Thomas

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The Twelve

Andrew

Bartholomew

James, son of Alphaeus

James, son of Zebedee

John, son of Zebedee

Judas Iscariot

Lebbaeus Thaddaeus

Matthew

Philip

Simon Peter

Simon Zelotes

Thomas

Meaning: twin

One of the twelve (Mt 10:3; Mk 3:18, etc.). He was also called Didymus (Jn 11:16; Jn 20:24), which is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name. All we know regarding him is recorded in the fourth Gospel (Jn 11:15f; Jn 14:4f; Jn 20:24ff). From the circumstance that in the lists of the apostles he is always mentioned along with Matthew, who was the son of Alphaeus (Mk 3:18), and that these two are always followed by James, who was also the son of Alphaeus, it has been supposed that these three, Matthew, Thomas, and James, were brothers.

In the Apocryphal Acts of Thomas, his name is the basis for his identification as the twin brother of Jesus. He is responsible for the expression "doubting Thomas" because he didn't recognize Jesus in ascension and demanded physical proof. "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe" (Jn 20:25ff)