Here’s a detailed list of Jesus’ 12 disciples (also known as apostles), including a character sketch, profession, where they met Jesus, what they did after the resurrection (based on tradition and history), and how they died.
1. Peter (Simon Peter)
Profession: Fisherman
Met Jesus: While fishing in Galilee (Mark 1:16-18)
Character: Bold, impulsive, passionate leader. Denied Jesus three times but was restored and became a pillar in the early Church.
After Resurrection: Preached at Pentecost, performed miracles, led the Jerusalem church, evangelized Jews and Gentiles.
Death: Crucified upside down in Rome under Nero (~64 AD), saying he was unworthy to die as Jesus did.
2. James (Son of Zebedee)
Profession: Fisherman
Met Jesus: While mending nets with his brother John (Mark 1:19-20)
Character: Zealous, ambitious (asked to sit at Jesus' right and left), part of Jesus’ inner circle.
After Resurrection: Preached in Jerusalem and Judea.
Death: First apostle martyred (Acts 12:1-2), beheaded by Herod Agrippa I (~44 AD).
3. John (Son of Zebedee)
Profession: Fisherman
Met Jesus: Same moment as James, his brother
Character: Intimate with Jesus (called “the disciple Jesus loved”), contemplative, deep thinker, part of inner circle.
After Resurrection: Cared for Mary, led churches in Asia Minor, wrote Gospel of John, 1–3 John, and Revelation.
Death: Only apostle believed to have died of old age (~100 AD in Ephesus), though he survived exile and persecution.
4. Andrew
Profession: Fisherman
Met Jesus: First called disciple, formerly a disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:35-40)
Character: Eager evangelist (brought Peter to Jesus), humble, often in the background.
After Resurrection: Preached in modern-day Turkey, Greece, and possibly Scythia.
Death: Crucified on an X-shaped cross in Patras, Greece.
5. Philip
Profession: Unknown (possibly tradesman or fisherman)
Met Jesus: From Bethsaida, directly called by Jesus (John 1:43)
Character: Analytical, practical (asked Jesus to show the Father), approachable.
After Resurrection: Missionary in Phrygia and Hierapolis (Asia Minor).
Death: Crucified or stoned in Hierapolis.
6. Bartholomew (possibly Nathanael)
Profession: Unknown (likely a scholar or tradesman)
Met Jesus: Introduced by Philip (John 1:45-49)
Character: Honest, skeptical at first (“Can anything good come from Nazareth?”), sincere.
After Resurrection: Preached in India, Armenia, and possibly Ethiopia.
Death: Flayed alive and beheaded in Armenia.
7. Matthew (Levi)
Profession: Tax collector
Met Jesus: At his tax booth in Capernaum (Matthew 9:9)
Character: Outcast, detail-oriented, radical life change; author of the Gospel of Matthew.
After Resurrection: Ministered to Jews and possibly traveled to Ethiopia or Persia.
Death: Martyred in Ethiopia or Persia—stabbed or burned.
8. Thomas (Didymus)
Profession: Possibly a tradesman
Met Jesus: Not specified; listed early in the disciples
Character: Loyal, analytical, doubting but also deeply faithful ("Let us go and die with him").
After Resurrection: Evangelized in India (Mar Thoma tradition).
Death: Speared to death near Chennai, India (~72 AD).
9. James (Son of Alphaeus)
Profession: Unknown
Met Jesus: Not detailed
Character: Quiet, possibly called “James the Less,” likely overshadowed by other disciples.
After Resurrection: Traditions place him in Egypt.
Death: Clubbed or stoned to death in Egypt.
10. Thaddeus (also called Judas son of James, or Lebbaeus)
Profession: Unknown
Met Jesus: Not detailed
Character: Curious (asked Jesus why He revealed Himself only to His disciples), faithful.
After Resurrection: Preached in Syria and Persia with Simon the Zealot.
Death: Clubbed to death or martyred in Persia.
11. Simon the Zealot
Profession: Former political zealot
Met Jesus: Not specified
Character: Passionate, nationalistic, later redirected zeal to kingdom of God.
After Resurrection: Possibly evangelized in Persia, Egypt, or even Britain.
Death: Martyred—traditions say crucified or hacked to pieces with Thaddeus in Persia.
12. Judas Iscariot
Profession: Treasurer for the disciples
Met Jesus: Not specified
Character: Greedy, deceptive, betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, remorseful but did not repent to Jesus.
After Betrayal: Hanged himself (Matthew 27:5), or fell and burst open (Acts 1:18).
Death: Suicide shortly after Jesus’ arrest.
