He began to preach the Gospel — that is, the good tidings of the kingdom of God on earth; He travelled about the towns and villages, and proved His Divine mission and the truth of His doctrine by His holy life, by miracles and prophecies. Those who heard Him were filled with wonder and amazement. Multitudes of people followed Him, praised and extolled Him as the true Messias, and said, 'Never did man speak like this man' (John vii. 46). Jesus selected from His followers twelve men whom He called His Apostles or messengers. They were to be witnesses of His doctrine and works, that, after His ascension into Heaven, they might preach what they had seen and heard of Him to all nations. These are the names of the twelve Apostles: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother; James (the elder), the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew; James (the Less), the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, his brother, sometimes called Jude; Simon, the Chanaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who afterwards betrayed Him. Moreover, He chose seventy-two disciples, 'and He sent them two and two before His face into every city and place, whither He Himself was to come' (Luke x. 1). The twelve Apostles, the seventy-two disciples, and the others who adhered to Jesus, formed the beginning of that society of all the faithful which we call the Church of Christ. He appointed Peter to be the visible Head of His Church on earth, called him the Rock upon which He said He would build His Church, against which the gates of hell should never prevail, and promised him the keys of the kingdom of Heaven (Matt. xvi. 18, 19).
23. [1]Jesus bestowed favors upon the Jews such as no
- ↑ What sort of favors did Jesus confer upon the Jews? How did the Jews behave towards Him? Why did the Scribes and Pharisees especially hate Him? Why did they watch all His words and actions? Could they convict Him of any sin? What special miracle did Jesus perform in the third year of His teaching? What impression did this make on the people? In what words did they express their feelings? What effect did this reception of Jesus produce on His enemies?
