Jesus and the Twelve · The early church
John, son of Zebedee
Fisherman called as a disciple
- 14
- Events
- 8
- Places
- 5
- Journeys
Editorial summary
Called with his brother James from their boat on the Sea of Galilee. In Acts he went up to the temple with Peter, stood with him before the council, and was sent with him to Samaria.
Scripture
Journeys
5Where their story unfolds
8- Sea of GalileeSea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret)
- CapernaumKfar Nahum (Tell Hum)
- GalileeGalileeApproximate location. A region or area. The marker is only a representative point.
- JerusalemOld City of Jerusalem
- GethsemaneGarden of Gethsemane, beside the Church of All NationsTraditional site. Located by long-standing tradition rather than firm evidence.
- Mount of OlivesMount of Olives
- Temple MountTemple Mount (Haram al-Sharif)
- SamariaCentral hill country north of JerusalemApproximate location. A region or area. The marker is only a representative point.
Where they appear
14Calling the fishermen
Walking beside the Sea of Galilee, Jesus called Simon and Andrew, then James and John, to follow him. They left their nets and their boat and went after him.
Teaching with authority in Capernaum
On the Sabbath Jesus taught in the synagogue at Capernaum. The people were astonished at his authority, especially when he commanded an unclean spirit to come out of a man.
Peter’s mother-in-law healed
Coming out of the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus went with Simon, Andrew, James and John into the house of Simon and Andrew, where Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever. He took her by the hand and raised her up; the fever left her, and she served them.
Appointing the Twelve
Jesus went up into the mountain and appointed twelve to be with him and to be sent out to preach: Simon, whom he named Peter; James son of Zebedee and his brother John; Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot.
Jairus’ daughter raised
By the sea, Jairus, a synagogue ruler, begged Jesus to heal his dying daughter. On the way a woman who had bled for twelve years touched his clothes and was healed. Though the girl was reported dead, Jesus went to the house with Peter, James and John, took her by the hand, and she rose.
The Last Supper
On the first day of Unleavened Bread, disciples prepared the Passover in a large upper room in the city. As they ate, Jesus took bread and the cup, gave thanks and gave them to his disciples.
Prayer and arrest in Gethsemane
After the supper Jesus went to Gethsemane and prayed in deep distress while Peter, James and John slept. Judas arrived with an armed crowd and identified him with a kiss, and the disciples fled.
Breakfast by the Sea of Tiberias
Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee and two other disciples fished all night and caught nothing. At dawn Jesus, unrecognized on the beach, told them where to cast the net, and it filled with fish. The disciple whom Jesus loved said it was the Lord, and Jesus gave them bread and fish.
The ascension
Acts says that as the apostles watched, Jesus was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight. Two men in white clothing told them he would come back in the same way, and they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet.
Praying in the upper room
After the ascension the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet and went up to the upper room where they were staying. They continued steadfastly in prayer along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
The Holy Spirit at Pentecost
At Pentecost a sound like a mighty wind filled the house, and tongues like fire rested on each of them. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they spoke in other languages, which devout Jews from every nation heard as their own. Peter, standing with the Eleven, addressed the crowd, and about three thousand were baptized.
A lame man healed at the temple
At the hour of prayer a man lame from birth asked Peter and John for gifts at the temple door called Beautiful. Peter told him in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth to walk, and he went into the temple walking, leaping and praising God. In Solomon’s porch Peter spoke to the amazed crowd.
Peter and John before the council
As Peter and John spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple and the Sadducees arrested them. The next day, before the rulers, elders and scribes, with Annas and Caiaphas present, Peter said the man had been healed in the name of Jesus. The council threatened them and let them go.
Peter and John in Samaria
Hearing that Samaria had received the word of God, the apostles in Jerusalem sent Peter and John, who prayed for the believers and laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Simon offered money for this power, and Peter rebuked him. Peter and John then returned to Jerusalem, preaching in many Samaritan villages.