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This paper is focused on the question about the existence, composition and role of the twelve disciples of Jesus. The results are as follows. Jesus himself chose two or more people as his disciples at a time and repeated this pattern, eventually forming a group of twelve. This slow but prudent approach, a quite unusual practice at his time, enabled him to choose the tight person for the mission he intended to accomplish. Becoming a disciple of Jesus was a serious decision; rendering quick response to the master's call and sharing the same destiny with him. Disciples must be prepared to give up their personal wishes and freedom spontaneously and to sacrifice themselves for the kingdom of God. The sole reward was their joy to heal the sick and to exorcize the possessed with the power authorized to them by Jesus. "The twelve" symbolizes twelve tribes of Israel and expresses Jesus' intention to bring the restoration of Israel, the first reality Jesus expected to come when the kingdom of God would be fully realized. Disputes over the exact number of them are still not settled because firstly, the names of the twelve are partially varied in the gospels, and secondly two identical terms 'the twelve' and `the eleven' appear in the gospels. However this research could logically demonstrate why the precise number of Jesus' disciples must be 12, and nothing else. It is noteworthy that more than two women disciples traveled along with twelve disciples from the early stage of Jesus' mission. Their presence reflects Jesus' intention to demonstrate women leadership to the Jewish people accustomed only to male superiority. The role of the twelve was to proclaim the imminence of the Kingdom of God along with Jesus and to take part in his healing and exorcism serving as co-workers. At the same time the twelve, as the `fishers of men', seems to have intended to get the people who did understand and support the Jesus movement.One should never overlook the roles of the disciples, "to be with Jesus." Their 'experience to watch Jesus' life and the opportunity to take part in his activity, acquired in the course of accompanying him all through the years, were later turned into the leadership indispensable for the establishment of the early church and its growth.
