Who Were Jesus First Followers

Who were Jesus’ first disciples?

In what year did Jesus summon the first disciples who would follow him and serve as his special witnesses? When and where did he make his selection? Which ones were brothers, and which ones were not? The apostle John keeps a record of the names of the first five persons who were summoned to follow Jesus. John and Andrew were the first two persons who were invited by Christ to follow him as disciples (John 1:35 – 39). Then came Peter (also known as Simon Peter or Simon Peter, verses 40 – 42), followed by Philip (verses 43 – 44), and last Nathanael (verses 45 – 48).

It is recorded in the book of Matthewthen that James (a son of Zebedee and brother of John) was called (Matthew 4:21 – 22), followed by Matthew’s own summoning (Matthew 4:23 – 24).

According to the Bible, it is unknown in what sequence the last five of the original twelve disciples were called to special service.

At least seven different time periods appear to have occurred during which Jesus appears to have called his closest or first twelve apostles (disciples).

  1. After his brother Andrew informed Peter of the Messiah’s arrival, Peter was summoned.
  2. Jesus instructs his followers to cast a net.
  3. James (son of Zebedee and brother of John) was summoned from his boat on the Sea of Galilee, where he was mending nets at the time.
  4. The remaining disciples were summoned at a later point in time.
  5. These men were named Peter and Andrew, James and John (the sons of Zebedee), James the son of Alphaeus, Judas brother of James (also known as LeBbaeus or Thaddaeus), and Simon the Cantaanite, among others (Simon the Zealot).
  6. Several of the apostles were known to have lived in or around Capernaum at the time of their death.
  7. James, John, Matthew, Andrew, Peter, and Philip were the disciples that lived in close proximity to one another.

Three of these lists are contained in the Gospels (Matthew 10:1 – 4, Mark 3:13 – 18, Luke 6:12 – 16), while the fourth list (which does not include Judas Iscariot) is found in the book of Acts (Acts 1:1 – 4). (Acts 1:12 – 13). Articles that are recommended

Jesus calls his first followers

Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the desert before embarking on his public ministry. He was the first person to do so. At that point, Jesus was tempted by Satan, but he resisted the temptation and did not succumb to the devil’s evil tactics. When Jesus reached the conclusion of his stay in the desert, he discovered that his cousin, John the Baptist, had been taken into custody. When he received the news, he immediately returned to his house in Galilee. Jesus then made the decision to leave his hometown of Nazareth and relocate to another city in Galilee.

Isaiah’s prophecy about the Messiah was fulfilled when Jesus moved to Capernaum: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light; on those who dwell in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.” When Jesus arrived at Capernaum, he immediately began preaching to each and everyone who would listen.

  1. It was Jesus who encouraged the crowds to repent, since the kingdom of heaven was at hand.
  2. The two gentlemen were brothers.
  3. They heard Jesus call out to them.
  4. Simon and Andrew exchanged a glance with each other.
  5. The three new acquaintances continued their stroll down the seashore.
  6. Jesus cried out to them and urged them to come with him to be with him.
  7. Jesus and his companions traveled all across Galilee in search of food.
  8. As Jesus’ reputation as a preacher and healer grew, people traveled from all over the world to be cured by him and to follow him as his disciples.
  9. In which city did Jesus decide to settle?
  10. Who were the first two men that Jesus requested to accompany him on his journey?

Bible Accent – Jesus’ followers

Many individuals who heard Jesus teach or who were cured by him, according to the Bible, began to follow him after hearing his message. Several of his followers were referred to as “disciples,” while others were referred to as “apostles,” according to the Scriptures. What is the difference between the followers of Jesus and those who do not? As Jesus’ reputation as a preacher and healer grew, random people began to follow him from town to town, hoping to hear him speak or to be healed by him.

Following Jesus, we learn in Matthew 4:25 that “large multitudes from Galilee and the Decapolis followed him; and from Jerusalem and Judea and from across the Jordan also followed him.” Disciples were not simply a collection of random followers.

Simon, Andrew, James, and John were among the first persons he phoned for help.

This group of men, known as apostles, was sent out on missions to teach God’s message, and they were granted “power over evil spirits to drive them out and to heal every sickness and ailment,” according to Matthew 10.

In Matthew 10:2-4, the apostles are named one by one. Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James (the son of Alphaeus), Thaddeus, Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot were among those who were crucified with Jesus.

