Apostles in Christianity facts for kids
In Christianity, apostles were special followers of Jesus Christ. The most famous group are the Twelve Apostles, also known as the Twelve Disciples. They were Jesus's closest friends and students during his time on Earth. They learned directly from him and later helped spread his teachings.
The New Testament in the Bible tells us about these apostles. It explains how Jesus chose them to be his main helpers. After Jesus's resurrection (when he came back to life), he told his apostles to share his message with people everywhere. This important task is sometimes called the Great Commission.
One famous apostle, Paul, was not one of the original twelve. He became an apostle after Jesus appeared to him in a special way. Paul traveled a lot, sharing Jesus's message, especially with people who were not Jewish. He called himself the "apostle of the Gentiles" (meaning non-Jewish people).
Contents
Who Were the Twelve Apostles?
The Bible lists the names of the Twelve Apostles in different places. Here are their names:
- Simon (also called Peter)
- Andrew (Peter's brother)
- James (son of Zebedee)
- John (James's brother)
- Philip
- Bartholomew
- Matthew
- Thomas
- James (son of Alphaeus)
- Simon the Zealot
- Thaddeus (also known as Jude)
- Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed Jesus and was replaced by Matthias)
These apostles were from different backgrounds. Some were fishermen, like Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Matthew was a tax collector. They left their old lives to follow Jesus and learn from him.
What Did the Apostles Do?
The apostles had a very important job. They were chosen by Jesus to:
- Learn from Jesus: They spent a lot of time with Jesus, listening to his teachings and seeing his miracles.
- Help Jesus: They assisted him in his work, like helping to feed a large crowd.
- Spread the Gospel: After Jesus's resurrection, they traveled to many different places. They shared the good news about Jesus and taught people about his message of love and forgiveness.
- Start Churches: The apostles helped set up the first Christian communities, which became churches. They guided new believers and taught them how to live as Christians.
The time when the apostles were alive and actively spreading Christianity is called the Apostolic Age. During this time, Christianity grew from a small group of followers into a wider movement.
Apostles in Modern Times
The word "apostle" means "someone who is sent." In some Christian groups today, especially in Pentecostal movements, missionaries are sometimes called apostles. This is because they are "sent out" to share the Christian message, just like the original apostles.
For example, Saint Patrick (who lived from 373 to 463 AD) is known as the "Apostle of Ireland." He helped bring Christianity to Ireland. Another example is Saint Boniface (680–755 AD), who was called the "Apostle to the Germans" because he spread Christianity in Germany. These people continued the work of the first apostles by sharing their faith with new regions.
Images for kids
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The Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles. Russian, 14th century, Moscow Museum.
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Vocation of the Apostles, a painting in the Sistine Chapel by Domenico Ghirlandaio, showing Jesus calling his first apostles.
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James Tissot, The Exhortation to the Apostles
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Adriaen van de Venne's Fishing for Souls, a painting from 1614.
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A monument of Jesus and the Twelve Apostles in Domus Galilaeae, Israel.
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Relics (special objects connected to saints) of the Apostles in 2017.
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The Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome, an important church.
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