The Bible Story Part 235

Pa.s.sing along by the sea of Galilee, Jesus saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea: for they were fishers. And he said unto them, "Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men."

And straightway they left the nets, and followed him.

And going on a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending the nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.

And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the mult.i.tude resorted unto him, and he taught them. And as he pa.s.sed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the place of toll, and he saith unto him, "Follow me." And he arose and followed him. And it came to pa.s.s, that he was sitting at meat in his house, and many publicans and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. And the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and publicans, said unto his disciples, "He eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners."

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And when Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, "They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

And he went up into the mountain, and called unto him whom he himself would: and they went unto him. And he appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have authority to cast out demons: and Simon he surnamed Peter; and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and them he surnamed Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder: and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

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The Glorious Company of the Apostles Simon Peter.

Andrew.

James.

John.

Philip.

Bartholomew.

Thomas.

Matthew.

James "the less".

Thaddaeus Simon the Zealot.

Judas Iscariot, the traitor.

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_Simon Peter_. Brother of Andrew. Fisherman. Residence Bethsaida. One of the leaders of the apostles. Said to have founded the church at Rome and to have suffered martyrdom under Nero.

_Andrew_. Brother of Simon Peter. Fisherman. Residence Bethsaida.

Tradition says he was crucified at Patrae by the proconsul AEgeas.

_James_. Brother of John. Son of Zebedee. Fisherman. Home Bethsaida.

Beheaded by Herod Agrippa only fourteen years after the crucifixion.

The first of the "glorious company of the apostles" to join "the n.o.ble army of martyrs."

_John_. "The beloved Disciple." Fisherman. Brother of James. Son of Zebedee. Home Bethsaida. Reputed author of Gospel of St. John, the Epistles of John and the Apocalypse. Said to have lived to an extreme old age, dying a natural death at Ephesus.

_Philip_. Fellow townsman of Peter and Andrew, and probably, like them, a fisherman. Said by tradition to have been crucified head downwards in the reign of Domitian.

_Bartholomew_. Native of Cana of Galilee. Tradition says that he suffered martyrdom in India.

_Thomas_. "The Doubter." Occupation unknown. Residence unknown.

Tradition says that he was sold as a slave to an Indian merchant; that he preached the gospel there with great effect and died a natural death at an advanced age.

_Matthew_. "The Publican." A customs officer near Capernaum. Author of the Gospel of Matthew. Nothing is known of his subsequent life or of his death.

_James_. The son of Alphaeus. Called "the less." No details of his history are known.

_Thaddaeus_. Occupation not known. Thought to have lived at Jerusalem.

Tradition says he preached the gospel in Africa. Fate unknown.

_Simon, the Zealot_. No details are known of his life.

_Judas Iscariot_. The Traitor and Betrayer of Jesus. Iscariot means "the man of Karioth." He was the only Judaean among the apostles. He committed suicide by hanging after the crucifixion.

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OH, WHERE IS HE THAT TROD THE SEA?

Oh, where is He that trod the sea?

Oh, where is He that spake?

And demons from their victims flee, The dead their slumbers break; The palsied rise in freedom strong, The dumb men talk and sing, And from blind eyes, benighted long, Bright beams of morning spring.

Oh, where is He that trod the sea?

'T is only He can save; To thousands hungering wearily, A wondrous meal He gave: Full soon, celestially fed, Their mystic fare they take; 'T was springtide when He blest the bread, 'T was harvest when He brake.

Oh, where is He that trod the sea?

My soul, the Lord is here: Let all thy fears be hushed in thee; To leap, to look, to hear, Be thine: thy needs He'll satisfy: Art thou diseased, or dumb?

Or dost thou in thy hunger cry?

"I come," saith Christ, "I come."

--_Thomas T. Lynch_.

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JESUS, SAVIOUR, PILOT ME

Jesus, Saviour, pilot me, Over life's tempestuous sea; Unknown waves before me roll, Hiding rock and treacherous shoal; Chart and compa.s.s came from Thee: Jesus, Saviour, pilot me.

As a mother stills her child, Thou canst hush the ocean wild; Boisterous waves obey Thy will When Thou say'st to them "Be still!"

Wondrous Sovereign of the sea.

Jesus, Saviour, pilot me.

When at last I near the sh.o.r.e, And the fearful breakers roar 'Twixt me and the peaceful rest, Then, while leaning on Thy breast, May I hear Thee say to me, "Fear not, I will pilot thee!"

--_E. Hopper_.

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JESUS CALLS US

Jesus calls us: o'er the tumult Of our life's wild, restless sea, Day by day His sweet voice soundeth, Softly, clearly--"Follow Me."

Jesus calls us, from the evil In a world we cannot flee, From each idol that would keep us, Softly, clearly--"Follow Me."

Still in joy and still in sadness We discern our own decree; Still He calls, in cares and pleasures, Softly, clearly--"Follow Me."