Saint for Today: St. Nicholas of Myra

At one point in history, St. Nicholas served as the bishop of Myra, Turkey, and is remembered for his religious devotion and enthusiasm. There are few additional documented facts regarding St. Nicholas, although there are a plethora of tales about him. In one story, the storyteller describes a man who had lost all of his money and was unable to pay the dowries required for the marriages of his three daughters. As a result, St. Nicholas passed by the man’s house and threw three gold bags through an open window into his home.

  1. As a result, on the saint’s feast day, December 6, several nations encourage youngsters to leave their shoes or stockings outside for them to be filled with presents.
  2. Nicholas became famous in America thanks to Dutch settlers, who dubbed him by a different name: “Sint Nikolaas,” which eventually became “Santa Claus.” 2022 Catholic Courier, Inc.
  3. All intellectual property rights are retained.
  4. This includes framing or other similar methods of distribution.

Calling of the disciples – Wikipedia

The appointing of the disciples is a pivotal event in the life of Jesus as recorded in the New Testament. It occurs on the shores of the Sea of Galilee inMatthew 4:18–22, Mark 3:16–20, and Luke 5:1–11, among other places. The first contact with two of the disciples, which took place a few time earlier in the presence of John the Baptist, is recorded in John 1:35–51. The beginning of Jesus’ ministry and the call of the first disciples are inextricably linked in the Gospel of Mark, in particular, but not exclusively.

Gospel of John

Several of the earliest disciples mentioned in the Gospel of John are also disciples of John the Baptist, with one of them being identified as Andrew, the brother of Apostle Peter: The following day, John returned with two of his followers to the location. The moment he noticed Jesus going by, he exclaimed, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples overheard Jesus say this, they immediately followed him. Among those who heard what John had to say and followed Jesus were Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

Gospel of Matthew

The call of the first disciples by the Sea of Galilee is recorded in both the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Mark: As Jesus was strolling along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he came across two brothers, Peter and his younger brother Andrew. They were fishing, so they were tossing a net into the lake to catch some fish. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, promising to turn his followers into fishermen. They immediately abandoned their nets and followed him. The cry from the Sea of Galilee is again recorded in the Gospel of Luke, but this time it is combined with the first miracle draught of fishes.

The assembling of the disciples in John 1:35–51is consistent with the multiple patterns of discipleship that continue throughout the New Testament, in that individuals who have accepted someone else’s witness to Jesus become witnesses to Jesus in their own right.

Andrew joins Jesus as a result of the witness of John the Baptist, Philip brings Nathanael, and the cycle continues in John 4:4–41, when the Samaritan woman at the well speaks about Jesus to the town’s residents.

See also

  • The chronology of Jesus’ life
  • The harmony of the gospels
  • The calling of Matthew
  • The commissioning of the twelve Apostles
  • The life of Jesus as recorded in the New Testament
  • And

References

  1. Bulgakov, Sergei (2008),The Lamb of God, p. 263,ISBN0-8028-2779-9
  2. Morris, Leon (1992),The Gospel according to Matthew, p. 83,ISBN0-85111-338-9
  3. Craddock, Fred B. (1991),Luke, p. 69,ISBN0-8042-3123-0
  4. LaVerdiere, Eugene (1999),The beginning of the Gospel

The Bible Journey

Acts 1:12–26 (KJV) Following Jesus’ death and resurrection, his disciples remain in Jerusalem until they are infused with the power of the Holy Spirit on the Feast of the Transfiguration on the Day of Pentecost. They gather in the upstairs room (the guest room) “where they were staying” to discuss their plans (Acts 1:12). The remaining eleven disciples, as well as several female followers and members of Jesus’ immediate family, gather to pray. Matthias is chosen to take the place of Judas as one of the twelve apostles (who represent the twelve tribes of Israel) (see Acts 1:21-26).

  • At the beginning of his teaching ministry, Jesus had relocated to Capernaum, which was the principal fishing port on the Sea of Galilee (seeMap 15,Matthew 4:12-13Mark 1:212:1).
  • When Jesus came to Capernaum, it is possible that he utilized his carpentry abilities to make and repair the several huge wooden fishing boats that were located in the city.
  • Fishermen from Capernaum included Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, and John, as well as Thomas (Didymus), Nathaniel, and at least two additional disciples (see John 21:2-3).
  • Nathaniel (Bartholomew) traveled all the way from CanaanGalilee (see John 21:2 andMap 15).
  • He made a joke about Jesus originating from a little Galilean hamlet in the middle of nowhere: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” he wondered.
  • Simon’s wife and mother-in-law resided at the family house in Capernaum with their children and grandchildren (see Mark 1:29-30).
  • They were given the appellation ‘Boanerges’ (‘Sons of Thunder’) by Jesus (see Mark 3:17) Philip was originally from Bethsaida.

