OVO

The Bible sure likes the number twelve: twelve sons of Jacob, twelve tribes of Israel, twelve golden dishes for the dedication of the alter, twelve baskets of bread, twelve Apostles, twelve stars on the woman’s head, twelve gates and foundations of new Jerusalem, the tree of life bears twelve manner of fruit, and the twelve apostles of the Lamb. What an amazing coincidence that the ancients also held that there were twelve signs of the zodiac. The Bible states clearly that there were more than twelve apostles, but echoes of the twelve houses of astrology are what people remember when counting the apostles. The Bible supports astrology: God made the stars “for signs” (Genesis 1:14), a star was the sign of Jesus’ birth (Matthew 2:1-2), and Jesus condones the use of stars for divination (Luke 21:25).

Who Were the Twelve Apostles?

• 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; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. – Matthew 10:2-4
• And He [Jesus] ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: and Simon He surnamed Peter; and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and He surnamed them Boanerges, which is, the sons of thunder: and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed Him: and they went into an house. – Mark 3:14-19

No, Really, Who Were the Twelve Apostles?

• And when it was day, he called unto Him His disciples: and of them He chose twelve, whom also He named apostles; Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor. – Luke 6:13-16

Wait, Say That Again, Who Were the Twelve Apostles?

• And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. – Act 1:13

Were there maybe Thirteen Apostles?

• Am I [Paul] not an apostle? – 1 Corinthians 9:1

How About Fourteen Apostles?

• Other of the apostles I saw none, save James the Lord’s brother. – Galatians 1:19

Do I Hear Fifteen?

• He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures: and that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve. – 1 Corinthians 15:4-5

Could There Be Seventeen Apostles, Including a Woman?

• Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. – Romans 16:7

Should We Count Judas’ Replacement? Make it Eighteen, Then.

• And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. – Acts 1:26

(from OVO 16 ANTICHRIST January 2006)