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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. "The Proclamation" runs through Matthew 16:20 (lesson thirty-two). Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Study Tip: Try to apply each passage to your life. Using God's truth to better ourselves is a challenging part of Bible work. But the results are worth the effort. |
Palestine in the time of the Messiah.
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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.
The Gospel According to St. Matthew
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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Matthew 4:12-25
Jesus begins His ministry 12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; 13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. 23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. 25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan. |
Margin notes:
"John was cast into prison." (4:12) - John the Baptist was arrested and cast into prison for condemning Herod Antipas' incestuous marriage to his niece Herodias (Mark 1:14). "And leaving Nazareth." (4:13) - Despite being raised in Nazareth, Jesus left for Capernaum after an angry mob tried to throw Him from a cliff (Luke 4:16-31). "Capernaum." (4:13) - Capernaum (meaning village of Nahum) was a large city on the north-west shore of the Sea of Galilee and the hometown of several disciples. Located on the main highway from Damascus to Acco and Tyre, Capernaum was a bustling center of commerce. It also boasted a thriving fishing industry. A customs station (Matthew 9:9; 17:24; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27) and a large contingent of Roman soldiers were stationed there, and the city became known for its moral excesses. The disciple Peter owned a house in Capernaum, and Jesus made it His center of operations while in Galilee (as prophesized in Isaiah 9:1-2 and discussed in Matthew 4:13-16). Because its citizens witnessed many miracles (Matthew 8:14-16; Mark 1:30-34; Luke 4:38-41) yet still rejected Christ, Jesus denounced the city in Matthew 10:15, 11:23, and Luke 10:15. Its ancient remains have been excavated near the modern-day town of Tell Hum. Among the ruins are the remains of a synagogue unearthed in 1905 by a German archeology team. It could be the same synagogue built by the Roman centurion who begged Jesus for a miracle in Matthew 8:5-8 and Luke 7:1-10). See map above. "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet." (4:14) - Another fulfilled prophecy? To read the prophecy see Isaiah 9:1-2. "Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim." (4:15) - "From that time Jesus began to preach." (4:17) - This is the beginning of Jesus' ministry. "Repent." (4:17) - To repent is to regret, be sorry, be penitent, to turn away from, be remorseful and ask forgiveness, to atone. To change your mind and the direction of your life. To repent is to see the wrong in your past actions and be sorry for them. To accept Christ is to repent. "The kingdom of heaven." (4:17) - Another way of saying the Kingdom of God. "Sea of Galilee." (4:18) - Also called the Sea of Chinnereth (Numbers 34:11; Joshua 12:3; 13:27), Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1) or The Sea of Tiberias (John 6:1; 21:1). The Sea of Galilee is a large freshwater lake, thirteen miles long, seven miles wide, 150 feet deep, and in Jesus' day, it was surrounded by approximately thirty fishing villages. It was the primary source of water for the area and supported a board agricultural base and other industries such as boat manufacturing and tanning. The Sea of Galilee sits 680 feet below sea level in a basin surrounded by mountains and suffers many unexpected storms. According to "Matthew, the Life Change Series," (Published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; pg. 65), "Cool air from the Mediterranean is drawn down through the narrow mountain passes and clashes with the hot, humid air lying over the lake" causing storms that sometimes include twenty-foot waves. "Going on from thence." (4:21) - "Going on from there." "Healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." (4:23) - Jesus performed miracles and healed the sick in an amazing display of love. Many witnesses saw this as irrefutable evidence that Jesus is God. Also see verse 9:35. "Brought unto him all sick people." (4:24) - See Mark 1:32-33. "Divers diseases and torments." (4:24) - "Various diseases and pains." "Those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy." (4:24) - "Those who were insane and those who were paralyzed." "Decapolis." (4:25) - Decapolis is not one town. It is a confederation of ten independent cities located to the east and southeast of the Sea of Galilee. This alliance of cities stretched from the Sea of Galilee southward to Philadelphia (modern day Amman). All but one of the ten cities, Scythopolis (Beth Shan), were located east of the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River. Mentioned three times in the New Testament, Decapolis was populated mainly by Gentiles. In 65 BC the Romans conquered Syria and colonized the area. They rebuilt Decapolis and gave its citizens special privileges. Jesus traveled to Decapolis several times (Mark 7:31). This verse and Mark 5:1-20 tell us that He won many converts in Decapolis. "Judaea." (4:25) - Also called Judea, it is the southern area of Palestine covering approximately two thousand square miles from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River. It is almost fifty percent desert. Jerusalem and Bethlehem were in Judaea. Christianity began in Judaea. It is where Jesus was born, lived, taught, and died. |
There are three additional accounts of Jesus calling His first disciples in Mark 1:16-20, Luke 5:1-11, and John 1:35-42.