Tax collector Levi (Matthew), the son of Alphaeus, resided in Capernaum and worked as a publican (Latin for “publicanus” or “publican,” which means “public servant”) (see Mark 2:13-17).

Levi (Matthew) resided in Capernaum, which is where the story begins (Mark 2:15) JudasIscariotwas not a member of the Galilean community.

He dealt for the money of the disciples, purchasing food and distributing presents to the destitute (see John 13:29).

See also:  What Did Jesus Mean When He Said, I Am

In addition to being a fisherman and a valiant disciple (see John 11:16), Thomas (nicknamed “Didymus”) was a skeptic who took a long time to accept the fact that Jesus had been raised from the dead (see John 20:24-28).

“Zealots” were Jewish nationalists who were “zealous” in their opposition to the Romans, who had assumed direct control of Judaea in 6AD and were attempting to retake it (see the feature onJewish Nationalistsin Section 21).

A number of affluent women who were healed by Jesus went on to become disciples, and they contributed to Jesus’ financial support by using their own resources (see Luke 8:1-3).

She had traveled from Magdala, which was located on the western coast of the Sea of Galilee, just north of Herod Antipas’s city of Tiberias, to see him (seeMap 15and the feature onThe Jesus Boat at Magdalain Section 4).

She may have been a member of Herod Antipas’ court because her circle of acquaintances included Joanna, the wife of Chuza, the superintendent of Herod’s household who resided in Tiberias, and other members of the royal family.

It was in Tiberius that Joanna resided (Luke 8:3).

(see Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-2Map 15).

When Mary poured expensive scented oil on Jesus’s feet (it was customary for the oil to be poured on someone’s head), she broke with tradition by wiping his feet with her long hair, despite the fact that it was against the rules for respectable women to loosen their hair in public (see John 12:1-8).

  • Joseph, a distinguished member of the Sanhedrin – the Jewish council – was originally from the city of Arimathea in the land of Judaea (seeMap 15).
  • He went to Pilate and requested for Jesus’ body, which he then placed in his own new tomb (see Luke 23:50-54).
  • When the members of the Jewish council (the Sanhedrin) sought to condemn Jesus, he issued a stern warning to them (see John 7:50).
  • Nicodemus was a Jew who lived in Jerusalem (John 3:1) JohnMark lived with his mother Mary in a huge family house in Jerusalem, where they raised their children (see Acts 12:12).
  • They were a well-to-do Jewish family with several servants, one of which was Rhoda.
  • Mark might very possibly be the ‘young man’ who sneaked away after Jesus was arrested, as described in Mark’s own story (see Mark 14:51).
  • (see Colossians 4:101 Peter 5:13).

St Mark’s Church, which can be visited in the Armenian Quarterof the old city of Jerusalem, was built in the 12thcentury on the foundations of an earlier Byzantine church believed to have stood on the site of the home of John Mark and his family.JosephBarsabbas (also In the role of the twelth apostle, Matthias was chosen to take the position of Judas Iscariot (see Acts 1:21-26).

Fig.6 Jesus’ followers go on their journeys. Continue to the next page

Why is the order of Jesus’ calling His disciples different in some of the gospels?

QuestionAnswer The calling of Jesus’ first disciples is recorded in each of the four gospels; the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) include lists of the Twelve, whereas John simply refers to them as a group (Matthew 4:18–22; 10:2–4; Mark 1:16–20; 3:16–19; Luke 5:4–11; 6:13–16; John 1:35–51; Mark 1:16–20; 3:16–19; Luke 5: It varies from tale to account how the disciples were summoned and what order their names are included in the various lists of the disciples.

  1. The first disciples to be called are listed in Matthew 4:18–22 in the following order: Simon Peter and Andrew are two friends who have a lot in common.
  2. The first disciples are listed in the same sequence as in Mark 1:16–20: Simon and Andrew are two of the most creative people I’ve ever met.
  3. The first disciples are listed in Luke 5:4–11 as Simon John and Peter James are two of the most talented musicians in the world.
  4. The names of the characters are Simon PeterPhilipNathanael (also called Bartholomew) The original six disciples were named Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, and Bartholomew, and they were all from the city of Jerusalem.
  5. The initial, introduction encounter between Jesus and Andrew, John, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael is described in detail by John.
  6. It is important to note that when Jesus urged Peter in the fishing boat to “follow Me,” Peter did not instantly abandon his nets and obey.
  7. He’d met Jesus before and had spent some time with Him earlier.

