APOSTLES OF JESUS CHRIST

PART 1

BIBLE STUDY WRITTEN BY

PASTOR JANICE L WILLIAMS

SCRIPTURES PRINTED IN RED ARE WORDS SPOKEN BY JESUS 

KJV=KING JAMES VERSION BIBLE TRANSLATION USED FOR THIS BIBLE STUDY 

BIBLE STUDY FOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6th-13th, 2010, & CONTINUING FOR THE WEEKS OF JANUARY 13th-20th, 2010,

JANUARY 20th-27th, 2010, JANUARY 27th to FEBRUARY 3RD, 2010,  FEBUARY 3RD-10th, 2010, & FEBURARY 10th-17th, 2010

THE FIRST 12 APOSTLES CHOSEN BY JESUS 

1. SIMON - CALLED PETER
2. ANDREW - PETER'S BROTHER
3. JAMES - SON OF ZEBEDEE
4. JOHN - BROTHER OF JAMES 
5. PHILIP - FROM BETHSAIDA  
6. BARTHOLOMEW - REFERRED TO AS NATHANIEL IN THE BOOK OF JOHN  
7. THOMAS - ALSO CALLED DIDYMUS
8. MATTHEW - THE PUBLICAN/TAX COLLECTOR;
9. JAMES - SON OF ALPHAEUS
10. LABBAEUS - WHOSE SURNAME WAS THADDAEUS 
11. SIMON - THE CANAANITE [MATTHEW 10:4 KJV, & MARK 3:18 KJV], THE ZEALOT/ ZELOTES [LUKE 6:15 KJV]
12. JUDAS ISCARIOT - THE TRAITOR

LET'S REVIEW SOME WORD DEFINITIONS FOR THIS BIBLE STUDY

1. BETHSAIDA - A TOWN OF ANCIENT PALESTINE ON THE NORTHEAST SHORE OF THE SEA OF GALILEE. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, IT WAS VISITED BY JESUS DURING HIS MINISTRY.
2. SEA OF GALILEE also LAKE OF GENNESARET, SEA OF TIBERIAS [JOHN 6:1 KJV], or LAKE KINNERET - IS THE LARGEST FRESHWATER LAKE IN ISREAL; AND THE LOWEST FRESHWATER LAKE ON EARTH. IT IS THE SECOND LOWEST LAKE IN THE WORLD, AFTER THE DEAD SEA, A SALTWATER LAKE.
3. CANAAN - AN ANCIENT TERM FOR THE REGION APPROXIMATING TO PRESENT-DAY ISRAEL, THE WEST BANK, THE GAZA STRIP, PLUS ADJOINING COASTAL LANDS AND PARTS OF LEBANON AND SYRIA. THE HEBREW BIBLE IDENTIFIES CANAAN WITH LEBANON, FOREMOST WITH THE COASTAL CITY OF SIDON, BUT EXTENDS THE "LAND OF CANAAN" SOUTHWARD ACROSS GAZA TO THE "BROOK OF EGYPT" AND EASTWARD TO THE JORDAN VALLEY, THUS INCLUDING MODERN ISRAEL WITH THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES.
4. CANAANITE - A MEMBER OF SEMITIC PEOPLE INHABITING CANAAN FROM LATE PRE-HISTORIC TIMES, WHO WERE CONQUERED BY THE ISRAELITES AROUND 1,000 BC.
5. ZEALOT - 1. A FANATICALLY COMMITTED PERSON 2. A MEMBER OF A JEWISH MOVEMENT IN THE FIRST CENTURY A.D. THAT FOUGHT AGAINST ROMAN RULE IN PALESTINE AS INCOMPATIBLE WITH STRICT MONOTHEISM. THEY FOUGHT TO THE DEATH AGAINST THE ROMANS, AND KILLED OR PERSECUTED JEWS WHO COLLABERATED WITH THE ROMANS.
6. MONOTHEISM - THE BELIEF IN THE EXISTANCE OF ONE GOD.
7. PUBLICANS - IN JESUS TIME WERE JEWISH TAX COLLECTORS WHO PAID THE ROMANS FOR THE RIGHT TO COLLECT TAXES. THEY WERE SOCIAL OUTCASTS. DEVOUT JEWS AVOIDED THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE USUALLY DISHONEST. THE JOB CARRIED NO SALARY AND THEY WERE EXPECTED TO MAKE THEIR PROFITS BY CHEATING THE PEOPLE FROM WHOM THEY COLLECTED TAXES. THEY WERE HATED BY OTHER JEWS WHO THOUGHT OF THEM AS TRAITORS TO THEIR COUNTRY AND RELIGION.
8. A.D. - INDICATING A DATE THAT IS A SPECIFIED NUMBER OF YEARS AFTER THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST. FULL FORM ANNO DOMINI
9. DISCIPLE - 1.FOLLOWER OF A PERSON OR IDEA: SOMEBODY WHO STRONGLY BELIEVES IN THE TEACHINGS OF A LEADER , A PHILOSOPHY, OR A RELIGION, AND TRIES TO ACT ACCORDING TO THEM. 2.OR DISCIPLE ORGINAL FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST: ONE OF THE 12 ORIGINAL FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE
10. APOSTLE - SOMEBODY WHO BELIEVES STRONGLY IN AN IDEA AND TRIES TO PERSUADE OTHERS TO SHARE IT.
    
