Matthew 4:12-25
Lesson 6
Lesson 6
Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."
In this lesson:
It has been a year since Jesus was tempted by Satan in lesson five.
"The Proclamation" - the announcement that the Messiah has arrived - it runs through Matthew 16:20 (lesson thirty-two).
Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John.
Study Tip:
Focus on how you can apply each passage to your life. Determining how to use God's truth to better ourselves is the challenging part of Bible work. But the results are worth the effort.
Focus on how you can apply each passage to your life. Determining how to use God's truth to better ourselves is the challenging part of Bible work. But the results are worth the effort.
Who was -
Esaias -
Esaias is the Greek name for the Old Testament prophet Isaiah (meaning Jehovah is salvation) who died in 681 BC. He is considered by many to be the greatest Jewish prophet. Isaiah wrote "The Book of the Prophet Isaiah," which spoke out against hypocrisy (Isaiah 29:13) and idol worship ((Isaiah 2:6-9). In response to Isaiah's warnings, people made insincere religious sacrifices (Isaiah 1:10-17; 29:13) but refused to repent.
Isaiah warned that God would punish Israel for its disobedience (Isaiah 3:1-26). Sure enough, Babylon destroyed Israel and carried many of its citizens away as slaves. Isaiah prophesized that King Cyrus of Persia would free the abducted Jewish people and allow them to return to Jerusalem 80 years before they were taken captive and over 100 years before Cyrus was born. He also predicted that Cyrus would allow the rebuilding of the Temple before it had been destroyed. He prophesied the fall of Babylon 100 years before it rose and the coming of the Messiah (Isaiah 7:14) 700 years before Christ's birth.
The Bible does not tell us how or when Isaiah died, but Jewish history reports that King Manasseh of Judah condemned Isaiah to death. Allegedly, he was found hiding in a hollow cedar tree and sawed in half with the tree. If this is true, then perhaps Hebrews 11:37 is referring to Isaiah. Isaiah is quoted over fifty times in the New Testament.
Simon -
This is Jesus' disciple Simon Peter (2 Peter 1:1), also called Peter, Simeon (Acts 15:14), Simon Bar-jona (Matthew 16:17)
meaning Simon, son of Jonah (Matthew 1:42), or just Simon (Matthew 10:2). The Greek translation for Peter is Petros (meaning rock), the Aramaic is Cephas (John 1:42), and the Latin is Petrus.
Peter was born in Bethsaida (John 1:44) on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee and was the oldest of the twelve disciples. His father, Jona, was also called Jonah or Jonas, (John 21:15-17), and his younger brother was the disciple Andrew (John 1:40; 6:8). Peter was a fisherman in Capernaum (Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16) and partners with James and John (Luke 5:10) when he met Jesus. Bold but uneducated (Acts 4:13), Peter (and Andrew) were the first disciples (Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18) and part of Jesus' inner circle. Jesus used Peter's home as His base whenever He was in Galilee.
Peter wrote the First and Second Epistles of Peter (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1), walked on water (Matthew 14:28-31), performed the miracle at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:1-10), witnessed the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9;
Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36; 2 Peter 1:16-18), the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while waiting from the mob to arrest Him (Mark 14:32-34). Peter rose to resist Jesus' arrest (John 18:10-13), yet within hours he denied knowing the Messiah three times (Matthew 26:69-75; John 18:15-27). After the crucifixion, Peter became the rock on which Jesus built His church (Matthew 16:16-19) and helped spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to Rome. Whenever the Bible lists the twelve disciples/apostles, Peter is always listed first (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19) and Roman Catholics name him as their first Pope. Peter was married (Matthew 8:14; Mark 1:30; Luke 4:38) and brought his wife (Concordia) on his missionary journeys (1 Corinthians 9:5).
Although Jesus told Peter he would be crucified when he "shalt be old" (John 21:18-19), the Bible gives no details of his death. However, the Christian writers Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus (AD 160-220) and Origen Adamantius (AD 185-254) report that Peter was crucified upside down by Nero in Rome about AD 70, approximately three years after writing 2 Peter. An unverified tradition claims that Peter's wife, Concordia, was also martyred for her faith.
Andrew -
Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist (John 1:40) who met Jesus and became one of the original twelve disciples. Born in Bethsaida (John 1:44), Andrew was the son of Jona (also called Jonah or Jonas) and Simon Peter's younger brother (John 6:8). He and Peter were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee when called by Jesus (Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18). It is said that Andrew was crucified in Achaia for refusing to worship pagan gods.
