The Twelve Apostles – Part 12
Thomas
“Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus” (John 20:24). Thomas was his Hebrew name and Didymus was his Greek name. Matthew, Mark and Luke tell us nothing about Thomas other than his name listed with the other disciples. However, in John’s Gospel we find him speaking up at the raising of Lazarus (11:16), in the Upper Room (14:5), and after the resurrection when he declares that he would not believe until he had seen the Lord, which opportunity the Lord graciously gave him (20:24-29). He was also among those who later went fishing with Peter (21:2).
We sometimes refer to him as Doubting Thomas, but it was really more than that…it was unbelief. He said, “Except I shall see…I will not believe” (John 20:25). Thomas was a true disciple, but there came a time when His heart was full of unbelief. It is possible for a true believer to come to that point. If we are not careful we can become unbelieving believers. The Lord said to him, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29).
He is later listed with those who were in the Upper Room waiting for the descent of the Spirit of God (Acts 1:13).
