Why did Jesus have twelve disciples?

Answer 1

they follwed him around wershiping him and doing what they can fore him

Answer:

"...Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Matt.19:23)

Answer 2

Twelve is one of the smallest numbers that has a large number of factors , i.e. 1,2,3,4 and 6 all divide into 12 without remainder. In the Jewish culture of that time, numbers were very significant. 7 was regarded as holy, and, of course the number 40 (as in 40 days and nights) indicated a particular time, very much as we would use the term 'month of Sundays' these days, not to literally mean 31 Sundays, but 'a long time'. The number 12 in the Jewish culture was something very special - signifying perfection. As an example, in revelation, the number in heaven is given as 144,000. Despite what Jehovah's Witnesses say about literally accepting numbers like this, the number 144,000 signified a 'large' number of people (the ,000) and 12 x 12 - the height of perfection -a very apt number for multitude of people ("whom none can number...") in heaven.

Similarly, the Jews had 12 tribes of Israel. Again a perfect number.

Thus, in order that Jesus should have the correct, or perfect number of disciples, he chose 12. In addition, he chose 72 (half of 12 X 12) as followers in an 'outer circle' of people who would go out to proclaim the Kingdom.

In addition to the 12 and the 72 of course, Jesus chose 3 specially close disciples (3 is a quarter of 12) peter, James and John.

Therefore he chose 12 for a particularly cultural reason. What is more significant, of course, is the diverse characters he chose - 2 belligerent teenage boys (James and John), a couple of fishermen (Peter and Andrew), one of whom tended to bluster and open his mouth before engaging his brain (Peter), a political activist (Simon the Zealot), a hated tax collector and collaborator with the occupying Romans (Matthew), one of two twins who was a skeptical cynic (Thomas) amongst them. Yet all these went on to become wonderful evangelists and ambassadors of the Christian faith thanks to the Holy Spirit working in them. It gives us all hope that a motley crew like his could, with the help of God's Spirit, spread the message all over the then known world. The only disciple that one could normally regard as someone with anything about him was the one entrusted to keeping the common fund held by the disciples - Judas Iscariot, and just look how he ended up.

ANOTHER ANSWER:

Jesus told them that they each had a future position AS KINGS in His coming Kingdom (see Matt.19:28).

That required "twelve kings" for the each of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Answer 3

Every wandering rabbi, of which Jesus was one, had followers. The purpose of followers was to help spread the message. Likewise, we can presume that Jesus recruited His followers in order to carry on the message of the Gospel. The 12 mentioned in the Gospel accounts were a mixed bunch: Thomas doubted anything he couldn't touch, Peter denied he knew Jesus, Judas betrayed Jesus, Matthew collected taxes (not a popular job), one of the 2 Simons was a Zealot (freedom fighter) and of course there were the fishermen. John is normally portrayed as being the only apostle without a beard, which would indicate the he was a teenager. Yep, a mixed bunch. Of course, this goes to illustrate that (a) Christians are a mixed bunch (b) Christ can use anyone to carry on the message of the Gospel.

Answer 4

He chose them to represent the twelve tribes of Israel, as he said:

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

(Matthew 19.28)

Answer 5

Numbers in the Word of GOD has significance. The number three represents unity; the Trinity-GOD is one in essence but in three distinctive Persons-Father, Son, and Spirit. The Father is the Source of all Power and Good, The Son is the Administrator of the Power and Good, the Spirit is the Manifestation of the Power and Good. The number five represents the Grace of GOD; CHRIST shed HIS Blood from five wounds- Back, Head, Hands, Feet, and Side. The number seven represents the Perfection of GOD; seven days of Creation Genesis 1, Seven-fold Operation of HIS Spirit, Isaiah 11:2. The number twelve represents the Government of GOD; twelve months, Twelve Tribes of Israel-Genesis 49:28, hence Twelve Disciples-Matthew 10:1. Thus the 24 Elders that is first mentioned in Revelation 4:4, shall be a mixture of Old Testament and New Testament Saints; not necessarily the Twelve Tribe Progenitors and the exact Twelve Disciples. We know that Judas was lost upon his suicide; not that suicide necessarily condemns one to hell, but John 17:12, terms Judas as the "son of perdition (utter destruction)." Judas was replaced by Matthias in Acts 1:26; but as previously stated the 24 Elders more than likely shall be a mixture of OT & NT Saints. One more thought, suicide is not necessarily a self-condemning act. Scripture does command, "You shall not murder," Exodus 20:13. Scripture also says in Psalms 7:9, Jeremiah 17:10, and Revelation 2:23, that GOD "tries (knows and proves) the hearts (seat of emotions-soul) and reins (seat of will and logic-spirit) of man." This means that GOD knows the heart and evaluates on a case-by-case basis and we must leave these matters squarely in the Righteous Hands of the Almighty GOD! GOD Bless!

Another Answer:

In Biblical numerology, the number 12 represents 'new beginnings.' When the 'reign of man' began, God established the calendar with 360 days in 12 mos. When He called out His Chosen People, they branched out via the 12 sons of Israel known as the twelve tribes. When Jesus came to establish the Church of God, He chose 12 Apostles to spead the word.

Additionally:

These 12 Apostles were also chosen and trained to be kings in God's Kingdom over the twelve restored tribes of Israel.

"...ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration [rebirth] when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His Glory, YE ALSO SHALL SIT UPON TWELVE THRONES, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Matt.19:28)

Answer 6

Jesus came not only to die for our sins and be resurrected the third day, but he came to show us the Father in heaven and how to conduct ourselves on this earth. He told us we must be "Born Again" to enter the kingdom of God etc. Jesus and God the Father knew that "Jesus would not be on the earth very many years and needed men to train to carry on the work of Jesus. We are told in John 17:6 that God the Father gave these men to Jesus. They were know of by God and He gave them to His Son to be His disciples/apostles.

Answer 7

The Bible does not say why twelve were chosen. Jesus chose disciples so they could carry on his teaching after he had left the earth.

Answer 8

Some say that there were twelve disciples because there were twelve tribes of Israel.

Answer 9

Because of 12 tribes