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Hello, friends, let’s go… “And when it was day, He called unto him his disciples, and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles.”
(Luke 6:13 KJV).
Introduction: A Divine Gathering of Imperfect Men:
In the quiet hills of Galilee and the crowded shores of the Sea, the Messiah walked among fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots. These men, ordinary and flawed, were summoned by a voice that pierced time—the voice of the Son of God. From the dusty roads of Israel, Jesus Christ called twelve men who would become the foundation stones of the Church. According to the King James Bible, these men were not chosen for their greatness but for their availability, humility, and purpose in God’s eternal plan.
I. Simon Peter: The Rock Who Sank and Rose:
“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother… And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:18-19). Simon Peter, often simply called Peter, is perhaps the most prominent apostle in the Gospels. A fisherman by trade, his hands were coarse with labor, and his voice carried the grit of Galilean wind. Jesus renamed him “Cephas,” meaning “a stone” (John 1:42), foretelling the role Peter would play in building the Church.
When Peter first heard Jesus speak, his heart burned with recognition. The sea, so familiar to him, suddenly felt foreign. Dropping his net, he felt as though he were casting off an old life. He looked into Jesus’ eyes—not the eyes of a rabbi, but the eyes of One who knew eternity.
Yet Peter faltered, denying Jesus three times before the rooster crowed (Luke 22:61). In his failure, Christ’s grace was magnified. After the resurrection, Jesus restored Peter with three simple words: “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17).
II. Andrew: The Silent Bridge:
Andrew, Peter’s brother, is often the quiet apostle in the background. He was first a disciple of John the Baptist and recognized Jesus as the Messiah, bringing his brother Simon to Him (John 1:40-42). Though his words are few in Scripture, his actions were deeply influential.
Andrew sat by the Jordan River, reflecting on the Baptist’s proclamation: “Behold the Lamb of God.” When he met Jesus, he felt the weight of prophecy lift like morning mist. His first instinct was not to bask in revelation but to bring his brother to the Light. His life teaches us that sometimes the greatest impact comes through the one we bring to Jesus.
III. James the Greater: Son of Thunder:
“And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, ‘The sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17).
James, brother of John and son of Zebedee, was among the first to follow Jesus. Alongside Peter and John, he formed the Lord’s inner circle. He witnessed the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9), the raising of Jairus’ daughter, and Jesus’ agony in Gethsemane.
His fiery zeal earned him and John the nickname “Sons of Thunder.” James was the first apostle to be martyred, slain by the sword of Herod Agrippa (Acts 12:2), sealing his testimony with blood. As the blade neared his neck, James remembered the words of Christ: “Ye shall indeed drink of my cup” (Matthew 20:23). He did not fear death; he welcomed it as reunion.
IV. John: The Beloved Disciple:
The youngest apostle, John, was both thunderous in zeal and tender in spirit. He reclined close to Jesus during the Last Supper (John 13:23) and was the only disciple to remain by the cross (John 19:26-27). His Gospel, epistles, and the Revelation of Jesus Christ form a pillar of the New Testament.
In exile on Patmos, John’s aged eyes beheld the unveiled heavens. Thunder rolled as he wrote, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day…” (Revelation 1:10). The man who once wanted fire to fall on Samaritans (Luke 9:54) now bore the revelation of perfect love.
V. Philip: The Searching Follower:
“Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law… did write, Jesus of Nazareth” (John 1:45). Philip hailed from Bethsaida, like Peter and Andrew. A man of Scripture, he eagerly recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy. He brought Nathanael to Christ and later asked, “Lord, shew us the Father,” to which Jesus replied, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:8-9).
Philip had memorized the Law from childhood, but standing before Jesus, he saw the Word made flesh. His intellect was humbled by revelation.
VI. Bartholomew (Nathanael): The Guileless Heart:
Jesus said of him, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” (John 1:47). Though traditionally called Bartholomew, his name likely refers to “son of Tolmai.” Most scholars agree he is the same as Nathanael.
Sitting under a fig tree, Nathanael whispered a private prayer only God could hear. When Jesus said, “Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee,” it shattered every doubt (John 1:48). He fell to his knees: “Thou art the Son of God.”
VII. Matthew (Levi): From Tax Booth to Testimony:
“And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom… And he arose and followed him.” Matthew 9:9). A tax collector, Matthew was despised by Jews for working with Rome. Yet Jesus chose him, turning a sinner into a scribe of the Gospel.
Coins clinked as Matthew balanced his ledger. A shadow fell over his booth Jesus stood there, not condemning, but calling. Matthew’s hands trembled as he left everything behind. His Gospel would one day echo through centuries.
VIII. Thomas: The Courageous Doubter:
Thomas is remembered for doubt, but he also showed boldness: “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16). When he saw the risen Christ, he declared, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). He placed trembling fingers into Christ’s wounds—not in defiance but in desperate love. His eyes brimmed with tears not just for proof, but for the Person. He traveled farther than any other apostle, bringing the Gospel to India.
IX. James the Less: The Quiet Witness:
Called “the son of Alphaeus,” James the Less remains mostly hidden in Scripture. Tradition holds he was steadfast in faith and leadership. In Jerusalem, he moved quietly among believers, teaching with humility and washing feet. He didn’t need fame—only faith.
X. Thaddaeus (Judas son of James): The Questioner:
Also called Lebbaeus or Judas (not Iscariot), Thaddaeus asked Jesus, “Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?” (John 14:22). He pondered deeply, not with doubt but devotion. Jesus’ answer—that the Father and Son would dwell within the believer—kindled a fire in his heart that carried the Gospel eastward.
XI. Simon the Zealot: From Rebellion to Redemption:
A former zealot, Simon was part of a Jewish political movement that sought to overthrow Roman rule. His dagger had once been sharp with rage. But in Christ, he found a new kingdom not of this world. He laid down his blade and picked up the Word.
XII. Judas Iscariot: The Betrayer:
Judas was the treasurer and ultimately the betrayer. Jesus chose him knowingly, fulfilling prophecy (Psalm 41:9, John 13:18). He kissed Jesus in the garden, his soul collapsing under guilt. The silver coins he once clutched burned his hands. In the end, he saw too late the weight of what he’d done.
Conclusion: Called, Changed, Commissioned:
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you…”
(John 15:16).
Author’s Note:
‘Friends, thanks greatly for your time. Each of the twelve apostles began as flawed men—fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots. Yet under the gentle authority of Jesus Christ, they became vessels of divine purpose. They cast aside old identities to follow the living Word.
Some doubted, others denied. Yet Christ’s love overcame their limits. Through their obedience, the Gospel echoed across nations, eventually reaching us. Their stories—woven from fact, faith, and sanctified knowledge—challenge us to listen for the same call: “Follow Me.”
God bless you!
Author and Servant: Norman G. Roy III
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