Disciple, a scholar or follower of any teacher, in the general sense. It is hence applied in the Gospels not only to the followers of Christ, but to those of John the Baptist (, etc.), and of the Pharisees (). Although used of the followers of Christ generally, it is applied in a special manner to the twelve apostles (;;; ). After the death of Christ the word took the wider sense of a believer, or Christian; i.e. a follower of Jesus Christ.