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What the Bible Says About Apostles

Overview

The Bible addresses apostles across 90 verses, drawn from the New Testament. These passages cluster most in Matthew, Mark and John. Closely related themes include Peter, Miracles of Christ, the, Doubting and Matthew. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Peter, Andrew and Matthew.

Key Bible verses about apostles

New Testament

Matthew

Matthew 4:18

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

Matthew 4:19

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Matthew 4:20

And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

Matthew 4:21

And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

Matthew 4:22

And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

Matthew 8:25

And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

Matthew 8:26

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

Matthew 8:27

But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Matthew 9:9

And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

Matthew 9:10

And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

Matthew 10:2

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;

Matthew 10:3

Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

Matthew 10:4

Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Matthew 16:8

Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

Matthew 16:9

Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

Matthew 16:10

Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

Matthew 16:11

How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

Matthew 16:12

Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Matthew 16:17

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 16:18

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Peter: this name signifies a rock

Matthew 16:19

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Matthew 16:21

From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Matthew 16:22

Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. Be: Gr. Pity thyself

Matthew 20:20

Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

Matthew 20:21

And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

Matthew 20:22

But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

Matthew 28:19

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teach: or, make disciples, or, Christians of all nations

Matthew 28:20

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mark

Mark 3:13

And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.

Mark 3:14

And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

Mark 3:15

And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

Mark 3:16

And Simon he surnamed Peter;

Mark 3:17

And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

Mark 3:18

And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,

Mark 3:19

And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house. into: or, home

Mark 6:7

And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

Mark 6:8

And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse. money: the word signifieth a piece of brass money, in value somewhat less than a farthing, Mat.10.9.but here it is taken in general for money

Mark 6:9

But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

Mark 6:10

And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

Mark 6:11

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. and: Gr. or

Mark 6:51

And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

Mark 6:52

For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

Mark 8:17

And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

Mark 8:18

Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

Mark 9:9

And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

Mark 9:10

And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

Mark 9:31

For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

Mark 9:32

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Mark 10:13

And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

Mark 10:14

But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Luke

Luke 6:13

And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;

Luke 6:14

Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

Luke 6:15

Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,

Luke 6:16

And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

Luke 9:1

Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

Luke 9:2

And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Luke 9:3

And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

Luke 9:4

And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.

Luke 9:5

And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

Luke 9:44

Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

Luke 9:45

But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

Luke 9:54

And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

Luke 9:55

But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

Luke 22:28

Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

Luke 22:29

And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

Luke 22:30

That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

John

John 4:32

But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

John 4:33

Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?

John 11:12

Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

John 11:13

Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

John 13:6

Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Peter saith: Gr. he saith

John 13:7

Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

John 13:8

Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

John 14:5

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:7

If ye had known me ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

John 14:8

Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

John 14:9

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

John 16:17

Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?

John 16:18

They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.

John 21:15

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

John 21:16

He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

John 21:17

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

John 21:18

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

John 21:19

This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

People in the Bible and apostles

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying apostles for yourself

  • Begin with Matthew 4:18, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Matthew, Mark and John each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Jesus, Peter and Andrew and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Peter, Miracles of Christ, the, Doubting and Matthew.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about apostles?

The Bible addresses apostles across 90 verses, drawn from the New Testament. These passages cluster most in Matthew, Mark and John. Closely related themes include Peter, Miracles of Christ, the, Doubting and Matthew. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Peter, Andrew and Matthew.

How many Bible verses are about apostles?

The Bible references apostles in 90 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention apostles?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Matthew 4:18: “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.”

Which people in the Bible are associated with apostles?

Jesus, Peter, Andrew, Matthew and Thomas.

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