11. APOSTOLIC - RELATING TO APOSTLES: CONNECTED WITH THE APOSTLES OR THEIR TEACHINGS, OR CONTEMPORARY WITH THEM
12. BUFFETED - 1. BATTER SOMETHING: TO KNOCK OR STRIKE AGAINST SOMETHING FORCEFULLY OR REPEATEDLY 2. STRUGGLE TO PROGRESS: TO PROCEED UNDER DIFFICULT CONDITIONS
13. DEFAMED -HARM SOMEBODY'S REPUTATION: TO ATTACK SOMEBODY OR SOMEBODY'S REPUTATION, CHARACTER, OR GOOD NAME BY MAKING SLANDEROUS STATEMENTS
    
14. ENTREAT -PLEAD DESPERATELY: TO BEG SOMEBODY FOR SOMETHING, OFTEN REPEATEDLY
15. BESEECH - 1. BEG SOMEBODY: TO ASK EARNESTLY OR BEG SOMEBODY TO DO SOMETHING
16. FORSOOK - GIVE UP: TO GIVE UP, RENOUNCE, OR SACRIFICE SOMETHING THAT GIVES PLEASURE
17. ORIGEN ADAMANTIUS - LIVED c. 185-254, HE WAS AN EGYPTIAN, EARLY CHRISTIAN SCHOLAR AND THEOLOGIAN, WHO TAUGHT IN ALEXANDRIA. ORIGEN WAS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED, OF THE EARLY FATHERS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. HE WROTE COMMENTARIES ON MOST OF THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. USING HIS KNOWLEDGE OF HEBREW, ORIGEN PRODUCED A CORRECTED SEPTUAGINT [ABBREVIATED "LXX" IS THE GREEK VERSION OF THE HEBREW BIBLE, TRANSLATED IN STAGES, BETWEEN THE 3rd AND 1st CENTURIES BCE, IN ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT. IT WAS HELD IN GREAT RESPECT IN ANCIENT TIMES BY PHILO, A JEWISH PHILOSOPHER BORN IN ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT 20 BCE - 50 CE, AND BY JOSEPHUS, A FIRST CENTURY JEWISH HISTORIAN FROM JERUSALEM; BOTH ASCRIBED DIVINE INSPIRATION TO THE AUTHORS OF THE SEPTUAGINT. THE "LXX" IS QUOTED BY THE NEW TESTAMENT, AND IS OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR ALL CHRISTIANS AND BIBLE SCHOLARS. IT IS THE BASIS FOR THE OLD GEORGIAN, OLD ARMENIAN, SYRIAC, SLAVONIC, AND COPTIC VERSIONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT].
18. c. - (USED BEFORE DATES) ABBREVIATION FOR CIRCA (APPROXIMATELY: USED BEFORE A DATE TO INDICATE THAT IT IS APPROXIMATE OR ESTIMATED)
19. EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA - BECAME THE BISHOP OF CAESAREA IN PALESTINE ABOUT THE YEAR 314. HE WAS A HISTORIAN WHO WROTE AN ACCOUNT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY FROM THE FIRST CENTURY.
20. CAESAREA- ANCIENT SEAPORT ON THE COAST OF SAMARIA, AND THE ROMAN CAPITAL OF PALESTINE, SITUATED APPROXIMATELY 35 km/22mi SOUTH OF PRESENT- DAY HAIFA, ISRAEL
21. ICON - A CARVING, STATUE, OR PICTURE; ESPECIALLY ONE PAINTED IN OIL ON A WOODEN PANEL OF: JESUS CHRIST, THE VIRGIN MARY, OR A SAINT. ICONS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE HOLY BY SOME RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND CAN BE FOUND IN EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCHES
22. ORTHODOX CHURCH - ANCIENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH: A CHRISTIAN CHURCH THAT ORIGINATED IN THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE [MODERN DAY ISTANBUL, TURKEY], AND RECOGNIZES THE PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE AS PRIMATE RATHER THAN THE POPE. THE ORTHODOX CHURCH TRACES IT'S DEVELOPMENT BACK THROUGH THE BYZANTINE AND ROMAN EMPIRES, TO THE EARLIEST CHURCH ESTABLISHED BY ST. PAUL AND THE APOSTLES. ORTHODOX CHURCHES INCLUDE THE COPTIC CHURCH OF EGYPTAS WELL AS THE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCHES
23. PATRIARCH - CHRISTIANITY EASTERN ORTHODOX BISHOP: IN THE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH, A BISHOP OF THE SEES OF CONSTANTINOBLE, ALEXANDRIA, ANTIOCH, OR JERUSALEM, AND ALSO RUSSIA, ROMANIA, OR SERBIA
24. TRIBUTE - HISTORY: A PAYMENT MADE BY ONE RULER OR STATE TO ANOTHER AS A SIGN OF SUBMISSION
25. EPHESUS - ANCIENT GREEK CITY IN THE WESTERN COAST OF ASIA MINOR, IN PRESENT-DAY TURKEY. AN IMPORTANT CENTER FOR EARLY CHRISTIANITY, IT WAS ALSO THE SITE OF THE TEMPLE ARTEMIS, ONE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD.
    

