The twelve men Jesus chose as his closest followers and sent out to preach, listed in Matthew 10 (quoted below in the King James Version), Mark 3, and Luke 6 — each with a short note on who they were.
“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.” King James Version
A fisherman from Capernaum and the most prominent of the twelve — often speaking first, and later leading the church in Acts.
Peter's brother, also a fisherman, traditionally remembered as the one who first brought Peter to meet Jesus.
Brother of John; part of Jesus' inner circle of three, along with Peter and John, present at key moments like the transfiguration.
James' brother, traditionally identified as the author of the Gospel of John, three New Testament letters, and Revelation.
From Bethsaida, the same town as Peter and Andrew; brought his friend Nathanael (Bartholomew) to meet Jesus.
Widely identified with Nathanael in John's Gospel, whom Jesus praised as "an Israelite in whom is no guile."
Best known as "Doubting Thomas" for refusing to believe Jesus had risen until he could see and touch his wounds.
A former tax collector, also called Levi, traditionally credited as the author of the Gospel that bears his name.
Sometimes called "James the Less" to distinguish him from James, son of Zebedee; little else is recorded about him.
Also called Lebbaeus, and likely the same as "Judas, son of James" named in Luke and Acts; barely mentioned elsewhere.
Called "the Canaanite" in Matthew and Mark; his title suggests possible ties to a movement resisting Roman rule.
The disciple who betrayed Jesus to the religious authorities for thirty pieces of silver, leading to his arrest.