Q. 1. Are "Apostles" and "Disciples" the same?

A. 1. While there are many who interchange these two words, they should not do so. "Apostles" is a reference to the 12 men who were called by Jesus and who followed Him. They are:

(1) Simon (also known as Peter),
(2) Andrew, Simon's brother,
(3) James son of Zebedee,
(4) John, the brother of # (3),
(5) Philip,
(6) Bartholomew,
(7) Thomas,
(8) Matthew the tax collector,
(9) James, son of Alphaeus,
(10) Thaddaeus (known as St. Jude),
(11) Simon the Cananaean [Mt. 10:2-4], and
(12) Matthias. [Acts 1:26] (Replaced Judas Iscariot, the betrayor.)

"Disciples" is the word used to represent those who followed Jesus, including the Apostles. Disciples would include the Virgin Mary, Levi, Zacchaeus, Mary Magdalene, Bartimaeus, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward, Susanna, Nathanael, the Samaritan Woman at the Well, John the Baptist and those who were seeking Jesus, accepted His way and followed Him.