PAUL’S ROSTER

Every disciple & eyewitness Paul names — verse by verse (KJV)

Paul is the one source we can independently date to the 50s (the Gallio Inscription, King Aretas, 1 Clement — accepted even by Carrier). Here is every place his letters name the eyewitness leaders and the evangelists — the real people the Gospel tradition rests on, confirmed by a witness who met them.

The eyewitness leadership — the “pillars” Paul met

10 mentions

Peter eyewitness

Cephas / Simon Peter — chief apostle; the source behind Mark’s Gospel. Paul stayed with him.

Galatians 1:18“Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.”

Galatians 2:7–8“the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter… he that wrought effectually in Peter…”

Galatians 2:9“when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace… they gave to me… the right hands of fellowship.”

Galatians 2:11“But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.”

Galatians 2:14“I said unto Peter before them all…”

1 Corinthians 1:12“every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas…”

1 Corinthians 3:22“Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world… all are yours.”

1 Corinthians 9:5“as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?”

1 Corinthians 15:5“he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve” — the early resurrection creed.

4 mentions

James, the Lord’s brother eyewitness · family

Jesus’s own brother; head of the Jerusalem church. Independently named by Josephus (Ant. 20.200).

Galatians 1:19“But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.”

Galatians 2:9“when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars…”

Galatians 2:12“for before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles…”

1 Corinthians 15:7“After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.”

1 mention

John eyewitness

The apostle John, son of Zebedee — a “pillar,” and traditionally the Fourth Evangelist.

Galatians 2:9“when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me…”

The eyewitnesses, named as a body

The Twelve · all the apostles · the 500 · the brothers of the Lord the witness pool

Paul cites the collective eyewitnesses — and stakes it on the living: “the greater part remain unto this present.”

1 Corinthians 15:5“he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve.”

1 Corinthians 15:6“he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present…”

1 Corinthians 15:7“then of all the apostles.”

1 Corinthians 9:5“as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord…”

The evangelists in Paul’s own circle

3 mentions

Mark evangelist

John Mark — wrote the earliest Gospel from Peter’s preaching; here, Paul’s coworker.

Philemon 24“Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.” (undisputed letter)

Colossians 4:10“Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas… if he come unto you, receive him.”

2 Timothy 4:11“Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.”

3 mentions

Luke evangelist

“The beloved physician” — Paul’s travelling companion (the “we” passages of Acts); wrote Luke–Acts.

Philemon 24“Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.” (undisputed letter)

Colossians 4:14“Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.”

2 Timothy 4:11“Only Luke is with me.”

The wider circle (early leaders Paul names)

Barnabas · Apollos early coworkers

Not among the Twelve, but named early leaders Paul worked alongside — more real, checkable people.

Galatians 2:1, 9, 13“I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas… they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship.”

1 Corinthians 9:6“Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?”

1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:4–6; 16:12“I of Apollos… I have planted, Apollos watered… as touching our brother Apollos…”

The honest scorecard

Person	Named by Paul?	Verses
Peter (Cephas)	✅ Yes — extensively	Gal 1:18; 2:7,8,9,11,14; 1 Cor 1:12; 3:22; 9:5; 15:5
James, the Lord’s brother	✅ Yes	Gal 1:19; 2:9,12; 1 Cor 15:7
John (son of Zebedee)	✅ Yes	Gal 2:9
Mark (evangelist)	✅ Yes	Philemon 24; Col 4:10; 2 Tim 4:11
Luke (evangelist)	✅ Yes	Philemon 24; Col 4:14; 2 Tim 4:11
The Twelve / all apostles / 500	✅ Yes (collectively)	1 Cor 15:5–7; 9:5
Matthew (evangelist)	❌ No — never named	—
The other Ten (Andrew, Thomas…)	❌ Not individually	only as “the twelve”

Why this matters. The one figure we can pin to the 50s by outside evidence — Paul — names and had personally met the eyewitness leadership (Peter, James, John) and two of the four evangelists (Mark, Luke). So the Gospel tradition isn’t a late free-floating invention: you can draw the line Paul → Peter → Mark’s Gospel, and Paul → Luke directly.

Kept honest. Paul confirms the people — that they later wrote Gospels comes from the early church tradition (Papias ~120–130, Irenaeus). He never names Matthew, and he names the individual members of the Twelve only for Peter and John (the rest are “the twelve” as a group). “James the Lord’s brother” is Jesus’s brother, distinct from the two apostles named James.

PAUL’S ROSTER · KJV verses · honest, local-only