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MATTHEW 10:1 THRU 8 KJV

1/ AND WHEN HE [JESUS] 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. 2/ NOW THE NAMES OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES ARE THESE; THE FIRST, SIMON, WHO IS CALLED PETER, AND ANDREW HIS BROTHER; JAMES THE SON OF ZEBEDEE, AND JOHN HIS BROTHER; 3/ PHILIP, AND BARTHOLOMEW; THOMAS, AND MATTHEW THE PUBLICAN; JAMES THE SON OF ALPHAEUS, AND LEBBAEUS, WHOSE SURNAME WAS THADDAEUS; 4/ SIMON THE CANAANITE, AND JUDAS ISCARIOT, WHO ALSO BETRAYED HIM. 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. 8/ HEAL THE SICK, CLEANSE THE LEPERS, RAISE THE DEAD, CAST OUT DEVILS: FREELY YE HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE.

IN THE SCRIPTURE ABOVE, JESUS ASSIGNS HIS DISCIPLES THEIR FIRST MISSION; TO GO TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL FIRST, AND NOT TO THE GENTILES OR TO THEIR CITIES. AFTER JESUS' DEATH AND RESURRECTION, HE INSTRUCTS HIS DISCIPLES TO GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST TO EVERYONE.

MARK 16:15 THRU 20 KJV

15/ AND HE SAID UNTO THEM. GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD, AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE. 16/ HE THAT BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED; BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT SHALL BE DAMNED. 17/ AND THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE; IN MY NAME THEY SHALL CAST OUT DEVILS; THEY SHALL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES; 18/ THEY SHALL TAKE UP SERPENTS; AND IF THEY DRINK ANY DEADLY THING, IT SHALL NOT HURT THEM; THEY SHALL LAY HANDS ON THE SICK, AND THEY SHALL RECOVER. 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 EVERYWHERE, THE LORD WORKING WITH THEM, AND CONFIRMING THE WORD WITH SIGNS FOLLOWING. AMEN.

THE BODY OF CHRIST/CHRISTIANS"ARE BUILT UPON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF BEING THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE." SEE EPHESIANS 2:20 KJV

A DESCRIPTION OF THE APOSTOLIC MINISTRY WRITTEN BY THE APOSTLE PAUL

I CORINTHIANS 4:9 thru 13 KJV

9/ FOR I THINK THAT GOD HATH SET FORTH US THE APOSTLES LAST, AS IT WERE APPOINTED TO DEATH: FOR WE ARE MADE A SPECTACLE UNTO THE WORLD, AND TO ANGELS, AND TO MEN. 10/ WE ARE FOOLS FOR CHRISTS SAKE, BUT YE ARE WISE IN CHRIST; WE ARE WEAK, BUT YE ARE STRONG; YE ARE HONOURABLE, BUT WE ARE DESPISED. 11/ EVEN UNTO THIS PRESENT HOUR WE BOTH HUNGER, AND THIRST, AND ARE NAKED, AND ARE BUFFETED, AND HAVE NO CERTAIN DWELLING PLACE; 12/ AND LABOUR, WORKING WITH OUR OWN HANDS: BEING REVILED, WE BLESS; BEING PERSECUTED, WE SUFFER IT: 13/ BEING DEFAMED, WE ENTREAT

II CORINTHIANS 5:20 KJV

NOW THEN WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST, AS THOUGH GOD DID BESEECH YOU BY US: WE PRAY YOU IN CHRIST'S STEAD, BE YE RECONCILED TO GOD.

LET'S LOOK AT SOME DETAILS OF THE APOSTLE'S LIVES

APOSTLE SIMON PETER

15th CENTURY ICON OF THE APOSTLE PETER

RUSSIAN STATE MUSEUM

SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

SIMON CALLED PETER - JESUS GAVE SIMON, THE SON OF JONAH, THE NAME OF PETER OR CEPHAS, WHICH MEANS STONE OR ROCK. PETER WAS FROM THE CITY OF BETHSAIDA, IN GALILEE, AS WAS HIS BROTHER ANDREW, AND PHILIP [JOHN 2:40 thru 44 KJV]. PETER CAME FROM A FAMILY OF MODESTLY PROSPEROUS FISHERMEN. HE OWNED HIS OWN SHIP; AND WAS PARTNERS IN A FISHING BUSINESS, LOCATED ON LAKE GENNESARET; WITH JAMES AND JOHN, THE SONS OF ZEBEDEE [LUKE 5:1thru 10 KJV]. SIMON PETER WAS MARRIED AND OWNED HIS OWN HOUSE [MATTHEW 8:14, MARK 1:29, 30 & LUKE 4:38 KJV]. PETER AS WELL AS OTHER APOSTLES, FORSOOK ALL, AND EVERYTHING, TO FOLLOW JESUS [MARK 10:28 KJV, LUKE 5:11 KJV].

• SOME POINTS ABOUT THE LIFE OF PETER THE APOSTLE:

