The Apostles - Part 1
Written by: Delbert Magusara Haim
November 17, 2012
This time I’m going to relate the story of how the apostles of Christ called and survived in their mission. The story begins when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the river of Jordan and was preaching the gospel of the kingdom in Galilee, the region in northern Israel year 30CE.
November 17, 2012
This time I’m going to relate the story of how the apostles of Christ called and survived in their mission. The story begins when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the river of Jordan and was preaching the gospel of the kingdom in Galilee, the region in northern Israel year 30CE.
Now, when Jesus was walking at the seashore of Galilee he found Peter and Andrew casting a net into the sea for they were fishers, and he said to them; follow me (Mat 4:18). When he gone a little further from there he saw also the two brothers; James and John mending their nets in a ship and called them(Mat 4:21). The following day he found the other one, named Philip and said; follow me (John 1:43). Then Jesus went to Capernaum and there were disciples (Bartholomew and Thomas) that came to follow him, (one was a scribe - clerk of Torah) and Jesus said to them; follow me (Mat 8:19-22). In the city of Jerusalem, Jesus came and while he was preaching and healing sicknesses and diseases he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said to him, Follow me (Mat 9:9). And there also he added three disciples; Judas Thaddaeus, Simon Zelotes, and the last one were Judas Iscariot.
Jesus did teach and train his disciples for three and half years and ordained twelve of them to be his chosen apostles. And he gave them powers against all kinds of man’s weakness both in spiritual and physical; like casting out devils and healing sicknesses.
Mat 10:1-4, Luk 6:13-16
1. Simon Peter
2. Andrew
3. James – son of Zebedee
4. John
5. Philip
6. Bartholomew
7. Thomas
8. Matthew
9. James – son of Alphaeus
10. Judas Lebbaeous Thaddaeus
11. Simon Zelotes
12. Judas Iscariot
After the ordination had been made, Jesus commanded the twelve apostles to preach only the gospel about the kingdom to the lost people of Israel. The lost people here are the disobedient Jews who are adulterous in their generation and worshipped another God. The commandment at this moment has its restriction to not to preach the gospel into the Gentiles neither in any city of Samaritans as Jesus did.
The Twelve Apostles:
Jesus:
Now, when Jesus died and resurrected, his twelve apostles became eleven because Judas Iscariot betrayed him and hung himself on the tree. And to the eleven he commanded for the second time and said; “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”.
Here we see that in the ascension of Jesus, the gospel of the kingdom is now open to all and must be preached not only to the lost Jews but to every creature in all places of Israel even in the Gentiles way.
Then the eleven replace the part of Judas by Matthias as numbered with the eleven apostles (Act 1:26). And when the day of Pentecost was fully come (few days after Jesus resurrected), their prayer that the Lord of harvest will send more laborers to help them was answered.
God sent more laborers or workers during the day of Pentecost and even in the following days.
1. Some; apostles
2. Some; prophets
3. some; evangelists
4. some; pastors
5. some; teachers
And the prophecy of Prophet Joel concerning in the last days of Israel was fulfilled. All men and women that with them the apostles were filled with the Holy Ghost and began prophesying and speaking with other tongues.
In counting their numbers, the Disciples of Christ were multiplied. So Peter did choose seven among all and set before them. And these are the chosen seven disciples that filled with the Holy Ghost (Act 6:5):
1. Stephen
2. Philip
3. Prochorus
4. Nicanor
5. Timon
6. Parmenas
7. Nicholas
Thereafter, Christ had chosen Saul of Tarsus; a half Jewish and half Gentile blood. And his name became Paul. It happened while Saul was traveling in the road of Damascus to capture some disciples that lived there because he was a Priest against Christ at that time, but suddenly he saw a great light from above that blinded him for three days and he heard the voice of Christ said (Acts 9:4-6);
And Paul was filled with the Holy Ghost and preaching the kingdom of God with the twelve apostles. In summary, the kingdom of God was preached to all nations by all of his prophets and apostles beginning from John the Baptist until the death of Paul.
John the Baptist:
Jesus:
The Twelve Apostle:
PAUL:
But there is separate gospel which concerns the Lord Jesus Christ besides the kingdom. The gospel says that through Jesus Christ all people will be justified even them who were under the Law of Moses. Together with the kingdom gospel, the message about Christ was preached to all nations by his prophets and apostles.
