Apostle Facts For Kids

The apostles are the main followers of Jesus described in the New Testament. They are different from other students because they are chosen to be leaders and messengers of Jesus' teaching. The best-known group is the Twelve Apostles, who walk and work with Jesus during his life in the first century.

After Jesus' death and resurrection, the eleven remaining apostles travel to tell many people about his message. Long after that time, people call the early years when these leaders taught and helped new groups of believers the Apostolic Age. How do you think someone feels when they are asked to share a big, new idea?

The early years when the apostles lead and teach are called the Apostolic Age. During this time the apostles travel to towns and cities, telling people about Jesus, helping those who are sick or in need, and teaching new groups how to live by Jesus’ message. They become the main teachers who pass on stories, lessons, and prayers.

The apostles also help form the first Christian communities by organizing followers and showing how to worship together. Their mission is like a team sent out to share a big idea that they believe can change people’s lives. Where would you go first if you had an important message to share?

The English word "apostle" comes from the Greek word apóstolos, which means a person who is sent out. The Greek parts are like pieces of a puzzle: one part means "from" and the other part means "I send." So an apostle is someone who goes from one place to another to carry a message.

You can think of an apostle like a helper who is sent on a special errand. It is stronger than just "messenger" because an apostle has a job to lead and teach, almost like a delegate chosen for an important task.

The four Gospels tell how Jesus invited people to follow him. Some first followers are fishermen who leave their nets quickly, and one is a tax collector named Matthew who leaves his job. The Gospels say Andrew and another disciple first follow Jesus after hearing John the Baptist point to him. The Eastern Church honors Andrew as the "first called."

Later, Jesus gives a clearer job to a group of his followers. He commissioned them, which means he sent them out with authority to teach, to help the sick, and to stand beside people who needed him. This sending happens during his ministry and prepares them to share his message.

Besides the Twelve, the New Testament also talks about a larger group that Jesus sent out in Luke’s Gospel. These are often called the Seventy or Seventy-two disciples. Jesus sends them out in pairs to visit towns and tell people the news. In Eastern churches, these are often called the Seventy Apostles, while Western churches usually call them disciples.

The words matter: a "disciple" is a student or follower, and an "apostle" is someone sent with authority. Another important figure, Paul, calls himself an apostle because he says Jesus called him after the resurrection, even though Paul was not one of the original Twelve.

The group called the Twelve Apostles includes Simon Peter, Andrew, James son of Zebedee, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the tax collector, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus (also called Judas son of James), Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot. Among them, Peter, James, and John form a close trio who are with Jesus at three special events: a very sad garden moment, the raising of a girl, and a shining moment called the Transfiguration.

After Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus and died, the eleven apostles wanted to keep twelve members. Peter said they should choose someone who had been with Jesus from the beginning and had seen the risen Jesus. The group used a traditional way called casting lots, and they chose Matthias to take Judas’ place.