1. PETER'S CALL BY JESUS * MATTHEW 4:18-20 KJV
2. PETER FELL DOWN AT JESUS' KNEES AND CONFESSED HE WAS A SINNER * LUKE 5:8 KJV
3. PETER RECEIVES A VISIT FROM JESUS IN HIS HOME * MATTHEW 8:14, 15 KJV
4. PETER SENT FORTH TO MINISTER WITH THE OTHER DISCIPLES * MATTHEW 10:16 KJV
5. PETER WALKS ON WATER * MATTHEW 14:28 thru 33 KJV
6. PETER ASKS JESUS FOR UNDERSTANDING * MATTHEW 15:15, 16 KJV
7. PETER RECEIVES REVELATION KNOWLEDGE OF WHO JESUS IS, AND DECLARES THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD * MATTHEW 16:15 thru 17 KJV]
8. PETER BLESSED BY JESUS, WHO CALLED THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE & PROPHETIC UTTERANCE OF PETER, THE ROCK ON WHICH JESUS WILL BUILD HIS CHURCH* MATTHEW 16:17, 18 KJV * [FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY- REVELATION 19:10 KJV
9. PETER SEES THE GLORY OF JESUS * MATTHEW 17:1 thru 8 KJV
10. PETER CATCHES A FISH, IN CAPERNAUM,WITH MONEY IN IT, TO PAY TRIBUTE FOR HIMSELF AND JESUS * MATTHEW 17:24 thru 27 KJV
11. PETER QUESTIONS JESUS ABOUT FORGIVENESS * MATTHEW 18:21 thru 35 KJV
12. PETER ASKS WHAT HIS REWARD WILL BE FOR FORSAKING ALL & EVERYTHING TO FOLLOWING JESUS * MATTHEW 19:27 thru 29 KJV
13. PETER DECLARES HIS LOYALTY TO JESUS * MATTHEW 26:35 KJV
14. PETER SLEEPS WHILE JESUS PRAYS * MATTHEW 26:40 thru 45 KJV
15. PETER CUT OFF THE EAR OF THE HIGH PRIEST'S SERVANT, WHO CAME TO ARREST JESUS * JOHN 18:10, 11 KJV
16. PETER FOLLOWS JESUS AFAR OFF * MATTHEW 26:58 KJV
17. PETER BEGINS TO CURSE AND SWEAR, AND DENIES KNOWING JESUS THREE TIMES * MATTHEW 26:69 thru 75 KJV
18. PETER RUNS TO THE TOMB OF JESUS AND DISCOVERS FOR HIMSELF THATJESUS ISN"T THERE * LUKE 24:1 thru 12 KJV
19. PETER SEES THE RESURRECTED LORD JESUS CHRIST * LUKE 24:34 KJV
20. PETER IS INSTRUCTED BY JESUS, AFTER JESUS' DEATH AND RESURRECTION, TO; "FEED MY SHEEP" * JOHN 21:13 thru 17KJV
21. PETER RECEIVES THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BEGINS TO BOLDLY PREACH AND MINISTER IN THE POWER OF GOD * ACTS 2:1thru 36 KJV
22. PETER BOLDLY PREACHED REPENT AND RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THREE THOUSAND SOULS WERE BAPTIZED AND ADDED TO THEM THAT SAME DAY * ACTS 3:38 thru 41 KJV
23. PETER TOLD A MAN, WHO WAS LAME FROM HIS MOTHER'S WOMB, TO RISE UP AND WALK IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH. IMMEDIATELY HE RECEIVED STRENGTH IN HIS FEET AND ANKLE BONES AND WAS HEALED. THE MAN STOOD UP AND WALKED, LEAPING AND PRAISING GOD * ACTS 3:1 thru 10
24. PETER BOLDLY PREACHED THAT THE PROPHETS OF GOD FORETOLD OF "THESE DAYS" [THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH & THE FIRST OR FORMER RAIN, WHICH WAS THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT UPON MAN - ACTS 3:11 thru 26 KJV * [PLEASE REVIEW # 40 "THE LATTER RAIN"WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY],
25. THE ANOINTING OF GOD WAS SO GREAT UPON PETER, THAT WHEN JUST HIS SHADOW WAS CAST OVER THE SICK AND THE LAME, THEY WERE HEALED AND DELIVERED FROM UNCLEAN SPIRITS * ACTS 5:15, 16 KJV
26. PETER REBUKES A HUSBAND AND WIFE FOR LYING ABOUT THEIR OFFERING * ACTS 5:1 thru 10 KJV
27. PETER AND OTHER APOSTLES IMPRISIONED FOR SPEAKING AND MINISTERING IN THE NAME OF JESUS, BUT WERE MIRACOUSLY DELIVERED FROM PRISON BY THE ANGEL OF THE LORD.* ACTS 5:17 thru 33 KJV
28. PETER REBUKES SIMON THE SORCERER FOR TRYING TO BUY THE POWER OF GOD WITH MONEY * ACTS 8:9 thru 24 KJV
29. PETER MIRACULOUSLY DELIVERED FROM PRISON BY ANGELS SENT FROM THE LORD * ACTS 12:7 thru 17 KJV
30. PETER PREACHED THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE JEWS THAT WERE IN BABYLON IN A.D. 63 [1st PETER 5:13, 14 KJV].
31. PETER'S DEATH IS NOT RECORDED IN THE BIBLE. HOWEVER, IT IS BELIEVED THAT HE WAS CRUCIFIED UPSIDE DOWN, FROM THE EARLY WRITINGS OF ORIGEN IN EUSEBIUS CHURCH HISTORY II. ORIGEN SAYS, "PETER WAS CRUCIFIED IN ROME WITH HIS HEAD DOWNWARDS". JESUS INDICATED PETER WOULD BE MARTYRED, AND SPOKE OF THE WAY PETER'S DEATH SHOULD GLORIFY GOD. JOHN 21:18, 19 KJV

APOSTLE ANDREW

[SIMON PETER'S BROTHER]

