The New Testament tells nothing but his name and even the legend and tradition is silent about him, yet a towering and an important spiritual figure of the NT . St. James is not among the first twelve apostles. Truly little is known of them and there is much speculation Read more…
Andrew is often known as the man, who introduced others to Jesus. Andrew was a native of Bethsaida of Galilee (Jn. 1: 44). He was the son of John / Jonas (Matt. 16: 17; Jn. 1: 42; and brother of Simon Peter (Matt. 10: 2; Jn. 1: 40). Both were Read more…
St. Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ was born in Galilee. St. Thomas, the Apostle of India, is known as the Twin; Doubting Thomas; and also, Didymus. In John 11: 16, he is identified and referred to as ‘Thomas, surnamed Didymus, the twin’ (Heb. Thomas, Gk. Didymus– ‘twin). He is called Judas Thomas Read more…
Philip is another of the apostles who has been rescued from the oblivion of the fourth Gospel. The first three Gospels record nothing about him except his name. In the fourth Gospel Philip figures most prominently and becomes a person and a personality. Like the brothers, Peter and Andrew, Philip Read more…
James the son of Alphaeus is one of the more obscure of Jesus’ twelve disciples. His name appears in each of the four lists of the disciples in the New Testament found in Matthew 10: 2–4, Mark 3: 14–19, Luke 6: 13–16, and Acts 1: 13. But not much else Read more…
The Greek Matthias or Maththias, is a name derived from Mattathias, (Heb. Mattithiah, signifying “gift of Yahweh). St. Matthias was not one of the original Apostles but was chosen by the other Apostles when Judas left their rank. One apostle had defected, the deserted office of the betrayer needed to be occupied. According to Acts Read more…
Judas often called Jude in English is variously named. Jerome called him Thaddaeus Trinomius, which means a man with three names. In Mark he is Thaddeus. In Matthew he is called Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddeus. He is variously named, but this is not surprising. Before Crucifixion, there was a Read more…
Peter is the name by which we know best this apostle, who is named first, in every list of the twelve. He is often known as the mouthpiece of the apostolic band and even referred as the prince of the apostles. St. Peter first appears on the scene in his Read more…
St. Barnabas was not one of the twelve chosen by the Lord, he is referred to as an apostle on account of the special commission he received from the Holy Spirit and his apostolic work. His original name was Joseph (Acts 4: 36), meaning Jehovah increases or God will add. Read more…
Bartholomew is mentioned sixth in the Synoptic Gospels, after the name of Philip and seventh in the list of Acts and not mentioned in the Gospel of John (Matt. 10:3; Mk. 3:18; Lk. 6:14; and Acts 1:13). St. John refers to him as Nathaniel (Jn. 1: 45-49, 21: 2). The Read more…