Separately, Matthew (also known as Levi) was called at some point after the first six (Matthew 9:9–13; Mark 2:13–17; Luke 5:27–32; Matthew 9:9–13).

Early in His career, Jesus had a large number of people following Him.

Simon, often known as the Zealot, was a Jewish leader during the Middle Ages.

The narratives of the apostles’ calling do not place a strong emphasis on the chronological sequence in which they were called.

Each and every one of them was unworthy of Jesus’ calling.

At least four of the disciples were fishermen, according to tradition.

Matthew worked as a tax collector for the Roman government and would have been seen as a traitor to the Israelites if he had done his job for the Israelites.

Despite the fact that these men came from a variety of different backgrounds and had varying degrees of education, they shared a significant responsibility as the initial twelve followers of Jesus.

As a result of their involvement, they were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ actions on earth as well as His resurrection.

The church was established as a result of their Spirit-enabled testimony and proclamation (Acts 2).

The names of the twelve apostles will be carved on the twelve foundations of the future wall of New Jerusalem, which will be built on top of the existing wall (Revelation 21:14).

Go back to the page with all of the Bible questions. What is the significance of the sequence in which Jesus calls His disciples being varied in different gospels?

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The First Followers of Jesus

Chapter:(p.5) the first followers of Jesus (from The Church in Ancient Society) 1

Henry Chadwick

Oxford University Press is the publisher. DOI:10.1093/0199246955.003.0002 In Jesus of Nazareth, the earliest disciples were following a charismatic leader who tried to transform Judaism in accordance with the prophetic tradition and who was often referred to as the problematic title of ‘Messiah,’ which was a source of contention. According to tradition, the bulk of Jesus’ earliest disciples were Galilean fishermen and tax collectors who were despised by the majority of Jews, however his teaching acquired acceptance among certain Pharisees.

Despite the diplomatic efforts of Paul of Tarsus, the subject of whether or not Jewish and Gentile Christians might unite to form a single Church, and on what terms, was contested and not totally resolved during the first century.

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Who Were the 12 Apostles? The Complete Guide

Matthew worked as a tax collector (or publican) at Capernaum, where he collected taxes for Rome from his fellow Jews. The fact that his trade was a symbol of Israel’s Roman occupation would have been enough to make him feel like a political traitor in and of itself. The situation was exacerbated by the fact that tax collectors got their money by falsely claiming that individuals owed Caesar more than they actually did, and then taking the additional money off the top—and there was nothing anybody could do about it.

As a result, when Jesus invited Matthew to accompany him and become one of his disciples, it was a significant thing.

Even though Matthew would have been considered a religious outsider at the time, Jesus welcomed him into the inner circle of what would later become the world’s greatest religion, Christianity.

Despite the fact that Matthew is one of Jesus’ more well-known disciples, he is only referenced seven times in the Bible as part of the Twelve.

Matthew in the Bible

Matthew is one of the apostles whose calling is mentioned in the gospels, and he is one of the most important. Each of the three synoptic gospels contains a different version of the same story: “As Jesus continued his journey, he came across a man called Matthew who was seated at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ he said, and Matthew rose to his feet and followed him.” —Matthew 9:9 (New International Version) While walking down the street, he noticed Levi son of Alphaeus seated in the tax collector’s station.

After hearing Jesus’ words to Levi, Levi sprang to his feet and left everything behind to follow him.

Most likely, the name “Levi” refers to the tribe Matthew belonged to, but it’s also plausible that he went by both a Greek and a Hebrew name (Matthew), similar to how Paul was known by both the names Saul and Paul.

Jesus had supper at Matthew’s house immediately after summoning Matthew to join him, and “many tax collectors and sinners arrived and ate with him and his followers,” according to Matthew’s account.

After seeing this, the Pharisees confronted his disciples, asking, “Why does your teacher dine with tax collectors and sinners?” (Why Does Your Teacher Eat With Tax Collectors and Sinners?) When Jesus heard this, he responded, ‘It is the ill who require the services of a doctor, not the healthy.

—Matthew 9:10–13, New International Version As a result, the Pharisees believe that Jesus is associated with the worst of the worst (in their opinion), and they believe that this reflects poorly on him personally.

In part, Jesus’ refusal to eat with tax collectors and sinners stemmed from the fact that he too was a sinner.