18th CENTURY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX ICON

OF THE APOSTLE ANDREW

KIZHI MONASTERY *KARELIA, RUSSIA

• ANDREW THE BROTHER OF SIMON PETER, WAS AT FIRST A DESCIPLE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. WHEN ANDREW AND ANOTHER DISCIPLE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST, HEARD AND SAW JOHN POINT OUT JESUS AS, "THE LAMB OF GOD", THEY LITERALLY STARTED TO FOLLOW JESUS. JESUS TURNED, AND SAW THEM FOLLOWING HIM AND HE ASKED THEM, "WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?" THEY REPLIED, "MASTER TO SEE WHERE YOU LIVE?" JESUS SAID TO THEM, "COME AND SEE". SO THEY WENT, AT THE INVITATION OF JESUS, TO COME AND SEE WHERE HE LIVED, AND THEY STAYED WITH HIM THE WHOLE DAY [see JOHN 1:35 thru 40]. ANDREW WENT AND FOUND HIS BROTHER, SIMON, AND TOLD HIM THEY HAD FOUND THE MESSIAH [THE CHRIST]. ANDREW BROUGHT SIMON TO JESUS. WHEN JESUS SAW SIMON, HE SAID TO HIM, "YOU ARE SIMON THE SON OF JONA: YOU SHALL BE CALLED CEPHAS [PETER]", WHICH MEANS, A STONE/A ROCK [SEE JOHN 1:41, 42]. ANDREW AND HIS BROTHER, SIMON PETER, SHARED A HOUSE, IN WHICH PETER'S FAMILY ALSO STAYED [MARK 1:29, 30 KJV].
• THE BIBLE DOES NOT TELL US TOO MUCH ABOUT ANDREW,BUT WE CAN ASCERTAIN THAT HE WAS HONORED BY THE OTHER APOSTLES. IN THE VARIOUS LISTS OF THE APOSTLES GIVEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, HE IS ALWAYS NUMBERED AMONG THE FIRST FOUR [MATTHEW 10:2-4 * MARK 3:16-19 * LUKE 6:14-16 * ACTS 1:13]. WHEN A FEW DAYS BEFORE OUR LORD'S DEATH, CERTAIN GREEKS ASKED PHILIP IF THEY COULD SEE JESUS, PHILIP REFERRED THE MATTER TO ANDREW AS TO ONE OF GREATER AUTHORITY; THEN ANDREW AND PHILIP TOGETHER TELL JESUS THE GREEK'S REQUEST[JOHN 12:20-22 KJV].
• ANDREW WAS ADMITTED TO THE CLOSEST FAMILIARITY WITH JESUS FROM THE FIRST TIME HE MET JESUS AND SPENT THE WHOLE DAY WITH HIM AT THE PLACE WHERE JESUS WAS LIVING [JOHN 1:38-40].
• ON THE OCCASION OF THE MIRACULOUS FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND, IT WAS ANDREW WHO SAID, "THERE IS A BOY HERE WHO HAS FIVE BARLEY LOAVES AND TWO SMALL FISHES: BUT WHAT ARE THEY AMONG SO MANY?" [JOHN 6:8,9]
• ANDREW WAS PRESENT AT THE LAST SUPPER
• ANDREW BEHELD THE RISEN LORD
• ANDREW WITNESSED THE ASCENTION
• ANDREW RECEIVED THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AT PENTECOST [PLEASE REVIEW #11 PENTECOST-HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM * WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY]
• UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE NO CERTAINTY AS TO THE EXTENT OR PLACE OF SAINT ANDREWS MISSIONS
• EUSEBIUS [CHURCH HISTORY III.1] RELYING ON ORIGEN, ASSIGNS SCYTHIA AS SAINT ANDREWS MISSION FIELD
• EARLY CHURCH HISTORY WRITERS STATE THAT ANDREW PREACHED IN CAPPADOCIA, GALATIA, BITHYNIA, THEN IN THE LAND OF THE CANIBALS, AND THE SCYTHIAN DESERTS. AFTERWARDS IN BYZANTIUM, AND MACEDONIA.
• IT IS GENERALLY AGREED THAT ANDREW WAS CRUCIFIED BY ORDER OF THE ROMAN GOVERNOR AGEGEAS OR AEGEATES, AT PATRAE, IN ACHAIA, AND THAT HE WAS BOUND, NOT NAILED TO THE CROSS, IN ORDER TO PROLONG HIS SUFFERINGS.
• ANDREW IS HONORED IN SCOTLAND AND RUSSIA, AS THEIR CHIEF PATRON SAINT.

APOSTLE JAMES

SON OF ZEBEDEE

18th CENTURY ICON OF THE APOSTLE JAMES

SON OF ZEBEDEE

KIZHI MONASTERY, KARELIA RUSSIA

JAMES THE GREATER, AS HE IS SOMETIMES CALLED TO DISTINGUISH HIM FROM APOSTLE JAMES, SON OF ALPHAEUS [KNOWN AS JAMES THE LESS - MARK 15:40 KJV], WAS A SON OF ZEBEDEE AND THE BROTHER OF JOHN THE APOSTLE. JESUS CALLED JAMES AND HIS BROTHER JOHN "THE SONS OF THUNDER". [MARK 3:17 KJV]

JAMES AND HIS BROTHER JOHN, WERE PROSPEROUS FISHERMAN. THEY HAD THEIR OWN SHIP WITH HIRED SERVANTS [MARK 1:20 KJV], AND WERE PARTNERS WITH SIMON PETER IN THE FISHING BUSINESS [LUKE 5:10 KJV].

