12 apostles quiz: the names of the twelve disciples, who they were, and 25 questions

The 12 apostles of Jesus were Simon Peter, Andrew, James the son of Zebedee, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus (also called Judas the brother of James), Simon the Canaanite (or Zelotes) and Judas Iscariot. After Judas died, Matthias took his place (Acts 1:26). The New Testament lists them four times: Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:13-16 and Acts 1:13.

This page has the names in a table, a short bio of each apostle, the reason the four lists don't match word for word, and a 25-question quiz with every answer checked against the King James Version.

If you only want the quiz, skip to the 12 apostles quiz section. If you want to actually remember the names, read the bios first: a name with a story attached is much easier to keep.

Names of the 12 apostles

Here is the list in the order Matthew gives it (Matthew 10:2-4), with the other names each apostle goes by. KJV spellings vary slightly by edition (Alphaeus or Alpheus, Thaddaeus or Thaddeus).

Here is Matthew's list as the KJV gives it:

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alpheus, and Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

The twelve disciples, one by one

A line or two on each, with a link to a full profile where we have one. Each profile covers the person's life in order, key moments, strengths and weaknesses, and lessons for today.

Simon Peter. A Galilean fisherman, married (Jesus healed his wife's mother in Matthew 8:14), and the first name on every list. He walked on water, confessed "Thou art the Christ," denied Jesus three times, and was restored by the Sea of Tiberias, another name for the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-17). Read the profile of Peter.

Andrew. Peter's brother and a former follower of John the Baptist. He's the one who "first findeth his own brother Simon" and brings him to Jesus (John 1:41-42), and later the one who notices the boy with five barley loaves (John 6:8-9). See Andrew.

James, son of Zebedee. A fisherman who left his father's boat with his brother John (Matthew 4:21-22). Jesus nicknamed the brothers Boanerges, "sons of thunder" (Mark 3:17). He was the first of the Twelve to die for his faith (Acts 12:2). See James son of Zebedee.

John, son of Zebedee. With Peter and James, one of the three Jesus took to the transfiguration and into Gethsemane (Matthew 17:1; Mark 14:33). Christians have traditionally identified him as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" in John's Gospel. See John the apostle.

Philip. From Bethsaida, "the city of Andrew and Peter" (John 1:44). Jesus called him directly with "Follow me," and he brought Nathanael with three words: "Come and see." See Philip.

Bartholomew. He appears only in the four lists. Since the Synoptic lists pair him with Philip and John's Gospel pairs Philip with Nathanael, many Christians identify Bartholomew with Nathanael. The Bible never states it outright. See Nathanael.

Thomas. Called Didymus, "the twin." Remembered as the doubter, but he was also the one who said "Let us also go, that we may die with him" (John 11:16), and his "My Lord and my God" is one of the clearest confessions in the Gospels. See Thomas.

Matthew. A tax collector ("publican") sitting "at the receipt of custom" when Jesus called him (Matthew 9:9). Mark and Luke tell the same call with the name Levi, son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14). See Matthew and the call of Levi.

James, son of Alphaeus. Named in all four lists and nowhere else for certain. Some identify him with "James the less" (Mark 15:40), but that link isn't certain.

Thaddaeus, or Judas the brother of James. Matthew and Mark say Thaddaeus; Luke and Acts say "Judas the brother of James." John records one question from him at the Last Supper and carefully adds "not Iscariot" (John 14:22).

Simon the Canaanite, or Simon Zelotes. Luke's "Zelotes" means zealot, someone zealous, possibly for Israel's independence (Luke 6:15). Matthew and Mark call him "the Canaanite," which is usually explained as coming from an Aramaic word meaning "zealous," not as a reference to the land of Canaan.

Judas Iscariot. The son of Simon (John 6:71), who "had the bag" and stole from it (John 12:6). He betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver and a kiss (Matthew 26:15, 49), then threw the money down in the temple and hanged himself (Matthew 27:3-5). See Judas Iscariot and the end of Judas.

Matthias. After the resurrection, the apostles needed a replacement who had been with them "beginning from the baptism of John" (Acts 1:21-22). They proposed Joseph Barsabas and Matthias, prayed, and "the lot fell upon Matthias."

Most of the Twelve have a full profile in the app, part of 100+ Bible characters, and each profile ends with a short quiz so the names and scenes stick.

Why the four lists of apostles don't match exactly

People notice two things when they compare the lists: some names change, and the order shifts. Neither is a contradiction once you see the pattern.

