Apostle Jacob Alfeev

Apostle Andrew the First-Called

Peter's younger brother was the first to meet Christ, and then he brought his brother to him. This is where his nickname First-Called came from.

1. All twelve apostles were close to the Savior, but only to three did he reveal the fate of the world, among them was Andrew the First-Called.
2. He had the gift of resurrecting the dead.
3. After the crucifixion of Jesus, Andrew began preaching in Asia Minor.
4. 50 days after the Resurrection, the Holy Spirit descended in the form of fire and engulfed the apostles. This gave them the gift of healing and prophecy, and the ability to speak all languages.
5. He died in 62, after he was crucified on an oblique cross, his hands and feet tied with ropes.
6. The relics are in the cathedral church in the city of Amalfi in Italy.

Apostle Andrew the First-Called

Apostle Matthew

Matthew originally worked as a toll collector and met Jesus at work. There is a painting by Caravaggio “The Calling of the Apostle Matthew”, which depicts the first meeting with the Savior. He is the brother of the Apostle James Alpheus.

1. Matthew is known to many thanks to the Gospel, which can be called the biography of Christ. It was based on the exact sayings of the Savior, which the apostle constantly wrote down.
2. One day Matthew performed a miracle by sticking a rod into the ground, and a tree with unprecedented fruits grew from it, and a stream began to flow below. The apostle began to preach to all the eyewitnesses who were baptized at the spring.
3. There is still no exact information about where Matthew died.
4. The relics are in an underground tomb in the Temple of San Matteo in the city of Salerno, Italy.

Apostle Matthew

Apostle John the Theologian

John received his nickname due to the fact that he is the author of one of the four canonical Gospels and. He is the younger brother of the Apostle James. It was believed that both brothers had a tough, hot and quick-tempered character.

1. John is the grandson of the husband of the Mother of God.
2. The Apostle John was a beloved disciple and Jesus himself called him that.
3. During the Crucifixion, the Savior chose John among all 12 apostles to take care of his Mother.
4. By lot he had to preach in Ephesus and other cities in Asia Minor.
5. He had a disciple who took notes of all his sermons, which were used in Revelation and the Gospel.
6. In the year 100, John ordered his seven disciples to dig a hole in the shape of a cross and bury it there. A few days later, in the hope of finding miraculous remains, a hole was dug, but there was no body there. Every year, ashes were found in the grave, which healed people from all diseases.
7. John the Theologian was buried in the city of Ephesus, where there is a temple dedicated to him.

Apostle John the Theologian

Apostle Thomas

His real name is Judas, but after the meeting Christ gave him the name “Thomas,” which translated means “Twin.” According to legend, he was a campaign against the Savior, but whether this external resemblance or something else was not known.

1. Thomas joined the 12 apostles when he was 29 years old.
2. An excellent analytical mind, which was combined with unyielding courage, was considered a tremendous strength.
3. Among the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, Thomas was one of those who was not present at the Resurrection of Christ. And he said that until he saw everything with his own eyes, he would not believe it, so the nickname arose - the Unbeliever.
4. After drawing lots, he went to preach sermons in India. He even managed to visit China for a few days, but he realized that Christianity would not take root there, so he left.
5. With his sermons, Thomas converted the son and wife of the Indian ruler to Christ, for which he was captured, tortured, and then pierced with five spears.
6. Parts of the relics of the apostle are located in India, Hungary, Italy and Mount Athos.

Apostle Thomas

Apostle Luke

Before meeting the Savior, Luke was a companion of St. Peter and a famous doctor who helped people save themselves from death. After he learned about Christ, he came to his sermon and eventually became his disciple.

1. Among the 12 apostles of Jesus, Luke stood out for his education, so he completely studied Jewish law, knew the philosophy of Greece and two languages.
2. After the coming of the Holy Spirit, Luke began to preach, and his last refuge was Thebes. There, under his leadership, a church was built, where he healed people from various diseases. The pagans hung him on an olive tree.
3. The calling of the 12 apostles was to spread Christianity throughout the world, but in addition to this, Luke wrote one of the four Gospels.
4. The Apostle was the first saint who painted icons and patronized doctors and painters.

