Apostle's Study Questions

What was the central message of Jesus' public ministry?

"The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."

What did some Jews envision the Messiah as being and doing?

A great political or military leader, an earthly king, one who would lead a revolution to end the Roman occupation of Israel.

Why was St. Peter crucified upside down?

According to tradition, St. Peter requested this, saying that he was not worthy to die in the same manner as Our Lord.

Why was St. Philip one of the first future Apostles to encounter Christ?

He was a follower of St. John the Baptist who pointed out to his disciples that Jesus was the "Lamb of God."

What was St. Matthew's profession before he met Jesus?

He was a tax collector.

What was Saul's professional occupation?

He was a tentmaker, a useful trade that permitted him to support himself during his later apostolic travels.

What was St. James the Greater the first to do?

He was the first of the Twelve to suffer martyrdom.

How was St. John's death unique among the Apostles?

He was the only Apostle to die a natural death, according to tradition, at a great age

Why is Judas Iscariot infamous?

He betrayed Christ to the Jewish authorities.

What is St. Paul's most famous title?

Apostle to the Gentiles.

Why does each bishop of Rome become the successor of St. Peter?

Because St. Peter was the first bishop of Rome, each successor takes his office as head of the Catholic Church.

Why is faith needed to see the Kingdom of God present in the pilgrim Church?

Because without the eyes of faith, the Church looks like just another human institution.

What good deed did St. Philip do for his friend, St. Nathanael?

He brought him to Christ.

With what city is St. John associated?

Ephesus.

What hard lesson does Judas's downfall teach?

Even the graces given to Christ's Apostles—and the familiar friendship of Jesus himself—may be of no avail if one is unfaithful and does not believe.

What did St. Nathanael think about Jesus when he first learned where he was from?

He assumed Jesus could not be the Messiah, since he was from Nazareth, from which he said nothing good could come.

Why is St. John's brother called St. James the Greater?

He is called this to distinguish him from the other Apostle named James ("the Lesser"), perhaps because of their age or relative height.

How did St. Matthew respond to Jesus' call?

He underwent a complete conversion, immediately leaving his profession and becoming his disciple.

What kind of Jew was Saul?

He was a dedicated and pious Jew who went to Jerusalem to study the Mosaic Law under the great rabbi Gamaliel.

What is St. Peter's relationship to the city of Rome?

In Rome, St. Peter helped to establish and nourish the Christian community, the place he eventually suffered martyrdom.

How are Christ and his kingdom present with us today?

In the Church.

What is St. Andrew's cross?

It is an X shaped cross: according to tradition, this was the shape of the cross he was crucified on.

What is the power of binding and loosing Jesus granted Peter?

It is the authority to make decisions in Christ's Church.

What is St. James's epistle like?

It shows a very concrete and practical Christianity, emphasizing that good works are the teachings of Christ put into practice.

Where was the Kingdom of God already present when Jesus preached it?

It was present in the Person of Jesus Christ.

What will the next section of this text do?

It will follow the lives of the Apostles from Jesus' calling to their deaths.

What "reward" did St. John receive for being the only Apostle with enough love and courage to stay with Jesus at the foot of the Cross?

Jesus asked St. John to care for his mother and gave St. John to the Blessed Mother as her son.

How did Jesus convince St. Nathanael to follow him without reserve?

Jesus told St. Nathanael that before St. Philip called him, Jesus saw St. Nathanael under the fig tree. This was enough to convince St. Nathanael that Jesus was the Son of God and King of Israel.

What is the significance of the names Simon, Cephas, Petros, and Peter?

Simon was the Apostle's original name. Cephas was the new name Jesus gave him, meaning "rock." Petros was the Greek form of Cephas, and Peter is its English translation.

Who did St. Andrew follow before Christ?

St. John the Baptist.

What special title did St. John receive?

St. John was the "disciple whom Jesus loved."

What are St. Judas's other names?

St. Jude and Thaddeus.

Why was St. Matthew both an Apostle and an evangelist?

St. Matthew was an Apostle because he was one of the Twelve. He was an evangelist because he wrote a Gospel.

By which other name is St. Bartholomew identified?

St. Nathanael.

Why is it correct to say that St. Paul was one of the greatest missionaries in Christian history?

St. Paul brought the Gospel to many places in the Roman Empire, even planning to go to Spain, suffering great hardships to do so.

How did St. Paul's life change when he met Christ on the way to Damascus?

St. Paul placed his life entirely at the service of Jesus Christ and his Gospel.

Who was St. Andrew's famous brother?

St. Peter.

What is an example of a Gospel scene in which St. Philip is mentioned?

St. Philip asked Jesus to show God the Father to the Twelve.

Why is St. Thomas often called "Doubting"?

St. Thomas, who was absent when Christ first appeared to the Apostles, refused to believe in the Resurrection, saying, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe" (Jn 20: 25).

Why, at first glance, was a tax collector an unlikely choice for an Apostle?

Tax collectors were generally hated by the Jews and were considered public sinners on a level with prostitutes.

Which Church did St. James head?

The "mother" Church of all Christianity, the Church in Jerusalem.

Why is the Church called pilgrim?

The Church on earth knows that her final destination — Heaven—has not yet been reached.

What were some of St. John's writing?

The Gospel of St. John, three epistles, and the Book of Revelation

How is St. Simon distinguished from Simon Peter?

The Gospels often refer to him as "Simon the Zealot" to distinguish him from Simon Peter.

What does the choice of St. Matthew emphasize?

The universality of Christ's call and the Church as a refuge for the forgiveness of sinners.

What is the basis of these brief biographies?

They are based on available evidence from Scripture, history, and tradition.

What do the keys of the kingdom of heaven signify?

They indicate that St. Peter would be both the leader in the Church and Christ's own representative.

Who were the Zealots?

They were a violent group that desired a political messiah who would drive the Romans from Palestine and reestablish Israel as an earthly kingdom.

Why were St. James the Greater and his brother St. John considered to be in Jesus' inner circle?

They were chosen by Christ to be with him at the Transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane.

What is the meaning of St. Peter's new name, Rock?

This name signified that St. Peter would be the foundation of the Church that Christ would establish.

What did Saul's zeal for Judaism lead him to do?

To stop the spread of Christianity, which he considered both erroneous and blasphemous.

What do we mean in praying, "Thy kingdom come" in the Mass shortly after the Consecration?

We are acknowledging Christ's hidden presence in the Eucharist and asking him to hasten his final coming, which will reveal the glory of his presence now veiled under the appearance of bread and wine.

After Jesus called St. Peter to be his follower, what was the defining moment in his life?

When St. Peter, speaking for the Apostles, declared Jesus to be "the Christ."

What is St. Thomas's profession of faith, often repeated even today?

When St. Thomas saw the risen Christ, he said, "My Lord and my God!"