Three patterns stand out:

1. The twelve fall into three groups of four. Peter always heads the first group, Philip the second, and James son of Alphaeus the third. The names inside each group move around, but no one ever moves to a different group.
2. Several apostles have two names. That was normal in a world where people used Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek names and nicknames. Simon is also Peter and Cephas (John 1:42). Levi is also Matthew. Thaddaeus is also Judas the brother of James.
3. Judas Iscariot is always last in the Gospels. Each writer tags his name: "who also betrayed him" in Matthew 10:4 and Mark 3:19, "which also was the traitor" in Luke 6:16.

This makes the names easier to memorize too. Learn the three group leaders, then the three members that follow each.

12 apostles quiz: 25 questions with answers

Every answer below was checked against the KJV. Try to answer before you read the line marked Answer.

1. Which two pairs of brothers were among the first disciples Jesus called by the Sea of Galilee?

Answer: Simon Peter and Andrew, then James and John, the sons of Zebedee (Matthew 4:18-21).

2. What did Jesus promise Peter and Andrew when He called them from their nets?

Answer: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). See the miraculous catch and the calling of the disciples.

3. What nickname did Jesus give James and John?

Answer: Boanerges, "The sons of thunder" (Mark 3:17).

4. Which apostle was a publican, or tax collector?

Answer: Matthew, "Matthew the publican" (Matthew 10:3), called while "sitting at the receipt of custom" (Matthew 9:9).

5. Who told his brother, "We have found the Messias"?

Answer: Andrew, speaking to Simon Peter (John 1:40-41). See Come and see: the first disciples.

6. What new name did Jesus give Simon when they first met in John 1, and what does it mean?

Answer: Cephas, "which is by interpretation, A stone" (John 1:42).

7. Who brought Nathanael to Jesus?

Answer: Philip, who answered his doubt with "Come and see" (John 1:45-46).

8. Which apostle asked, "Lord, shew us the Father"?

Answer: Philip (John 14:8).

9. Which apostle was also called Didymus?

Answer: Thomas (John 11:16; John 20:24).

10. What did Thomas say when he finally saw the risen Jesus?

Answer: "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28). Read Thomas: my Lord and my God.

11. Which apostle got out of the boat and walked on the water?

Answer: Peter (Matthew 14:29). See Jesus walks on the water.

12. Who confessed, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God"?

Answer: Simon Peter (Matthew 16:16). Read Peter's confession.

13. Which three apostles did Jesus take up the mountain where He was transfigured?

Answer: Peter, James and John his brother (Matthew 17:1). See the transfiguration.

14. At Jesus' arrest, who cut off the right ear of the high priest's servant, and what was the servant's name?

Answer: Simon Peter cut off the ear of Malchus (John 18:10). See Gethsemane and the arrest.

15. How many pieces of silver did the chief priests agree to pay Judas?

Answer: Thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15).

16. Which apostle "had the bag," the group's money?

Answer: Judas Iscariot (John 12:6; John 13:29).

17. What was the name of Judas Iscariot's father?

Answer: Simon. "He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon" (John 6:71).

18. Which apostle at the Last Supper is introduced by John as "Judas … not Iscariot"?

Answer: Judas the brother of James, also called Thaddaeus (John 14:22; Luke 6:16).

19. How many times did the risen Jesus ask Peter "lovest thou me?"

Answer: Three times, ending with "Feed my sheep" (John 21:17). Read Lovest thou me? Peter restored.

20. To whom did Jesus entrust His mother from the cross?

Answer: "The disciple standing by, whom he loved" (John 19:26-27), traditionally identified as John.

21. Who was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot, and how?

Answer: Matthias, chosen by casting lots after prayer (Acts 1:23-26). The other candidate was Joseph called Barsabas, surnamed Justus.

22. Which apostle was the first to be killed for his faith, and by whom?

Answer: James the brother of John, killed "with the sword" by Herod the king (Acts 12:1-2).

23. When some Greeks wanted to see Jesus, which apostle did they approach first?

Answer: Philip, who told Andrew, and together they told Jesus (John 12:20-22).

24. Luke gives one apostle the surname "Zelotes." Who?

Answer: Simon, "Simon called Zelotes" (Luke 6:15). Matthew and Mark call him "Simon the Canaanite."

25. Jesus said the twelve would one day sit on twelve thrones. Whom would they judge?

Answer: "The twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30).

Scored 20 or more? You know the Twelve better than most. Try three more questions from Matthew, the Gospel with the fullest list:

Quick quiz: Matthew

What does the name “Emmanuel,” given to Jesus, mean?

“The LORD saves”“Prince of Peace”“God with us”“Son of David”

What gifts do the magi offer the young child?

