(Latin: discipulus, a student)
A term used in the New Testament to designate a Christian follower, either a personal adherent of Our Lord or the Apostles; the disciples, strictly so called, are to be distinguished from the Apostles. The Apostles were chosen especially by Christ from the disciples and were the depositories of His most secret mysteries and the principal ministers of His religion. The Latin Church gives the number of disciples of Our Lord as either 72 or 70.