Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

Good question, Anthony! The Gospels contain the 12 apostles as Jesus' primary companions. Named lists appear in Matthew 10:2-4, and Mark 3:16-19, for starters. E.g. "He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him."

Other apostles: Matthias: Selected by lot to replace Judas Iscariot after his death (Acts 1:26).
Paul: Formerly Saul of Tarsus, he was appointed as an apostle to the Gentiles after a vision of Jesus (Acts 9:15).
Barnabas: Explicitly called an apostle alongside Paul in Acts 14:14.
James, the brother of Jesus: Referred to as an apostle by Paul in Galatians 1:19.

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Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

When our Lord was on earth, how many disciples did he have since he travelled to so many places?

Jesus had a core group of 12 Apostles, his closest followers, but also had a larger circle of dozens of disciples, including the 70 (or 72) he sent out, and many more followers, including women, who travelled with him and heard his teachings. So while the "Twelve" are famous, he had many more followers, even hundreds, at different times, making his ministry widespread. 

The Inner Circle: The Twelve Apostles: These were Jesus's most dedicated followers, chosen to be with him and learn directly.

Their names are listed in the Gospels: Peter, Andrew, James (son of Zebedee), John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus (or Judas son of James), Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot. 

The Broader Group:

The Seventy (or Seventy-Two): Luke's Gospel mentions Jesus sending out seventy (or seventy-two) other disciples in pairs to preach in different towns before he arrived.

Women Disciples: Several women, including Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna, travelled with Jesus and supported his ministry.

Large Crowds: A "great crowd of his disciples and a large number of people" from Judea and surrounding regions would come to hear him, seek healing, and witness miracles, showing a much larger following than just the Twelve. 

In essence, Jesus had his inner circle (the Twelve), a wider group of dedicated followers (the Seventy/others), and a vast number of people drawn to his message and ministry, even if they weren't formal disciples. 

Paul recorded in 1st Corinthians chapter 16:6 ESV the following:

"3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures; 5 and that he appeared to Cephas; then to the twelve; 6 then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain until now, but some are fallen asleep."

Since most of his followers were in Galilee, it may have been on the occasion described in Matthew 28:16-20 that the resurrected Jesus appeared to "more than 500." (1 Corinthians 15:6) So hundreds may have been present when Jesus gave the commission to make disciples.

Christ also appeared to a larger group, "upward of five hundred brothers." Since he had followers in such large numbers only in Galilee, this may have been on the occasion described in Matthew 28:16-20, when Jesus gave the command to make disciples. 

Given the response on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, we can assume that the total number of genuine disciples of Jesus at his death was in the thousands, not in the dozens or even in the hundreds. 

Acts chapter 2 tells us how many got baptised after hearing Peter speak about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Acts 2: 37-41: ESV: Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? 38 And Peter said unto them, "Repent ye, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him." 40 And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation. 41 They then that received his word were baptised: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls.

Christian congregations sprang up in many of the lands where these new believers lived. No doubt this increase was, at least in part, due to their zealous efforts to preach the "good news" upon their return home.​—Colossians 1:23.

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