The group of the Twelve occupies an essential place in the Gospels. Its number refers to Israel and to the mission entrusted by Jesus to his disciples. The apostles' names are transmitted in several lists that do not always use the same forms or nicknames.
The Group of the Twelve
The Gospels recount the choosing of twelve disciples, a sign linked to the twelve tribes of Israel. The lists are found notably in Matthew 10, Mark 3, and Luke 6. They present some differences in names or descriptions, which a careful reading preserves rather than erases.
Matthias after Judas
Acts recounts the choosing of Matthias after the death of Judas Iscariot. The community seeks a witness who accompanied the journey from John's baptism to the Ascension, to testify to the resurrection. Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias are presented; after prayer and casting lots, Matthias joins the Eleven. The Roman feast of Saint Matthias is on May 14.
Paul and Other Apostles
Paul presents himself as an apostle based on the call of the risen Christ. He does not belong to the Twelve from Jesus' earthly ministry. The New Testament also uses apostolic vocabulary in broader missionary contexts. It is therefore necessary to distinguish the group of the Twelve from all uses of the word apostle.
Women and the Other Disciples
Mary Magdalene holds a major place in the Easter narratives; women accompany Jesus and support his mission. The first communities include many female and male collaborators, whose names are preserved in Paul's letters. Organizing the witnesses to the Gospel around only the Twelve would erase an essential part of the texts.
Sources and traditions
Acts does not recount the end of each apostle’s life. Distant journeys and martyrdom accounts often come from later traditions whose documentary value varies. The collection’s entries distinguish biblical reference points from hagiographic reception to avoid presenting a legend as a directly attested fact.
The replacement of Judas and the mission after Easter
Acts 1 recounts the appointment of Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot. This episode highlights the importance given to the testimony of those who accompanied Jesus from his ministry through his Resurrection. Paul also receives the title of apostle, but he was not one of the Twelve during Jesus’ public ministry. It is therefore necessary to distinguish between the college of the Twelve and the broader use of the term apostolos in early Christianity.
The first witnesses are not exclusively men belonging to the apostolic lists. The Gospels notably present Mary Magdalene and other women at the tomb, and Acts mentions several co-workers in the communities. Reading the lists alongside the mission narratives makes it possible to understand a collective history that goes beyond the individual biographies of the Twelve.
