The Twelve

Twelve Men
 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. ¹³ And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; ¹⁴ Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, ¹⁵ Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphæus, and Simon called Zelotes, ¹⁶ and Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor. Luke 6

My mid-week bible study class is teaching about the Twelve Disciples / 12 Apostles. And a couple of things / ideas came to my heart and mind that I would like to share with you.


First the disciples were "leaners".  Common men from the country, mostly fishermen and other trades, many unlearned.  These man were disciples, learners, men willing to learn, faithful to their job, very hard workers, available for service to Jesus and teachable. I believe there were many. For example, the twelve, the seventy and the 500, all disciples, all leaners and followers of Jesus.


SO I suggest here, there was many disciples and only twelve Apostles, chosen, as they were picked off a shelf, gladly, a chosen vessel for a special use.


The disciples went through a learning period.  There were many disciples and many learning experiences. Then Jesus fondly chose twelve. The inner three and their brothers and friend, Peter, James, John , Andrew and Philip, then Matthew and Thomas. So the inner three, then the twelve and then the seventy. Also the 500 seen after his resurrection.


Then, the Apostles, meaning "one sent with a message". The Twelve were chosen. Allow me to show you the Vine's Dictionary meaning of  "chose"


"to pick out, select," means, in the Middle Voice, "to choose for oneself," not necessarily implying the rejection of what is not chosen, but "choosing" with the subsidiary ideas of kindness or favor or love,


What a great description of how Jesus chose them, the Twelve !! (and yet one was a traitor, Judas)


The Apostles helped win the known world of that day. Matthew, John and Peter wrote books of the bible. All were great missionaries around the world. 


They all heard and believed in Jesus, The Messiah !!


Dear friend, you too may become a disciple, a learner of Jesus, and each of you can be an apostle, one sent with a special message. First you must be saved, born again. For whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be saved, for with the heart man believes and with my confession is made unto the LORD for salvation.


May God Bless you,
RevDan