The Twelve Disciples - Have You Met Your Match? Quiz

Answer: Peter

Peter, of course, denied knowing Christ three times just prior to the crucifixion. This even though he vowed he would never do such a thing. On his third denial, a rooster crowed just like Jesus had predicted. Details about the three denials can be found in John 18:15-27.

Despite his cowardice, Peter, similar to the other disciples, became an unstoppable force preaching the message of a resurrected Jesus Christ.

Answer: Matthew

Matthew, also known as Levi, served as a tax collector before he became one of the original twelve disciples.

However, no details are provided about Matthew's role as a tax collector. Matthew 9:9 in the NKJV simply states Jesus "saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, 'Follow Me.' So he arose and followed Him."

Tax collectors were largely despised in Biblical times because they were seen as traitors, working for the Roman occupiers of Israel. On top of this, they were seen as being dishonest, often charging people more taxes than they were obligated to pay to the Romans as the tax collectors would pocket the difference.

Answer: John

On five different occasions in the NKJV, the Gospel of John makes reference to the disciple Jesus loved. The references can be found in John 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7 and 21:20.

Church tradition holds the disciple Jesus loved is none other than John.

However, there are some people who believe the "disciple Jesus loved" is someone entirely different, possibly not even one of the original twelve disciples.

For example, some believe the person in question is Lazarus, a man Jesus raised from the dead at Bethany. That belief is based on John 11:5 which states Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

They are entitled to their opinion. However, it is my belief, as well as that of many scholars, the disciple Jesus loved is none other than John.

Answer: Thaddeus

Thaddeus was one of the original twelve disciples but little is known about him.

In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, his name appears as one of the Twelve, however, in the Gospel of Luke it mentions Judas son of James in his place. Most scholars believe Thaddeus and Judas son of James are the same person.

Some people associate him with the Letter of Jude in the New Testament but there is no way of proving his connection.

He is believed to be the same person as the Judas mentioned in John 14:22, who asked Jesus a question at the Last Supper.

Answer: Thomas

Thomas will be forever regarded as the king of the skeptics. Even though the other disciples told him they had seen a resurrected Jesus Christ following the crucifixion, he steadfastly refused to believe.

John 20:25 in the NKJV explains things this way: "The other disciples therefore said to him, 'We have seen the Lord.' So he said to them, 'Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.'"

Shortly afterwards Jesus appeared before Thomas and told him to examine the wounds in His hands and on his side.

After doing so, Thomas responded by saying: "My Lord and my God."

Answer: Judas Iscariot

Judas Iscariot, of course, is the most notorious person in the New Testament for betraying Christ for 30 pieces of silver. This even though Judas was one of the original twelve disciples and was responsible for overseeing money involved in Christ's ministry.

Scripture tells of the Pharisees bribing Judas to lead them to Christ at an opportune time to arrest Him. After Christ was arrested, Scripture goes on to tell of Judas committing suicide.

Answer: Nathanael

Nathanael was the first of the original twelve disciples to acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God. Nathanael's declaration is recorded in John 1:49. He made the pronouncement shortly after meeting Jesus.

Nathanael's declaration about Jesus being the Son of God was made months, possibly years, before Peter made a similar statement.

Answer: Phillip

After meeting Jesus, Philip seized the opportunity to tell Nathanael he had met the Messiah. However, Nathanael wasn't impressed with Philip's claim, initially expressing doubt Jesus was the Messiah.

It seems much of Nathanael's doubt was based on the fact Jesus came from Nazareth. In John 1:45 in the NKJV, Nathanael is quoted as saying: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"

I suppose it's a bit like saying can anything good come out of a small town in Northern Ontario where I live. Or can anything good come out of a small town in Alabama.

Philip hung in there and convinced Nathanael to check things out for himself. Shortly after meeting Jesus, he proclaimed Him as the Son of God.

Answer: Andrew

John 12:20-26 tells of a Greek delegation being in Jerusalem and wanting to meet with Jesus. According to the passage, the delegation initially spoke to Philip who in turn asked Andrew for assistance.

The two disciples then took the Greek delegation to meet with Christ.

As a result, Andrew has been jokingly referred to as the world's first foreign missionary.

Answer: James

James was the first of the original twelve disciples to be executed for preaching the Gospel. His execution, however, is reported in only one line. Acts 12:2 simply states Herod had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. In other words, James was beheaded.

The same chapter goes on to tell of Peter making a miraculous escape from prison.

Answer: James, son of Alphaeus

James, the Son of Alphaeus, is sometimes referred to as James the Less to avoid confusion with James, the brother of John and the son of Zebedee. In Mark 15:40, for example, the disciple is referred to as James the Less. However, in other places in the Gospels and the Book of Acts, he is referred to as James, the son of Alphaeus.

In the New Testament, James' name appears only four times. In each case his name is part of a list of the names of the twelve disciples.

Answer: Simon the Zealot

Simon the Zealot is mentioned only when there is a list of names of the twelve disciples in the New Testament.

In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark he is known as Simon the Canaanite. In the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, he is known as the Zealot.