Gold, frankincense and myrrhSilver, wine and oilGold, silver and pearlsFrankincense, spikenard and aloes

How is Matthew described in the list of the twelve apostles in his own Gospel?

The fishermanThe CanaaniteThe carpenterThe publican

Continue the quiz

There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start free, no card needed.

Apostle or disciple: what's the difference?

A disciple is a learner, someone who follows a teacher. Jesus had many disciples: in Acts 1:15 about 120 gather before Pentecost. An apostle is "one who is sent," a messenger with authority.

Luke shows the difference in one sentence: from His disciples, Jesus "chose twelve, whom also he named apostles." He spent the night before in prayer:

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;

Mark gives the purpose: "that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach" (Mark 3:14). First with Him, then sent.

So all twelve apostles were disciples, but not every disciple was an apostle. The New Testament also calls a few people outside the Twelve apostles. Paul calls himself an apostle "not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:1), and Acts 14:14 calls "the apostles, Barnabas and Paul." Paul is never counted among the Twelve; he calls himself "the least of the apostles" (1 Corinthians 15:9). Read more in our profiles of Paul and Barnabas.

Why did Jesus choose twelve?

The number points back to the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus makes the link Himself when He promises the twelve that they will sit "upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28).

That's also why the apostles replaced Judas quickly in Acts 1, before Pentecost. The number mattered. And at the very end of the Bible, the new Jerusalem has twelve gates named for the tribes and twelve foundations named for the apostles:

And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

How to memorize the names of the 12 apostles

Use the patterns from the lists above. They're built into the text.

• Three groups of four. Group 1: Peter, Andrew, James, John (the fishermen). Group 2: Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew. Group 3: James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon, Judas.
• Doubles. There are two Jameses, two Simons and two men named Judas. Remember the pairs and you've got half the list.
• Attach one scene to each name. Peter on the water, Andrew with the loaves, Thomas touching the wounds, Matthew at the tax booth. Our guide on how to do a character study in the Bible shows how to go further with any of them.
• Test yourself after a few days. Write the twelve from memory, then check against Matthew 10:2-4.

If this was fun, try our Bible trivia questions about Jesus or the broader New Testament trivia questions. You can also take the character quizzes on Peter or Thomas, or browse all Bible characters.

In the app, each apostle's profile ends with a short quiz, and every answer is explained with the verse it comes from.

Frequently asked questions

Who were the 12 apostles of Jesus?

The 12 apostles were Simon Peter, Andrew, James son of Zebedee, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus (also called Judas the brother of James), Simon the Canaanite (or Zelotes), and Judas Iscariot. They are listed in Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19 and Luke 6:13-16. After Judas's death, Matthias was added to the eleven (Acts 1:26).

Who replaced Judas as the twelfth apostle?

Matthias replaced Judas Iscariot. In Acts 1, Peter said the replacement must have been with Jesus from John's baptism to the ascension. Two men were proposed, Joseph Barsabas and Matthias. The apostles prayed, cast lots, "and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles" (Acts 1:26).

Are Matthew and Levi the same person?

Most Christians and scholars think so. Matthew 9:9 tells how Jesus called "a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom." Mark 2:14 and Luke 5:27 tell the same scene with the name Levi, and Mark calls him "the son of Alphaeus." Matthew's own list calls him "Matthew the publican," or tax collector (Matthew 10:3).

Is Bartholomew the same as Nathanael?

The Bible doesn't say directly, but many Christians have long identified them. Bartholomew appears only in the lists of apostles, usually right after Philip. Nathanael appears only in John's Gospel, where Philip brings him to Jesus (John 1:45-46) and where he's with the other disciples after the resurrection (John 21:2). John never mentions Bartholomew, and the other Gospels never mention Nathanael.

How did the 12 apostles die?

The New Testament records only two deaths: Judas Iscariot (Matthew 27:5 says he hanged himself; Acts 1:18 describes his body in the field bought with his reward), and James son of Zebedee was killed with the sword by Herod (Acts 12:2). Jesus also hinted at how Peter would die (John 21:18-19). Accounts of the others' deaths, many as martyrs, come from later church tradition, which varies and can't be confirmed from Scripture.

What is the difference between a disciple and an apostle?

A disciple is a follower and learner of a teacher; Jesus had many. An apostle is "one who is sent." Luke 6:13 says Jesus chose twelve from His disciples, "whom also he named apostles." The Twelve were disciples first, then sent out to preach (Mark 3:14). Paul and Barnabas are also called apostles, but they are not counted among the Twelve.