Thomas

Also known as: Didymus / Thomas called Didymus · Family: Jesus's disciples · Role: apostle · First appears: Matthew 10

Thomas, also called Didymus, was chosen by Jesus among the twelve disciples and named an apostle. At the mountain, Jesus ordained the twelve to remain with him and gave them authority to preach, heal sicknesses, and cast out devils; in Matthew 10, he sent them to Israel to preach, heal, cleanse, raise the dead, and cast out devils, commanding them, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not.” Jesus was Thomas’s master and mentor, and he taught him of God as Father; later, the Holy Ghost was described as the Comforter who would teach and remind the disciples of what Jesus had said.

After eight days, Jesus appeared to Thomas and invited him to examine his wounds. Thomas answered, “My LORD and my God.” In Acts 1, Jesus appeared alive after his passion, spoke with the apostles about the kingdom of God, and commanded them to remain in Jerusalem and await the Father’s promise; when the lot was cast, it fell upon Matthias, who was numbered with the eleven apostles.