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JUBILEE TEACHING

The Twelve Apostles

JUBILEE TEACHING FOR JANUARY 27, 2008 | THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Jesus had many disciples and devoted followers. From them, he picked 12 men to travel with him.

These disciples came to be known as the apostles, from the Greek word apostolos, “to send forth.”

Jesus taught them so that they would one day go out into the world to spread his message.

These were the Twelve Apostles:

• Peter and his brother Andrew.

• James and John, also brothers. (This John is not to be confused with John the Baptist, who had a separate role as the “precursor” — the one who announced that the Son of God was coming.)

• Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus (son of James), Matthias and Simon.

• Judas Iscariot, who would betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

• Paul, who would join the Christians later, and became the “apostle to the gentiles.”

It was the apostles’ special privilege to stay close to Jesus and receive his training and wisdom.

As witnesses to Jesus’ life on earth and students of his teachings, the Twelve Apostles became founders of the church and the authors of the Gospels (first passed down orally and eventually written down).

The Gospels, apostolic letters and other writings were later compiled into what we know as the New Testament.

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The Twelve Apostles

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