James -
Another of the original twelve disciples. James was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:19; Luke 5:10) and Salome (Mary's sister), Jesus' cousin, and older brother of the disciple John. Born into a wealthy family, James was a fisherman and partner with Peter (Luke 5:10) when Jesus called and made him part of His inner circle. He was allowed to witness the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36), the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42; Luke 8:49-55), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while He waited to be arrested (Matthew 26:37; Mark 14:32-34). Jesus nicknamed James and John the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17) and predicted that James would meet a bloody end (Matthew 20:23; Mark 10:38-39). Sure enough, James was the first of the twelve apostles to die (not counting Judas). He was killed by King Herod as documented in Acts 12:1-2.
Zebedee -
Zebedee was the father of James and John (who Jesus nicknamed "The sons of thunder"). Married to Mary's sister Salome, Zebedee was Jesus' uncle and a Galilean fisherman from Capernaum. Since he owned two boats and had "hired servants" (Mark 1:20), we know he was a man of some means.
John -
One of the original twelve disciples, John was the son of Zebedee ((Matthew 4:21-22; 10:2; Mark 1:19-20; 10:35; Luke 5:10-11) and Salome, the younger brother to the disciple James (Matthew 10:2), and a fisherman when called by Jesus. John's mother Salome and the Virgin Mary were sisters; thus, Jesus was his cousin. John was a Jew, born in Palestine (Bethsaida) into a wealthy family. He was well connected, knew the high priest (John 18:15), and captained a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee. But John gave forsook his wealth, connections, and position to follow the Messiah. Jesus nicknamed John and his brother James the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17). John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; and 21:20 refer to him as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," quite an honor. John is often called the "apostle of love" due to his empathy for his fellow believers. In his writings, he routinely calls Christians "my dear children" (1 John 2:1). Along with Peter and James, John was part of Jesus' inner circle. He sat next to Jesus, leaning on Him at the Last Supper (John 13:23) and was allowed to witness the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), Jesus praying in Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-34), and the Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36). Unlike the other disciples who ran away when Jesus' was arrested, John followed Jesus to Calvary, watched the crucifixion, and stayed by Jesus' side until the end. While dying on the cross, Jesus turned over His mother's care to John (John 19:26-27).
After the crucifixion, John became a driving force for Christianity. Bold yet uneducated (Acts 4:13), John wrote five of the New Testament books; "The Gospel According to ST. John," the Three epistles of John, and the prophetic "The Revelation of John the Divine." Polycarp (the bishop of Smyrna), Papias (bishop of Hierapolis), and Ignatius (bishop of Antioch) were all students of John.
Late in life, the Romans exiled John to the island of Patmos, a Roman penal colony in the Aegean Sea, for preaching the word of God (Revelation 1:9). He was eventually freed and died an old man around AD 98 in Ephesus. But what a life John led. He traveled with Jesus, saw the miracles, heard the sermons, and witnessed the Messiah's suffering, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. He was the last of the original twelve disciples to die and the only one to die a natural death.
Esaias -
Esaias is the Greek name for the Old Testament prophet Isaiah (meaning Jehovah is salvation) who died in 681 BC. He is considered by many to be the greatest Jewish prophet. Isaiah wrote "The Book of the Prophet Isaiah," which spoke out against hypocrisy (Isaiah 29:13) and idol worship ((Isaiah 2:6-9). In response to Isaiah's warnings, people made insincere religious sacrifices (Isaiah 1:10-17; 29:13) but refused to repent.
Isaiah warned that God would punish Israel for its disobedience (Isaiah 3:1-26). Sure enough, Babylon destroyed Israel and carried many of its citizens away as slaves. Isaiah prophesized that King Cyrus of Persia would free the abducted Jewish people and allow them to return to Jerusalem 80 years before they were taken captive and over 100 years before Cyrus was born. He also predicted that Cyrus would allow the rebuilding of the Temple before it had been destroyed. He prophesied the fall of Babylon 100 years before it rose and the coming of the Messiah (Isaiah 7:14) 700 years before Christ's birth.
The Bible does not tell us how or when Isaiah died, but Jewish history reports that King Manasseh of Judah condemned Isaiah to death. Allegedly, he was found hiding in a hollow cedar tree and sawed in half with the tree. If this is true, then perhaps Hebrews 11:37 is referring to Isaiah. Isaiah is quoted over fifty times in the New Testament.
Simon -
This is Jesus' disciple Simon Peter (2 Peter 1:1), also called Peter, Simeon (Acts 15:14), Simon Bar-jona (Matthew 16:17)
meaning Simon, son of Jonah (Matthew 1:42), or just Simon (Matthew 10:2). The Greek translation for Peter is Petros (meaning rock), the Aramaic is Cephas (John 1:42), and the Latin is Petrus.
Peter was born in Bethsaida (John 1:44) on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee and was the oldest of the twelve disciples. His father, Jona, was also called Jonah or Jonas, (John 21:15-17), and his younger brother was the disciple Andrew (John 1:40; 6:8). Peter was a fisherman in Capernaum (Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16) and partners with James and John (Luke 5:10) when he met Jesus. Bold but uneducated (Acts 4:13), Peter (and Andrew) were the first disciples (Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18) and part of Jesus' inner circle. Jesus used Peter's home as His base whenever He was in Galilee.
