What was the original name of the Twelve Apostles?
List of the Twelve Apostles as identified by the Bible
| Gospel of Matthew | Gospel of Mark | Acts of the Apostles |
|---|---|---|
| Simon (“who is called Peter”) | Simon (“he surnamed Peter”) | Peter |
| Andrew (“his [Peter’s] brother”) | Andrew | Andrew |
| James (“son of Zebedee”) | James (“son of Zebedee”) / one of the “Boanerges” | James |
Why did the apostles have Western names?
The apostles had non-native English names: names that were borrowed from other languages. In fact, the English borrowed the names of the apostles because those names appeared in the Bible. Indeed, the English language did not even exist at the time the Bible was written.
Why was Matthew called Levi?
Assuming that the identification of Matthew with Levi is correct, Matthew (probably meaning “Yahweh’s Gift”) would appear to be the Christian name of Levi (called by Mark “Levi the son of Alphaeus”), who had been employed as a tax collector in the service of Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee.
What are the names of the 12 apostles of Jesus?
The 12 apostles were Jesus Christ’s closest followers. Their names were Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Jude, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot. After Judas betrayed Jesus, Matthias was chosen to replace him.
Why did the Disciples of Jesus have Hebrew or Greek names?
They had Hebrew or, in a couple cases, Greek names. The English versions are transliterations of the originals (usually via Greek and Latin). The reason why people in English-speaking countries use those names is because they’re the transliterated names of the disciples, not the other way around. They didn’t. Really, they didn’t.
Why are some apostles only mentioned in the lists of Apostles?
Some of the apostles play key roles in well-known Bible stories. Others are only mentioned in the lists of apostles, or they have a single line of dialogue in the gospels. A few of the apostles were known by multiple names, which can make these lists and other references to them confusing.
What is the significance of the 12 disciples of Jesus?
The lists found in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) appear when Jesus calls these 12 disciples aside for a special purpose and officially appoints them as apostles. The list in Acts occurs after Jesus ascends to heaven, and the believers decide to replace Judas Iscariot while waiting for the Holy Spirit.