By accepting Matthew among his followers, Jesus demonstrated that no one, not even those deemed unredeemable by society, would be denied a place at God’s table of blessing.

Did Matthew write the Gospel of Matthew?

The author of the Gospel of Matthew is unknown, however Matthew the Apostle is widely regarded as the book’s primary author. According to the early church, he composed it, and the attribution “according to Matthew” was probably first inserted around the time of the first century AD. Despite the fact that there are compelling reasons against his authorship, no alternate author has been identified.

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

The region of Galilee was the site of Jesus’ public ministry following His baptism by John (Mark 1:14–15), thus it should come as no surprise that the first disciples He called were from the region. That these Galileans were not Scripture scholars or well-known Jewish theologians, as we might have expected, is that our Lord chose them to serve Him because they were successful merchants rather than scholars or theologians of note. Fishermen are commonly portrayed in the Bible as being Andrew, Simon, and the sons of Zebedee, and this was certainly true for them (vv.

  • However, they were not folks who were just scraping by on a meager income.
  • Because fishing on the Sea of Galilee was a lucrative profession, James, John, Andrew, and Simon were able to leave everything behind in order to follow Jesus.
  • However, not everyone may be an Apostle since one must have witnessed the resurrection in order to be called to that position (Acts 1:21–22; 1 Corinthians 15:7–9).
  • This is something that John Calvin emphasizes in his comments on Mark 1:16–20.
  • People who are called to be His followers may continue in their current occupations; but, those who are ordained to the Apostolic office are exempt from continuing in their former employment.
  • Calvin, on the other hand, interprets Jesus’ statements more widely, observing that God still asks certain followers to remain in their current positions while others are called to take on the public role of elder in His church.
  • Such a summons entails joining the Lord in His activity of fishing, which the prophets interpreted as God capturing men and women for judgment and retribution (Ezek.

29:4). By becoming fishers of men, you will be capturing people for judgment; that is, you will be preparing them to face the Lord without fear on the final day by training them to live lives of faith and repentance.

Coram Deo

God has commissioned elders, teachers, and other Christian leaders to be fishers of men, asking them to summon men and women to repentance and training them in biblical truth in order to prepare them for the coming of the judgment. The job of bringing people to repentance and faith so that they might stand before God fearlessly has been assigned to all Christians to accomplish, inasmuch as they are able, wherever they may be (Matt. 28:18–20).

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For Further Study

In the life of Jesus Christ, who was the very first disciple?

Jesus of Nazareth:

In the life of Jesus Christ, who was the first disciple?

Answer and Explanation:

Peter and Andrew were the first two disciples, according to the Gospels, which are the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, who were also the first two apostles. They were fishermen who had pulled over for a while. See the complete response below for more information.

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Events in the life of Jesus of Nazareth Teachings from Chapter 9/Lesson 1 are summarized here. Discover more about the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth, the prophet of the Christian religion. Learn about Jesus’ impact on the history of religion and spirituality, as well as his death and resurrection.

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Jesus’ Life and His Disciples: A Sermon on the Mount Mark 1:16-20 is the text. Today, as part of our series on the life of Jesus, we’d like to take a look at the relationship Jesus had with his followers. It was customary in Jesus’ day for a religious teacher, known as a rabbi, to have a following of students who were eager to learn from him. As a result, it was only logical that Jesus would call disciples at an early stage in his career. “Follow me,” Jesus said in Mark’s Gospel, and it was the most straightforward invitation he ever extended.

  1. They were fishermen, and Jesus asked them what they were doing.
  2. 18At that point, they abandoned their nets and pursued him.
  3. In no time at all, he beckoned them, and they left their father Zebedee and the hired men in the boat and followed him.
  4. The incredible thing is that those initial few disciples — fishermen who were either tossing a net into the lake or repairing nets in their boats – were able to make such a significant difference.
  5. It’s made up of seventeen distinct kinds of wood in total.
  6. Archaeologists, on the other hand, established that it had been repaired several times using whatever wood was available.
  7. “Follow me,” Jesus said simply when he spotted the men he desired to be his disciples – Simon, Andrew, James, and John – and invited them to come with him.

As a result, they were giving up not only their way of life, but they were also giving up their means of subsistence.

When Zebedee’s sons, who were also partners in the family fishing business, abandoned him in the care of hired men, I can only imagine what he must have felt.

What kind of men did Jesus choose to follow him?

Some of us might have assumed he would have chosen other individuals – perhaps scholars or those with a wealth of knowledge.

As disciples, Jesus chose blue-collar workers and common people from the crowd.

