#27 - Who were the apostles?

Response by Dave Marr

The skeptic points out the tenth apostle:

Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-18
1. Simon (aka Peter)
2. Andrew
3. James (son of Zebedee)
4. John
5. Philip
6. Bartholomew
7. Thomas
8. Matthew
9. James (son of Alphaeus)
10. Lebbaeus (surname Thaddeus) +
11. Simon (the Canaanite)
12. Judas (Iscariot)

Luke 6:14-16, Acts 1:13
1. Simon (aka Peter)
2. Andrew
3. James
4. John
5. Philip
6. Bartholomew
7. Thomas
8. Matthew
9. James (son of Alphaeus)
10. Judas (James' brother) +
11. Simon (Zeolotes)
12. Judas (Iscariot)

Explanation
There is enough evidence that Judas(the brother of James) and Lebbaeus(Thaddaeus) are the same person. I will include an excerpt from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia(article by C. M. Kerr):

“The ‘Gospel of the Ebionites’, or ‘Gospel of the Twelve Apostles’, of the 2nd century and mentioned by Origen, narrates that Thaddaeus was also among those who received their call to follow Jesus at the Sea of Tiberius.

... There is abundant testimony in apocryphal literature of the missionary activity of a certain Thaddaeus in Syria, but doubt exists as to whether this was the apostle. Thus (1) according to the ‘Acts of Peter’(compare Budge, II, 466 ff) Peter appointed Thaddaeus over the island of Syria and Edessa. (2) The ‘Preaching of the blessed Judas, the brother of our Lord, who was surnamed Thaddaeus’(Budge, 357 ff), describes his mission in Syria and in Dacia, and indicates him as one of the Twelve.”

Also a quote from Wikepedia:

“Thaddaeus (Greek Thaddaios) Saint Jude is one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ referred to in Matthew and Mark. In Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13 his name is replaced with "Judas the son of James", indicating that Thaddeus might be a family name. The manuscript of the King James Version identifies "Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddeus" in Matthew 10:3.”

BibleAnswers.us gives this description of the account in Acts:

“There were eleven Apostles [after Judas Iscariot’s defection]:
*Simon Peter - Brother of Andrew - The Apostle to the Jews - Wrote: I Peter & II Peter
*Andrew - Brother of Peter
*James - Son of Zebedee brother of John
*John - Son of Zebedee brother of James - wrote: John, I John, II John, III John and Revelation.
(James & John were Surnamed Boanerges - the sons of thunder)
*Phillip
*Thomas
*Bartholomew
*Matthew - The publician called the Levi - Wrote Matthew
*James - Son of Alphaeus Brother of Judas
*Lebbaeus Thaddaeus - Judas - Son of Alphaeus Brother of James
*Simon Zelotes - The Canaanite”

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