In scripture

• Bartholomew

  • Only in the listings

  • Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13

  • Called Nathanael in the book of John (John 1:45-49)

    • First to declare belief in Jesus as the Son of God, King of Israel

    • Jesus promised him greater wonders to come

  • Named together with other apostles in John 21:2-4

  • Bartholomew means “Son of Tolmai”

• Thomas

  • Willing to die: John 11:16

  • Didn’t know: John 14:1-6

  • Prove it: John 20:24-28

  • Such a bad thing? Acts 17:10-12

  • Difference between him and us

• Matthew

  • Also called Levi

  • Tax collector – Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27-29

  • No other mention other than listing of apostles

• James son of Alpheus (the Less)

  • Mother’s name was Mary – Mark 16:1

  • Probably the James of Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18

    • Apparently well-respected among the apostles

    • Possibly prominent

  • Not certain about I Corinthians 15:7

  • Galatians 1:19 problematic – different from James the son of Alpheus

  • Author of book of James?

    • Book of James – compare with Sermon on the Mount

      • Persecution – James 1:2; Matthew 5:10-12

      • Perfection – James 1:4; Matthew 5:48

      • Praying in faith – James 1:5; 5:15; Matthew 7:7-12

      • Wrath – James 1:20; Matthew 5:22

      • Mercy – James 2:13; Matthew 5:7

      • Obedience – James 2:14-16; Matthew 7:21-23

      • Being peaceable – James 3:17-18; Matthew 5:9

      • Serving two masters – James 4:4; Matthew 6:24

      • Humility – James 4:10; Matthew 5:3-4

      • Judgment – James 4:11-12; Matthew 7:1-2

      • Perishable riches – James 5:1-3; Matthew 6:19

      • Patience in suffering – James 5:10-11; Matthew 5:12

      • Swearing – James 5:12; Matthew 5:33-37

• Thaddaeus (Lebbaeus, Judas)

  • Only seen in listings of the apostles

  • Son of James (not the apostle James)

  • Not the brother of James

  • John 14:21-24

• Simon the Zealot, Zelotes, Canaanite

  • Only in the three listings of the apostles

• Judas Iscariot

  • Foretelling: Psalms 69:25; 109:8; John 6:71

  • Misconduct: John 12:1-8

  • Betrayal: Matthew 26:14-16, 21-25, 47-50

    • Mark 14

    • Luke 22

    • John 18

  • Acts 1:15-25

• Difference between Judas and Nathanael

  • John 1:49

  • Matthew 26:14-16

• Matthias

  • Acts 1:12-16

  • No other reference in scripture

In history and tradition

• Bartholomew (Nathanael)

  • Preached throughout Parthia as far as India

  • Translated book of Matthew into Sanskrit

  • Moved on to Armenia and preached there

  • Joined Philip in Hierapolis, nearly martyred there

  • Description of Bartholomew by Indians

    • Black, curly hair with white skin and large eyes

    • Hair over his ears and long, grisly bead, medium height

    • Voice like a trumpet, able to speak any language

    • Wore same clothes and shoes many years with no wear