Consider the following passage from Luke 6:12-16:12: One of those days, Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, where he stayed the entire night praying to God.

These were the twelve: 14Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,15Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,16Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor after being betrayed by his own brother.

He chose the twelve apostles from among a larger group of potential candidates to serve as apostles.

There are several questions we need to ask about Jesus’ selection.

Is this a group of the best men he could possibly assemble around him?

Judas Iscariot was included in this bunch!

Yes, after praying all night long, Jesus designated these twelve disciples as apostles.

14He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach15and to have authority to drive out demons.

We see three notable differences between the two passages.

In this second passage we learn that Jesus gave the sons of Zebedee – James and John – the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder.” That information reveals a bit about the temperament of those two brothers.

No wonder Jesus gave them that epithet.

Scholars suggest that perhaps Judas decided to use a different name, the family name Thaddaeus, to differentiate himself from Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.

First, he wanted to have companions during his ministry; Jesus also calls us to be with him.

Jesus gives us a double purpose.

We can be with him through prayer and Bible reading.

We can be with Jesus every time we stop long enough in our busy lives to call to mind the fact that he is our Lord and Savior.

If we are aware that we are with Jesus, we become conscious of his mission for us.

This remarkable passage has caused scholars to scratch their heads through the years.

2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

They included people like Cleopas, who encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus; John, Mark, and Luke, Gospel writers; Barnabas and Silas, companions of Paul; Matthias, Stephen, and Phillip, early deacons; and Ananias, who baptized Paul.

Among them were Mary, his own mother; Mary Magdalene; Salome, his aunt and mother of James and John; Martha and Mary, sisters of Lazarus, both from Bethany.

Being a disciple meant more than being called.

Being a disciple of Jesus also meant being will to pay the cost, as Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in his definitive book on this topic:The Cost of Discipleship.

25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:26“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.27And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” 33 “ In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

  1. ” The huge throngs in Verse 25 are all would-be followers.
  2. He then addressed them, employing Aramaic exaggeration.
  3. “There is no purpose in your life that can be bigger than the purpose for which I have called you,” he says in his phrase about carrying a cross.
  4. Verse 33 goes on to say that in order to follow Christ, we must give up everything of our things.
  5. If we take a quick look at the lives of some of the original twelve, we can see that they were a tough set of guys.
  6. James and John, who were referred to as the “sons of thunder,” came to Jesus and begged for positions of respect.
  7. After all was said and done, Jesus’ statement, “You will have to drink from the cup from which I drink,” came to pass.

They each drank from the cup of pain, which had previously been used by Jesus.

Thomas has received a terrible reputation as a result of his absence when Jesus appeared to the bereaved disciples shortly after the resurrection.

Thomas was also regarded as a doubter, and his faith was known to waver at times.

He was looking for proof.

Jesus frequently comes to our aid when we are at our most vulnerable.

He tracked down and delivered the child, along with the five loaves and two fish, so that Jesus might feed the large crowd.

He took his own brother, the impulsive Simon Peter, to Jesus, bringing him at the feet of Jesus.

“Come,” Jesus said, addressing the crowd.

‘Lord, rescue me!’ He shouted out as he began to fall into the water.

In his life, we observe an up and down, an up and down, an up and down.

Jesus was reprimanded by Peter later in the same Gospel for warning his disciples that he would have to suffer and die.

What can we reasonably expect from a follower of Jesus?

A follower of Jesus must be teachable and have a desire to learn from Christ in order to be considered successful.

We must never stop learning new things.

According to Jesus’ words to his disciples in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will observe my commandments.” Although they performed a rather good job, they did not do it flawlessly.

Understand that we are not free from the rigors of life, and that we will bear wounds in the same way that everyone else does, and that we must accept this.

The disciples were adamant in their pursuit of knowledge.

When James and John begged for the positions of honor at another occasion, Jesus did not entice them with, “Now, now fellows,” as he did at that time.

We, too, must have a servant’s heart in order to be effective.

Perhaps because they were so hopeful, Jesus chose fishermen as his disciples.

Take note that Jesus referred to fishermen rather than golfers.

Who among us is deserving of the title “disciple of Jesus Christ?” The truth is that none of us is deserving in any way whatsoever.

The well-to-do were likewise welcomed by Jesus.

When I consider what it takes to be a worthy disciple, I am reminded of two apostles who appear to be very similar to me: Simon Peter and Judas Iscariot.

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I honestly don’t see much of a distinction between denial and betrayal in my opinion.