Peter wrote the First and Second Epistles of Peter (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1), walked on water (Matthew 14:28-31), performed the miracle at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:1-10), witnessed the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9;
Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36; 2 Peter 1:16-18), the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while waiting from the mob to arrest Him (Mark 14:32-34). Peter rose to resist Jesus' arrest (John 18:10-13), yet within hours he denied knowing the Messiah three times (Matthew 26:69-75; John 18:15-27). After the crucifixion, Peter became the rock on which Jesus built His church (Matthew 16:16-19) and helped spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to Rome. Whenever the Bible lists the twelve disciples/apostles, Peter is always listed first (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19) and Roman Catholics name him as their first Pope. Peter was married (Matthew 8:14; Mark 1:30; Luke 4:38) and brought his wife (Concordia) on his missionary journeys (1 Corinthians 9:5).
Although Jesus told Peter he would be crucified when he "shalt be old" (John 21:18-19), the Bible gives no details of his death. However, the Christian writers Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus (AD 160-220) and Origen Adamantius (AD 185-254) report that Peter was crucified upside down by Nero in Rome about AD 70, approximately three years after writing 2 Peter. An unverified tradition claims that Peter's wife, Concordia, was also martyred for her faith.
Andrew -
Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist (John 1:40) who met Jesus and became one of the original twelve disciples. Born in Bethsaida (John 1:44), Andrew was the son of Jona (also called Jonah or Jonas) and Simon Peter's younger brother (John 6:8). He and Peter were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee when called by Jesus (Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18). It is said that Andrew was crucified in Achaia for refusing to worship pagan gods.
James -
Another of the original twelve disciples. James was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:19; Luke 5:10) and Salome (Mary's sister), Jesus' cousin, and older brother of the disciple John. Born into a wealthy family, James was a fisherman and partner with Peter (Luke 5:10) when Jesus called and made him part of His inner circle. He was allowed to witness the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36), the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42; Luke 8:49-55), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while He waited to be arrested (Matthew 26:37; Mark 14:32-34). Jesus nicknamed James and John the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17) and predicted that James would meet a bloody end (Matthew 20:23; Mark 10:38-39). Sure enough, James was the first of the twelve apostles to die (not counting Judas). He was killed by King Herod as documented in Acts 12:1-2.
Zebedee -
Zebedee was the father of James and John (who Jesus nicknamed "The sons of thunder"). Married to Mary's sister Salome, Zebedee was Jesus' uncle and a Galilean fisherman from Capernaum. Since he owned two boats and had "hired servants" (Mark 1:20), we know he was a man of some means.
John -
One of the original twelve disciples, John was the son of Zebedee ((Matthew 4:21-22; 10:2; Mark 1:19-20; 10:35; Luke 5:10-11) and Salome, the younger brother to the disciple James (Matthew 10:2), and a fisherman when called by Jesus. John's mother Salome and the Virgin Mary were sisters; thus, Jesus was his cousin. John was a Jew, born in Palestine (Bethsaida) into a wealthy family. He was well connected, knew the high priest (John 18:15), and captained a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee. But John gave forsook his wealth, connections, and position to follow the Messiah. Jesus nicknamed John and his brother James the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17). John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; and 21:20 refer to him as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," quite an honor. John is often called the "apostle of love" due to his empathy for his fellow believers. In his writings, he routinely calls Christians "my dear children" (1 John 2:1). Along with Peter and James, John was part of Jesus' inner circle. He sat next to Jesus, leaning on Him at the Last Supper (John 13:23) and was allowed to witness the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), Jesus praying in Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-34), and the Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36). Unlike the other disciples who ran away when Jesus' was arrested, John followed Jesus to Calvary, watched the crucifixion, and stayed by Jesus' side until the end. While dying on the cross, Jesus turned over His mother's care to John (John 19:26-27).
After the crucifixion, John became a driving force for Christianity. Bold yet uneducated (Acts 4:13), John wrote five of the New Testament books; "The Gospel According to ST. John," the Three epistles of John, and the prophetic "The Revelation of John the Divine." Polycarp (the bishop of Smyrna), Papias (bishop of Hierapolis), and Ignatius (bishop of Antioch) were all students of John.
Late in life, the Romans exiled John to the island of Patmos, a Roman penal colony in the Aegean Sea, for preaching the word of God (Revelation 1:9). He was eventually freed and died an old man around AD 98 in Ephesus. But what a life John led. He traveled with Jesus, saw the miracles, heard the sermons, and witnessed the Messiah's suffering, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. He was the last of the original twelve disciples to die and the only one to die a natural death.