MORE ABOUT JAMES

• ONLY JAMES AND TWO OTHER APOSTLES WERE SELECTED BY JESUS TO BEAR WITNESS TO HIS TRANSFIGURATION. * MATTHEW 17:1, 2 KJV * MARK 9:2 thru10 KJV
• IT IS BELIEVED THAT JAMES LIVED AROUND FOURTEEN YEARS AFTER OUR LORD'S RESURRECTION - GALATIANS 2:1,9 KJV
• HE WAS THE FIRST APOSTLE TO SUFFER MARTYRDOM BY KING HEROD AGRIPPA I, WHO KILLED JAMES WITH A SWORD. * ACTS 12:1, 2 KJV.
• JAMES WAS BEHEADED IN JERUSALEM, NEAR THE TIME OF THE PASSOVER CELEBRATION, 44 AD. ACTS 12:2 thru 4 KJV.

APOSTLE JOHN

SON OF ZEBEDEE

BROTHER OF JAMES

18th CENTURY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX ICON

OF THE APOSTLE JOHN, SON OF ZEBEDEE

KIZHI MONASTERY, KARELIA, RUSSIA

JOHN, WAS ONE OF THE BOANERGES, WHICH MEANS "THE SONS OF THUNDER", AS HE AND HIS BROTHER JAMES, WERE NAMED BY JESUS [MARK 3:17 KJV].

• JOHN WAS ONE OF ONLY THREE OF THE DISCIPLES, THAT JESUS ALLOWED TO WITNESS HIMSELF RAISING TO LIFE,THE TWELVE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OFJAIRUS, RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE [MARK 5:22-24,35- 43 KJV,* MARK 5:22-24, ].
• JOHN AND ONLY TWO OTHER DISCIPLES WERE PERMITTED TO WITNESS THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS [MATTHEW 17:1, 2]
• JOHN AND ONLY TWO OTHER DISCIPLES WERE CHOSEN BY JESUS TO STAY CLOSE TO HIM IN HIS AGONY IN GETHSEMANE. [MATTHEW 26:36 thru 39 KJV]
• JOHN AND PETER WERE THE ONLY TWO DISCIPLES THAT JESUS SENT TO THE CITY TO PREPARE THE FINAL PASSOVER MEAL/THE LAST SUPPER [LUKE 22:8 thru 13 KJV]
• JOHN'S PLACE WAS NEXT TO JESUS, WHOSE CHEST HE LEANED ON AT THE LAST SUPPER/PASSOVER MEAL [JOHN 13:23 thru 25]
• 

LAST SUPPER 1685 BY SIMON USHAKOV

• JOHN, BY GENERAL INTERPRETATION OF THE SCRIPTURE FOUND IN JOHN 18:15,16 KJV, IS THE "OTHER DISCIPLE" WHO WAS KNOWN BY THE HIGH PRIEST, CAIAPHAS; THAT ALONG WITH PETER HAD FOLLOWED JESUS AFTER HE WAS ARRESTED AND TAKEN TO THE PALACE OF THE HIGH PRIEST.
• JOHN IS THE DISCIPLE, WHOM JESUS WHILE HANGING ON THE CROSS, GAVE CHARGE TO CARE FOR HIS MOTHER, MARY. JOHN 19:25,26 KJV
• JOHN TOOK MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, INTO HIS OWN HOME THE VERY SAME HOUR JESUS CHARGED HIM TO DO SO. JOHN 19:27 KJV
• JOHN, ALONG WITH PETER, WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN FOUNDING AND GUIDING THE CHURCH; AFTER THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION OF JESUS.
• JOHN TOGETHER WITH PETER, WAS SENT BY THE OTHER APOSTLES OF JERUSALEM, TO THE NEW CONVERTS IN SAMARIA. THEY PRAYED FOR THE NEW CONVERTS; AND WHEN THEY LAID HANDS ON THEM THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT. ACTS 8:14 thru 17 KJV
• JOHN AND PETER WERE CONSIDERED TO BE PILLARS OF THE CHURCH. GALATIANS 2:9 KJV
• APOSTLE JOHN, THE SON OF ZEBEDEE IS BELIEVED TO BE THE AUTHOR OF FIVE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: "THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN", "I JOHN", "II JOHN", "III JOHN", & "THE REVELATION OF ST JOHN THE DEVINE".
• IT IS GENERALLY BELIEVED THAT JOHN SURVIVED HIS CONTEMPORARY APOSTLES; LIVING TO BE AN EXTREME OLD AGE, AND DYING AT EPHESUS, ABOUT AD 100.

APOSTLE PHILIP

FROM BETHSAIDA

18th CENTURY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX ICON

OF THE APOSTLE PHILIP

KIZHI MONASTERY, KARELIA, RUSSIA

• PHILIP IS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN A DISCIPLE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST BEFORE HE MET JESUS. JOHN 1:35 thru 44 KJV
• PHILIP CALLED TO DISCIPLESHIP BY JESUS, WITH THE WORDS, "FOLLOW ME". JOHN 1:43 KJV
• PHILIP WAS FROM BETHSAIDA, THE SAME CITY ANDREW AND PETER WERE FROM. JOHN 1:44 KJV
• PHILIP INTRODUCED NATHANAEL [ALSO CALLED BARTHOLOMEW], TO JESUS. JOHN 1:45 thru 51 KJV]
• PHILIP ASKED JESUS TO SHOW THEM [HIMSELF AND OTHER DISCIPLES] THE FATHER. JOHN 14:8 thru 10 KJV
• PHILIP, WITH THE OTHER TEN REMAINING APOSTLES, WERE IN AN UPPER ROOM TOGETHER AWAITING THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AFTER THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS. ACTS 1:13
• IT IS BELIEVED, FROM CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS, THAT PHILIP PREACHED IN GREECE, SYRIA, AND PHRYGIA [ANCIENT COUNTRY IN ASIA MINOR, IN PRESENT-DAY WEST CENTRAL TURKEY].
• CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS ALSO STATE THAT THE APOSTLE PHILIP WAS MARTYRED BY CRUCIFIXION IN THE CITY OF HIERAPOLIS [AN ANCIENT GREEK CITY ON TOP OF HOT SPRINGS LOCATED IN SOUTHWESTERN TURKEY].