Take, for example, Simon Peter’s impatience.

“Satan has attempted to separate you,” Jesus responded.

According to the Bible, after Peter refused Jesus for the third time and heard the rooster crow, he repented and turned to the Lord.

Judas Iscariot, a fanatic from Kerioth, as his given name suggested, was a native of that city.

Judas Maccabeus, who was also from Kerioth, was a revolutionary leader who led a revolution approximately 165 years before the birth of Jesus.

During his time at the temple, Judas Maccabeus “cleaned house,” removing what the book of Daniel refers to as a “abomination of sacrilege.” Antiochus Epiphanes, a Syrian tyrant with a Greek name, had desecrated the temple altar in Jerusalem when he slaughtered a pig there and erected an idol to Zeus, according to the biblical account of his reign.

  • Some speculate that the fanatics may have imagined to themselves when Jesus rode down that same mountain, riding on a colt, that he was the one who would lead a revolt to overthrow the Romans.
  • How completely incorrect he was!
  • He was not interested in the money that had been offered to him in exchange for betraying Jesus.
  • According to Dante’s Inferno, Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus and is now frozen in hell in a block of ice, alongside Brutus, the other great traitor of the time.
  • Peter embraced forgiveness, a wonderful indication of discipleship.
  • What would have occurred if he had gone to the cross, looked up into Jesus’ face, and said, “Lord, I’m sorry?” What would have happened?
  • “I was under the impression you were planning to lead a revolution.” Jesus would have treated Judas the same way he treated the rest of us.
  • He is completely oblivious to what he was doing.” Judas was a favorite of Jesus’.
  • If we desire to follow Jesus as his disciple, we must first accept the forgiveness that only he can provide.
  • Since Jesus’ time on this planet, new disciples have been created again and time again.
  • At Antioch, they were referred to be Christians for the first time.

Disciples are constantly being added on a daily basis nowadays. Do you consider yourself to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ? If you haven’t already, I ask you to follow him, to become his disciple, and to accept his forgiveness starting right now. Kirk H. Neely wrote this in February of 2014.

Who were Jesus’ 12 Original Disciples?

To be His disciples, Jesus chose twelve ordinary men who had lives, families, and occupations to be His apostles. They didn’t do anything exceptional to earn Jesus’ favor; instead, they just listened, obeyed, and followed. During His earthly ministry, the twelve were with Him testifying to others and performing miracles as well as healing the sick. They also had their feet washed by Him and participated in Holy Communion. What were the names of the twelve men that Jesus chose? Simon Peter Simon was born in the Galilee town of Bethsaida, and he was one of Jesus’ first four followers to be chosen by him.

When Jesus asked Peter to follow Him, he was fishing with his brother Andrew near the Sea of Galilee when he received the summons.

He is the disciple about whom the most is said in the Bible.

After rejecting Jesus three times, Peter broke down in tears because he recalled what Jesus had promised him: “Before the rooster crows this day, you will claim three times that you do not know who I am.

This occurred in order for God to humble Peter.

Although there is no mention of Peter’s death in the Bible, some biblical historians think he did die as a result of his faith at some point.

Peter is well-known for being present when Jesus walked on water.

While Jesus was being captured, Peter was the one who chopped off the ear of a soldier who was standing by (John 18:10).

Some experts are skeptical that Peter actually penned the volumes, yet there is enough evidence to suggest that he did write them after all.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was born in Bethsaida, Galilee, and was present when Jesus picked Simon Peter to be one of His disciples.

He, too, abandoned everything in order to follow Jesus.

Despite his importance, he is seldom mentioned in the Bible.

In John 1:41, he is credited with being the first person to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah.

The Bible does state that he left with the other disciples to avoid persecution the night Jesus was arrested by the chief priests and the elders, which is consistent with what the Bible says about his character (Mark 14:50).

Zebedee’s son, James, is the subject of this story.

After summoning Simon Peter and Andrew, Jesus picked him as his successor.

James was with his brother John and his father Zebedee when Jesus came up to them.

His life is also just briefly recorded in the Bible, much like Andrew’s.

We also know that Jesus dubbed him and his brother as “sons of thunder,” which means “sons of lightning” (Mark 3:17).

Because he was the one who asked Jesus whether he and John may sit on each side of Jesus’ throne in heaven, it is ironic that James left with the other disciples the night Jesus was arrested (Mark 10:35-40).

John Jesus chose John to be His disciple at the same time as He chose John’s brother James to be His disciple.

