THE TWELVE DISCIPLES

THE TWELVE DISCIPLES - THREE GROUPS OF FOUR EACH

[Always:  Peter #1; Philip #5; James, son of Alphaeus #9; Judas last!]

Matthew 10:2-4 - 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 Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

Mark 3:16-19 - And Simon He surnamed Peter; and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and He surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder, and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed Him:  and they went into an house.

Luke 6:13-16 - And when it was day, He called unto Him His disciples:  and of them He chose twelve, whom also He named apostles; Simon, (whom He also named Peter), and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

Acts 1:13 - And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. [Judas was dead - Matthew 27:5]

PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN ON THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION

Matthew 17:1-2 - And after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them:  and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light.

Mark 9:2-3 - And after six days Jesus taketh with Him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves:  and He was transfigured before them.  And His raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

Luke 9:28-29 - And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.  And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistering.

PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN WITNESSED JESUS RAISE A YOUNG GIRL

Mark 5:35-37 - While he yet spoke, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead:  why do you trouble the Master any further?  As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said unto (Jairus) the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.  And He suffered no man to follow Him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

Luke 8:49-51 - While He yet spoke, there came one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.  But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, Fear not:  believe only, and she shall be made whole.  And when He came into the house, He suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

PETER, JAMES, JOHN, AND ANDREW:  THE OLIVET DISCOURSE 

Mark 13:3-4 - And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked Him privately, Tell us, when shall these things be?  And what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE

Mark 14:32-34 - And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane:  and He said to His disciples, Sit here, while I shall pray.  And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; and said unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death:  tarry here, and watch.

WHY DID JESUS SINGLE OUT PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN?

Let me begin by saying I do not know!  My best guess is that the tree would play unique roles in the early Church.  Jesus used Peter to verify that salvation was offered to everyone; the Jews, the Samaritans, and the Gentiles (Mt. 16:19; Acts 1:8 -  Acts 2 (Jews); Acts 8 (Samaritans); and Acts 10 (Gentiles).  James was the first to be martyred (Acts 12:2).  There is no record of the death of John in the Bible, and tradition has it that he died a very old man in the city of Ephesus.  In addition, the three are known to have written at least eight of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament --- Peter:  1st, and 2nd Peter - James:  The Epistle of James -  John:  The Gospel of John; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John; and Revelation.  The authorship of the Book of Hebrews is unknown.