APOSTLE BARTHOLOMEW

ALSO CALLED NATHANIEL

ICON OF THE APOSTLE BARTHOLOMEW

• BARTHOLOMEW, REFERRED TO AS NATHANAEL IN THE BOOK OF JOHN, WAS INTRODUCED TO JESUS BY PHILIP, WHO TOLD HIM TO COME AND MEET JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE SON OF JOSEPH, WHOM MOSES IN THE LAW, AND THE PROPHETS DID WRITE ABOUT. JOHN 1:45KJV.  NATHANAEL IS SKEPTICAL AT FIRST ABOUT JESUS BEING THE MESSIAH, COMING FROM NAZARETH, AND STATED, "CAN THERE ANY GOOD THING COME OUT OF NAZARETH?" JOHN 1:46 KJV [WE CAN PRESUPPOSE FROM NATHANAEL'S QUESTION/STATEMENT, THAT THE CITY OF NAZARETH AND IT'S RESIDENTS WERE CONSIDERED TO BE UNDESIRABLE BY OTHERS. EVEN THOUGH JESUS LIVED IN NAZARETH FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME WHILE HE WAS ON EARTH; JESUS WAS NOT ACCEPTED IN NAZARETH. HE STATED IN LUKE 4:24 KJV, "NO PROPHET IS ACCEPTED IN HIS OWN COUNTRY." LUKE 4:29 KJV TELLS US THE RESIDENTS THERE, ROSE UP FORCEFULLY AGAINST JESUS TO PUT HIM OUT OF THAT CITY, NAZARETH, AND EVEN TRIED TO THROW HIM OVER A CLIFF. PLEASE READ LUKE 4:16 thru 30 KJV, TO GET MORE INSIGHT OF NAZARETH AND IT'S RESIDENTS DURING THE TIME JESUS LIVED THERE.
• JESUS SEES NATHANAEL AND SPEAKS "WORDS OF KNOWLEDGE" TO HIM, CALLING HIM "AN ISRAELITE INDEED, IN WHOM IS NO GUILE!" JOHN 1:47, 48 KJV
• NATHANAEL ACKNOWLEDGES JESUS AS THE SON OF GOD, AND THE KING OF ISRAEL. JOHN 1:49 KJV
• JESUS SPEAKS PROPHETIC WORDS TO NATHANAEL. JOHN 1:50, 51.
• AFTER THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS, NATHANAEL IS ONE OF THE DISCIPLES JESUS APPEARED TO AT THE SEA OF TIBERIAS.
• EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA'S CLASSICAL HISTORY STATES THAT AFTER THE ASCENSION OF JESUS, THE APOSTLE BARTHOLOMEW WENT ON A MISSIONARY TOUR TO INDIA, WHERE HE LEFT BEHIND A COPY OF "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" {"THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE HEBREWS" TRANSLATED INTO GREEK}, WRITTEN BY THE APOSTLE MATTHEW.
• OTHER TRADITIONS RECORD THE APOSTLE BARTHOLOMEW SERVING AS A MISSIONARY IN ETHIOPIA, MESOPOTAMIA, PARTHIA, AND LYCAONIA.
• APOSTLE BARTHOLOMEW, ALONG WITH APOSTLE JUDE, IS REPUTED TO HAVE BROUGHT CHRISTIANITY TO ARMENIA [PRESENT DAY COUNTRY IN SOUTHWESTERN ASIA BETWEEN THE BLACK AND THE CASPIAN SEAS, BORDERED BY AZERBAIJAN, AZERBAIJAN-NAKCIVAN ENCLAVE, IRAN, TURKEY, AND GEORGIA], IN THE FIRST CENTURY.

