Disciples are followers of a structured lifestyle, or a discipline. The word disciple first appears in a general reference in the Old Testament. The apostles Andrew and his brother Simon Peter were initially followers of John the Baptist who preached of a coming messiah. It's highly probable that those brothers were the 2 that John the Baptist sent to Jesus in Luke 7:18-24. John recognized Jesus as the Messiah and pointed them to Jesus before he was killed by Herod. The discipline Jesus taught became known as the Way (see John 14:6).

The Gospels named the disciples of Jesus. Matthew 10:1-4:
1. He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
2. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
3. Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
4. Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Mark 3:16-19:
16. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter);
17. James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder);
18. Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot
19. and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Luke 6:13-16:
13. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:
14. Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
15. Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,
16. Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Simon the Zealot only had 4 mentions in the New Testament - Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13.

According to Rose Publishing, Thaddaeus (only mentioned in the above passages) was also known as Judas, the son of James. Read about Philip, Thomas, and Judas Iscariot. After he killed himself in shame, Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot in Acts 1:12-26.

Matthew was also known as Levi, son of Alphaeus, in Mark 2:14-15 appeared in Matthew 9:9-10 and 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13.

Nathanael, mentioned in John 1:43-51 may have been also known as Bartholomew. Nathanael's only other appearance was in John 21:2 which stated he came from Cana in Galilee. Bartholomew references: Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14 and Acts 1:13.

Apostles/disciples in study Bible listings