Gospel of Andrew: Jesus Chooses the 12 Disciples Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Judas Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him. Now Jesus had some qualms over whom he should choose to be the 12th, Thomas or Mattheus. And he leaned in his heart to choose Mattheus. But Andrew whispered in his ear, ""You know Thomas means 'twin', right?"" And Jesus said, ""Ah, I wonder if that will ever come in handy.""