APOSTLE THOMAS

DIDYMUS

18th CENTURY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX ICON

OF THE APOSTLE THOMAS

KIZHI MONASTERY, KARELIA RUSSIA

• APOSTLE THOMAS ALSO CALLED DIDYMUS JOHN 11:16 KJV
• THOMAS IS BEST KNOWN FOR DOUBTING THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS WHEN HE WAS FIRST TOLD ABOUT IT. THIS STORY IS THE ORIGIN OF THE TERM "DOUBTING THOMAS". JOHN 20:25 KJV
• THOMAS SEES JESUS AFTER HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, THEN BELIEVES, AND PROCLAIMS JESUS AS HIS LORD AND HIS GOD. JOHN 20:26 thru 28 KJV
• JOHN 20:29 KJV - JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, THOMAS, BECAUSE THOU HAST SEEN ME, THOU HAST BELIEVED: BLESSED ARE THEY THAT HAVE NOT SEEN, AND YET HAVE BELIEVED.
• WHEN LAZARUS HAD JUST DIED AND THE DISCIPLES WERE RESISTANT TO JESUS' DECISION TO RETURN TO JUDAEA, WHERE THE JEWS HAD PREVIOUSLY TRIED TO STONE HIM, IT WAS THOMAS WHO BOLDLY SPOKE UP AND SAID TO THE OTHER DISCIPLES, "LET US ALSO GO THAT WE MAY DIE WITH HIM." JOHN 11:7 thru 16KJV
• AT THE LAST SUPPER, AS JESUS ASSURED HIS DISCIPLES THAT THEY KNEW WHERE HE WAS GOING, THOMAS SPOKE PROTESTINGLY, STATING THEY DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE LORD WAS GOING, AND HOW COULD THEY KNOW? JOHN 14:1 thru 5 KJV
• REPLYING TO THOMAS' STATEMENT/QUESTION [ABOVE] JESUS EXPOUNDS ON HIS RELATIONSHIP TO GOD THE FATHER. JOHN 14:6 thru 20 KJV
• EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA QUOTES ORIGEN AS HAVING STATED THAT THOMAS WAS THE APOSTLE TO THE PARTHIANS [PARTHIA - A REGION OF NORTHEASTERN IRAN].
• THOMAS IS BETTER KNOWN AS THE MISSIONARY TO INDIA, THROUGH "THE ACTS OF THOMAS" WRITTEN POSSIBLY CA 200.
• IT IS REPUTED THAT THOMAS WAS STONED AND DIED TRANSFIXED WITH A LANCE, FOR PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND CONVERTING THE RESIDENTS OF INDIA TO CHRISTIANITY, AT CALAMINA [PRESENT DAY MYLAPORE], A CITY OF INDIA.
• A GROUP CALLED THE SAINT THOMAS CHRISTIANS, ARE AN ANCIENT BODY OF CHRISTIANS IN SOUTHWESTERN INDIA WHO TRACE THEIR ORIGINS TO THE MISSIONARY WORK OF THE APOSTLE THOMAS.

APOSTLE MATTHEW

THE PUBLICAN/TAX COLLECTOR

ICON OF THEAPOSTLE MATTHEW

• MATTHEW WAS BORN IN 1st CENTURY JUDEA, DURING THE ROMAN OCCUPATION THERE. HE WAS A GALILEAN.
• MATTHEW IS ALSO CALLED LEVI. LUKE 5:27 KJV
• MATTHEW/LEVI WAS A PUBLICAN/TAX COLLECTOR, WHO OWNED HIS OWN HOUSE, WHERE HE ENTERTAINED JESUS AND OTHERS LAVISHLY. LUKE 5:29 thru 32KJV states, *29/ AND LEVI [MATTHEW]MADE HIM [JESUS] A GREAT FEAST IN HIS OWN HOUSE: AND THERE WAS A GREAT COMPANY OF PUBLICANS AND OF OTHERS THAT SAT DOWN WITH THEM. 30/ BUT THEIR SCRIBES AND PHARISEES MURMURED AGAINST HIS DISCIPLES, SAYING, WHY DO YE EAT AND DRINK WITH PUBLICANS AND SINNERS? 31/ AND JESUS ANSWERING SAID UNTO THEM, THEY THAT ARE WHOLE NEED NOT A PHYSICIAN; BUT THEY THAT ARE SICK. 32/ I CAME NOT TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS BUT SINNERS TO REPENTANCE.*
• MATTHEW/LEVI WAS THE SON OF ALPHAEUS MARK 2:14 KJV.
• MATTHEW WAS A JEW WHO COLLECTED TAXES FROM THE HEBREW PEOPLE FOR HEROD ANTIPAS [THE TETRARCH OR LOCAL RULER, WHO HAD JOHN THE BAPTIST BEHEADED *MATTHEW 14:1 thru 12 KJV, MARK 6:16 thru 30 KJV}, LUKE 3:19, 20 KJV*. HEROD WAS ALSO ONE OF THE RULERS WHO QUESTIONED JESUS RIGHT BEFORE JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED *LUKE 23:8 thru 16 KJV*.].
• MATTHEW HAD A TAX OFFICE LOCATED IN CAPHARNAUM.
• MATTHEW WAS ONE OF THE WITNESSES OF THE RESURRECTION AND THE ASCENSION.
• MATTHEW WAS ALSO ONE OF THE APOSTLES IN THE UPPER ROOM IN JERUSALEM DURING PENTECOST, THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
• TRADITION HOLDS THAT MATTHEW PREACHED THE GOSPEL IN HEBREW TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN JUDEA FOR FIFTEEN YEARS. HE LATER SPREAD THE GOSPEL TO THE ETHIOPIANS, MACEDONIANS, PERSIANS, ANDPARTHIANS.
• SOME SAY MATTHEW DIED A NATURAL DEATH, BUT THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE ORTHODOX CHURCH, SAY HE DIED A MARTYR.
• MATTHEW WROTE THE FIRST BOOK OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. IT IS CALLED *THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW*, OR *THE BOOK OF MATTHEW*. IT WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN JUDEA IN HEBREW FOR HEBREW CHRISTIANS, THEN TRANSLATED INTO GREEK.
• THE BOOK OF MATTHEW HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A TEXTBOOK FOR CHRISTIAN LEADERS. IT GIVES A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE ANCESTORS OF JESUS, AS WELL AS OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS, HIS MINISTRY, HIS TEACHING, HEALING, AND OF THE DEATH & RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.

PLEASE CHECK BACK

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17th-24th, 2010

FOR"APOSTLES OF JESUS CHRIST" PART 2

#44 BIBLE STUDY

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