These are the passages that show how they speak about him.
John (the Baptist):
Jesus (The Christ):
Peter (The twelve apostles):
Stephen (The seven holy men):
Paul:
Therefore:
Because of the gospel concerning Christ, both Jews and Gentiles were united through his chosen vessels.
As Jesus said before he died;
And was fulfilled in the days of Peter;
And in the days of Paul;
To be continued……
Jesus did teach and train his disciples for three and half years and ordained twelve of them to be his chosen apostles. And he gave them powers against all kinds of man’s weakness both in spiritual and physical; like casting out devils and healing sicknesses.
- Mat 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
Mat 10:1-4, Luk 6:13-16
1. Simon Peter
2. Andrew
3. James – son of Zebedee
4. John
5. Philip
6. Bartholomew
7. Thomas
8. Matthew
9. James – son of Alphaeus
10. Judas Lebbaeous Thaddaeus
11. Simon Zelotes
12. Judas Iscariot
After the ordination had been made, Jesus commanded the twelve apostles to preach only the gospel about the kingdom to the lost people of Israel. The lost people here are the disobedient Jews who are adulterous in their generation and worshipped another God. The commandment at this moment has its restriction to not to preach the gospel into the Gentiles neither in any city of Samaritans as Jesus did.
The Twelve Apostles:
- Mat 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jesus:
- Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Now, when Jesus died and resurrected, his twelve apostles became eleven because Judas Iscariot betrayed him and hung himself on the tree. And to the eleven he commanded for the second time and said; “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”.
- Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Here we see that in the ascension of Jesus, the gospel of the kingdom is now open to all and must be preached not only to the lost Jews but to every creature in all places of Israel even in the Gentiles way.
- Mar 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Then the eleven replace the part of Judas by Matthias as numbered with the eleven apostles (Act 1:26). And when the day of Pentecost was fully come (few days after Jesus resurrected), their prayer that the Lord of harvest will send more laborers to help them was answered.
- Matthew 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
God sent more laborers or workers during the day of Pentecost and even in the following days.
1. Some; apostles
2. Some; prophets
3. some; evangelists
4. some; pastors
5. some; teachers
- Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
And the prophecy of Prophet Joel concerning in the last days of Israel was fulfilled. All men and women that with them the apostles were filled with the Holy Ghost and began prophesying and speaking with other tongues.
- Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
- Act 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
In counting their numbers, the Disciples of Christ were multiplied. So Peter did choose seven among all and set before them. And these are the chosen seven disciples that filled with the Holy Ghost (Act 6:5):
1. Stephen
2. Philip
3. Prochorus
4. Nicanor
5. Timon
6. Parmenas
7. Nicholas
Thereafter, Christ had chosen Saul of Tarsus; a half Jewish and half Gentile blood. And his name became Paul. It happened while Saul was traveling in the road of Damascus to capture some disciples that lived there because he was a Priest against Christ at that time, but suddenly he saw a great light from above that blinded him for three days and he heard the voice of Christ said (Acts 9:4-6);
- “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do”.
And Paul was filled with the Holy Ghost and preaching the kingdom of God with the twelve apostles. In summary, the kingdom of God was preached to all nations by all of his prophets and apostles beginning from John the Baptist until the death of Paul.
John the Baptist:
- Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jesus:
- Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The Twelve Apostle:
- Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
PAUL:
- Act 19:8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
But there is separate gospel which concerns the Lord Jesus Christ besides the kingdom. The gospel says that through Jesus Christ all people will be justified even them who were under the Law of Moses. Together with the kingdom gospel, the message about Christ was preached to all nations by his prophets and apostles.
- Act 28:30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
These are the passages that show how they speak about him.
John (the Baptist):
- Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Jesus (The Christ):
- Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Peter (The twelve apostles):
- Act 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Stephen (The seven holy men):
- Act 6:14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
Paul:
- Act 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Therefore:
Because of the gospel concerning Christ, both Jews and Gentiles were united through his chosen vessels.
As Jesus said before he died;
- John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
And was fulfilled in the days of Peter;
- Act 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. :8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
And in the days of Paul;
- Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
- Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
To be continued……