Overview of Jesus’ Relationship to His Disciples

Return to Home Page

1. James* (“Jacob”): brother of Jesus. Authored the New Testament epistle: “James”. (Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3)
   
   
2. Judas* (“Jude”): brother of Jesus. Authored the New Testament epistle: “Jude”. (Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3)
   
   
3. James, son of Zebedee* (“Jacob”): cousin of Jesus, son of The Virgin Mary’s sister, Salome (Mark 15:40, 16:1). Also known as “Boanerges” or one of the “sons of thunder”. (Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:14-20; Luke 5:1-11, Mark 3:17)
   
   
4. John* (“Jehohanan”): cousin of Jesus, son of The Virgin Mary’s sister, Salome (Mark 15:40, 16:1). Also known as “Boanerges”, one of the “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17), “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23, 19:26, 21:7, 21:20), and former disciple of John the Baptist. Authored the New Testament “Gospel of John”, “1 John”, “2 John”, “3 John”, and “Revelation”. (Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:14-20; Luke 5:1-11, Mark 3:17)
   
   
5. James, son of Alphaeus* (“Jacob”): cousin of Jesus, son of Joseph’s brother, Cleopas (Luke 24:13-35). (Cleopas’ wife was Mary (“Mariam”). She is also known as “the other Mary” at Jesus crucifixion and at the open tomb. – Matthew 27:61, 28:1, Luke 24:9-10). Also known as James the less or James son of Alphaeus (“Cleopas”). (Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:14-20; Luke 5:1-11)
   
   
6. Thaddeus*: cousin of Jesus, son of Joseph’s brother, Cleopas (Luke 24:13-35). (Cleopas’ wife was Mary (“Mariam”). She is also known as “the other Mary” at Jesus crucifixion and at the open tomb. – Matthew 27:61, 28:1, Luke 24:9-10). Also known as Judas the son of James or Judas not Iscariot.
   
   
7. Simon*: cousin of Jesus, son of Joseph’s brother, Cleopas (Luke 24:13-35). (Cleopas’ wife was Mary (“Mariam”). She is also known as “the other Mary” at Jesus crucifixion and at the open tomb. – Matthew 27:61, 28:1, Luke 24:9-10). Also known as the Zealot.
   
   
8. Simon* (renamed by Jesus to “Peter”/“Petros”/“Rock”): partners in a fishing business with Jesus’ two cousins James and John, sons of The Virgin Mary’s sister Salome, and brother to Andrew. Also known as Simon bar Jonah (Matthew 6:17). Authored the New Testament epistles: “1 Peter” and “2 Peter”. (Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:14-20; Luke 5:1-11)
   
   
9. Andrew*: partners in a fishing business with Jesus’ two cousins James and John, sons of The Virgin Mary’s sister Salome, brother to Simon (“Peter”), and former disciple of John the Baptist. (Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:14-20; Luke 5:1-11)
   
   
10. Matthew*: was the chief tax collector in Capernaum. He undoubtedly collected the taxes from the fishermen, including James, John, Peter and Andrew, when they brought in their catches to be sold at market. He may also have been the royal official from Capernaum, whose son Jesus healed. Also known as “Levi”. Authored the New Testament “Gospel of Matthew”. (Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32)

The remaining Disciples have no immediate recorded relationship to Jesus: Philip*, Bartholomew, son of Talemai*, Thomas*, and Judas Iscariot*.

* Matthew 10:1-4, Mark 3:13-19, Luke 6:12-16

Return to Home Page