Twelve Disciples: Walking in the Footsteps of Christ The twelve disciples, also known as the apostles, were the closest followers of Jesus Christ during his public ministry on earth. They were ordinary men, brought together by their faith in Christ's teachings and miracles. Their names were Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot. Peter, the brother of Andrew, was the first disciple called by Jesus. He was a fisherman and became the rock on which Jesus built his church. James and John were the sons of Zebedee and were also fishermen. They were known as the "Sons of Thunder" because of their fiery personalities. Andrew, brother of Peter, introduced his brother to Jesus and became an important evangelist. Philip was from Bethsaida and was known for his questioning nature. Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, was an honest and straightforward disciple. Thomas is famous for his doubting nature but eventually became a devoted follower. Matthew, also known as Levi, was a tax collector before he met Jesus. James son of Alphaeus is relatively unknown and little is known of Thaddaeus, also known as Judas son of James. Simon the Zealot was known for his political views before becoming a disciple. Judas Iscariot is the most well-known among the twelve because he betrayed Jesus. He was the treasurer of the group and was motivated by greed. Each disciple had unique strengths and weaknesses but they all shared a common goal of following Christ. They witnessed many miracles and teachings of Jesus and were able to pass on these experiences to others. They were commissioned by Jesus to go out and make disciples of all nations. The legacy of the twelve disciples lives on through the church today. They inspired many with their courage and devotion to Christ. We are also called to walk in their footsteps, to be bold in our faith and to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others.