Peter
Galilean fisherman originally named Simon; given the Aramaic/Greek name Cephas/Peter ("Rock").
Other accepted names: Simon Peter · Cephas
Reference/context: Matthew 10:2, 16:18 (KJV text)
The Gospels
The Twelve Apostles: Names, Two Jameses & Matthias
The Twelve include two men named James, and the people called Judas also need distinct identities. Gospel lists and the selection of Matthias in Acts describe different moments. This guide preserves those qualifiers so an answer can identify a particular person rather than only a shared first name.
Understand the scope
- James son of Zebedee and James son of Alphaeus are separate people. An ambiguous shared name may need a qualifier.
- The game accepts the original Twelve and Matthias, selected in Acts 1. These thirteen accepted identities do not mean thirteen members served as the Twelve at once. Paul's apostleship is a different question from membership of the original Twelve.
13 current accepted entries · names & aliases
Names, context & references
These entries describe the current bank. Not being listed does not establish that an answer is false; unrecognized practice input can be edited or checked against the guide.
John
Son of Zebedee and brother of James; traditionally associated with the Fourth Gospel and Revelation.
Other accepted names: Use the names above
Reference/context: Matthew 4:21, 10:2 (KJV text)
Judas Iscariot
Treasurer of the group who betrayed Jesus with a kiss in Gethsemane.
Other accepted names: Judas
Reference/context: Matthew 10:4, 26:14–16 (KJV text)
Matthew
Former tax collector in Capernaum (also called Levi in Mark and Luke).
Other accepted names: Levi
Reference/context: Matthew 9:9, 10:3 (KJV text)
Thomas
Also called Didymus ("Twin"); traditionally remembered for his journey to South India.
Other accepted names: Didymus
Reference/context: John 11:16, 20:24–29 (KJV text)
Andrew
Brother of Peter and former disciple of John the Baptist; first called in John’s Gospel.
Other accepted names: Use the names above
Reference/context: John 1:40–42; Matthew 4:18 (KJV text)
Philip
From Bethsaida; introduced Nathanael to Jesus and spoke at the feeding of the five thousand.
Other accepted names: Use the names above
Reference/context: John 1:43–46, 14:8 (KJV text)
James
James son of Zebedee, brother of John (Acts 12:2). Bare James is a compatibility default for this entry; James son of Alphaeus is separate.
Other accepted names: James son of Zebedee · James the Greater
Reference/context: Matthew 10:2–3; Acts 12:2 (KJV text)
Bartholomew
Listed in the Synoptics; widely identified with Nathanael in the Gospel of John.
Other accepted names: Nathanael
Reference/context: Matthew 10:3; John 1:45–51 (KJV text)
Simon the Zealot
Distinguished from Simon Peter by his epithet "the Zealot" (or Cananaean).
Other accepted names: Use the names above
Reference/context: Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13 (KJV text)
Thaddaeus
Called Thaddaeus in Matthew and Mark, and "Judas son of James" in Luke and Acts.
Other accepted names: Jude · Judas son of James · Judas not Iscariot
Reference/context: Matthew 10:3; Luke 6:16 (KJV text)
Matthias
Chosen by lot in Acts 1 to replace Judas Iscariot among the Twelve.
Other accepted names: Use the names above
Reference/context: Acts 1:21–26 (KJV text)
James son of Alphaeus
Distinct from James son of Zebedee. The traditional label James the Less is accepted here with that identification noted.
Other accepted names: James of Alphaeus · James the Less
Reference/context: Matthew 10:3; Acts 1:13 (KJV text)
Turn the list into recall
- Connect the brother pairs Peter/Andrew and James/John with their distinguishing details.
- Compare Matthew 10 with Acts 1 to learn the change in membership rather than memorising an unexplained thirteen-name list.
Practice starts with this question and retains the rest of the pack.
Read the specific distinctions
These links support the named list or distinction, not a claim that every note was independently checked.
Keep the connections
11 accepted entries
People in Acts: Early Church Figures & Bible Quiz
Study Paul, Stephen, Barnabas, Cornelius and other figures in Acts, with English names, narrative references and focused practice.
Names, references & scope →13 accepted entries
The 13 Pauline Epistles: List, Names & Numbered Letters
Learn the traditional thirteen Pauline letters, distinguish 1 and 2 Timothy and Thessalonians, review their context, and practise book-name recall.
Names, references & scope →Content review date: 2026-11-14 · current-4fbee918-104866 · Sources & corrections