Apostles

The twelve disciples/apostles of Jesus were the foundation stones of His church, several even wrote portions of the Bible. As we study these courageous first-century lives, and what discipleship meant in the time of Jesus, we may expect to be aided in developing a Spirit-directed twenty-first-century discipleship as Christ must have meant it to be. Although we remember each of the Twelve Apostles at different times throughout the year, on June 30th we celebrate the Synaxis of the 12 Apostles, a general remembrance for all of them with liturgical services and hymns that honor their contributions to the Church.

Judas Iscariot, the traitor, was the son of Simon from Kerioth of Judah. He betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver and later hanged himself (Matthew 26:14,16). Judas was a treasurer, and a violent Jewish Nationalist who hoped to realize his dreams through Jesus. He was also covetous and stole from the common purse. Judas' apostolic symbol is a hangman's noose or a money purse with falling silver. He was replaced by Matthias (cf. Acts 1:15-26).