John, along with his brother, left everything behind and immediately followed Jesus in the desert (Matthew 4:21-22).

A great deal is spoken about John in the Bible.

John was a devoted disciple who remained at Jesus’ side at all times.

When Jesus commanded him to look after Mary, Jesus’ mother, he was present with her at the time.

He was there at the Last Supper with Jesus and was given the honor of sitting next to Him (John 13:23).

After Judas committed suicide, John and the other disciples gathered in the upper chamber to choose a replacement disciple (Acts 1:12-24).

In addition, he penned the Gospel of John, the letters of John 1, 2, and 3, as well as the Book of Revelation.

Some academics, like Simon Peter, deny that John was the author of the Gospel of John as well as the books of 1 and 2 John, although there is enough evidence to suggest that he did write them.

His name was Philip, and he was another disciple that Jesus came across while strolling and told him to follow Him (John 1:43).

Philip was Jesus’ disciple who was responsible for introducing the Greeks to Jesus.

Philip was also present when Jesus provided food for the five thousand people.

He was in the upper chamber with the other disciples to choose a substitute disciple for Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:12-24).

He was originally from the Galilean town of Cana (John 21:2).

“Does anything good come out of Nazareth?” he inquired of Phillip.

He is another another disciple who does not receive much attention in the Bible.

In Mark 3:17-19, he is identified as one among Jesus’ followers in a list of those who followed him.

He was from the Galilean city of Cana, and he was a follower of Jesus (John 21:2).

Thomas was not going to trust them unless they had proof.

Once he saw Jesus, he was certain that Jesus had resurrected from the dead.

” Those who believe in me even if they do not see me will be genuinely fortunate” (John 20:29).

He informed them, just before they were arrested and sent to the cross, that He was leaving them and that they should not be concerned since they knew where He was going.

“How are we supposed to know which direction to go?” “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” Jesus said in response to Thomas, who asked what he meant.

If you truly knew me, you would be familiar with my Father as well.

He was Alpheus’s son, and he was a nobleman (Mark 2:14).

When Jesus was strolling along, He happened to observe Matthew seated at his tax collector’s booth, so He stopped and spoke with him.

Matthew stood up and walked out of his booth to follow Jesus (Matthew 9:9).

There isn’t much known about him other than the fact that he hosted a large supper for Jesus at his home, which included other tax collectors and all the other disciples (Luke 5:29).

In Mark 3:17-19, he is identified as one among Jesus’ followers in a list of those who followed him.

The Gospel of Matthew was written by Matthew.

James, the Son of Alpheus, is a fictional character created by author James Patterson.

This James was referred to as “the less,” which implied that he was possibly younger or less in stature (Mark 15:40).

We know that his mother’s name was Mary (Mark 15:40).

When the top priests and the elders attempted to arrest Jesus, he escaped with the rest of the disciples as well (Mark 14:50).

His other names include Lebbaeus, Thaddaeus, Judas, and the son of James, to name a few (Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Acts 1:13).

The Bible records that he was one among the disciples who gathered in the upper room to choose a substitute for Judas, who had committed suicide.

Simon the Zealot is a fictional character created by author Simon the Zealot.

He was a Canaanite who was referred to as a Zealot (Matthew 10:4).

He is described as another disciple who was there in the upper chamber when the decision was made to choose a substitute disciple for Judas following the latter’s death (Acts 1:12-24).

Judas Iscariot was a thief who betrayed his master.

He served as the financial manager for Jesus and the other disciples.

(Luke 4-6).

The disciples were informed by Jesus during the Last Supper of the fact that one of them would betray Him.

When Judas realized that the chief priests and the elders were plotting to kill Jesus, he felt bad and attempted to return the silver coins.

They did not want the money returned since it was “blood” money that had been spent to have Jesus crucified on their behalf. Judas betrayed Jesus by throwing the money into the Temple and then hanging himself (Matthew 27:4–5).

  1. Dr. William Steuart McBirnie is a Ph.D. candidate (1973). The Twelve Apostles are on the run from someone. Titus 2:4 Tyndale Momentum,

Teresa Sturek

Teresa is the creator and executive director of True Christian Magazine, and she is passionate about assisting people in their quest for greater Bible understanding. Her home is in Katy, Texas, where she lives with her husband, Michael, and their two dogs. If so, who were the twelve first disciples of Jesus? If you feel blessed, please consider making a donation to True Christiam Magazine’s work. Your tax-deductible gift will enable the magazine to continue to publish biblical content that will assist individuals in standing strong on the truth of the Gospel.

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