Apostle Luke

Apostle Philip

As a young man, Philip studied various literature, including the Old Testament. He knew about the coming of Christ, so he looked forward to meeting him like no one else. Great love glowed in his heart and the Son of God, knowing about his spiritual impulses, called to follow him.

1. All the apostles of Jesus praised their teacher, but Philip saw in him only the highest human manifestations. To save him from his lack of faith, Christ decided to perform a miracle. He was able to feed a huge number of people with five loaves of bread and two fish. After seeing this miracle, Philip admitted his mistakes.
2. The Apostle stood out among other disciples in that he was not ashamed to ask the Savior various questions. After the Last Supper, he asked him to show the Lord. Jesus assured that he was one with his Father.
3. After the Resurrection of Christ, Philip traveled for a long time, performing miracles and giving healing to people.
4. The apostle died crucified upside down because he saved the wife of the ruler of Hierapolis. After this, an earthquake began, in which the pagans and rulers died for the murder they committed.

Apostle Philip

Apostle Bartholomew

According to the almost unanimous opinion of biblical scholars, the Nathanael described in the Gospel of John is Bartholomew. He was recognized as the fourth among the 12 holy apostles of Christ, and Philip brought him.

1. At the first meeting with Jesus, Bartholomew did not believe that the Savior was in front of him, and then Jesus told him that he had seen him praying and heard his appeals, which forced the future apostle to change his mind.
2. After the end of Christ’s earthly life, the Apostle began preaching the Gospel in Syria and Asia Minor.
3. Many of the acts of the 12 apostles angered a large number of rulers and were killed; this also applies to Bartholomew. He was caught by order of the Armenian king Astyages, and then crucified upside down, but he still continued to preach the sermon. Then, to keep him silent forever, they tore off his skin and cut off his head.

Apostle Bartholomew

Apostle James Zebedee

The elder brother of John the Evangelist is considered the first bishop of Jerusalem. Unfortunately, there is no information about how Jacob first met Jesus, but there is a version that the Apostle Matthew introduced them. Together with their brother, they were close to the Teacher, which prompted them to ask the Lord to sit on both hands with him in the Kingdom of Heaven. He told them that they would suffer disasters and suffering for the name of Christ.

1. The apostles of Jesus Christ were at certain levels, and James was considered the ninth of the twelve.
2. After the end of Jesus' earthly life, James went to preach in Spain.
3. The only one of the 12 apostles whose death was described in detail in the New Testament, where it is said that King Herod killed him with a sword. This happened around '44.

Apostle James Zebedee

Apostle Simon

The first meeting with Christ took place in the house of Simon, when the Savior turned water into wine before the eyes of people. After this, the future apostle believed in Christ and followed him. He was given the name - zealot (zealot).

1. After the Resurrection, all the holy apostles of Christ began to preach, and Simon did this in different places: Britain, Armenia, Libya, Egypt and others.
2. The Georgian king Aderki was a pagan, so he ordered the capture of Simon, who was subjected to prolonged torture. There is information that he was crucified or sawed with a saw. They buried him near the cave where he spent the last years of his life.

Apostle Simon

Apostle Judas Iscariot

There are two versions of the origin of Judas, so according to the first it is believed that he was the younger brother of Simon, and the second - that he was the only native of Judea among the 12 apostles, and therefore was not related to the other disciples of Christ.

1. Jesus appointed Judas as treasurer of the community, meaning he was in charge of the donations.
2. According to existing information, the Apostle Jude is considered the most zealous disciple of Christ.
3. Judas was the only one who, after the Last Supper, betrayed the Savior for 30 pieces of silver, and since then he has been a traitor. After Jesus was crucified, he threw away the money and refused it. To this day, there are disputes regarding the true essence of his act.
4. There are two versions of his death: he hanged himself and received punishment by falling to his death.
5. In the 1970s, a papyrus was found in Egypt, where it was described that Judas was the only disciple of Christ.

Apostle Judas Iscariot