New Living Translation
Matthew 4:12-25
The Ministry of Jesus Begins
12 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
13 He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.
14 This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah:
15 "In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali,
beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River,
in Galilee where so many Gentiles live,
16 the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light.
And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow,
a light has shined."
17 From then on Jesus began to preach, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near."
The First Disciples
18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers-Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew-throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living.
19 Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!"
20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.
21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too.
22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
Crowds Follow Jesus
23 Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.
24 News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed-he healed them all.
25 Large crowds followed him wherever he went-people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.
The "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
The Ministry of Jesus Begins
12 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
13 He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.
14 This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah:
15 "In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali,
beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River,
in Galilee where so many Gentiles live,
16 the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light.
And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow,
a light has shined."
17 From then on Jesus began to preach, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near."
The First Disciples
18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers-Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew-throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living.
19 Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!"
20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.
21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too.
22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
Crowds Follow Jesus
23 Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.
24 News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed-he healed them all.
25 Large crowds followed him wherever he went-people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.
The "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (4:17)
"And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them." (4:24)
"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (4:17)
"And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them." (4:24)
Today's Questions:
1. How was the Kingdom of Heaven near? (4:17)
2. Did Simon and Andrew follow Jesus on impulse? (4:20)
Did someone forward this lesson to you? Email [email protected] to receive them directly.
Answers: (Do you agree?)
1. Matthew said the Kingdom of Heaven (Kingdom of God) was near because the King (Jesus) was near. The Kingdom of Heaven began when Jesus arrived on earth with God's plan of salvation. The Kingdom of Heaven won't be fully implemented until Jesus returns. Then, through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God will regain a world in rebellion to his authority.
2. No, as we learn in John 1:35-51, both Simon and Andrew had already heard Jesus speak, and were deeply impacted. When Jesus asked them to follow Him, they were ready to leave their old lives and make a lifetime commitment to the Messiah.
Application thought for the day:
What does this passage teach about sin and repentance?
1. How was the Kingdom of Heaven near? (4:17)
2. Did Simon and Andrew follow Jesus on impulse? (4:20)
Did someone forward this lesson to you? Email [email protected] to receive them directly.
Answers: (Do you agree?)
1. Matthew said the Kingdom of Heaven (Kingdom of God) was near because the King (Jesus) was near. The Kingdom of Heaven began when Jesus arrived on earth with God's plan of salvation. The Kingdom of Heaven won't be fully implemented until Jesus returns. Then, through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God will regain a world in rebellion to his authority.
2. No, as we learn in John 1:35-51, both Simon and Andrew had already heard Jesus speak, and were deeply impacted. When Jesus asked them to follow Him, they were ready to leave their old lives and make a lifetime commitment to the Messiah.
Application thought for the day:
What does this passage teach about sin and repentance?
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to explore hundreds of our original postings.
to explore hundreds of our original postings.
Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen, published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Atlas of the Bible" edited by Joseph L. Gardner, published by Readers Digest, Pleasantville, New York; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The New Testament" Recovery Version published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, California; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The New Scofield Reference Bible" published by Oxford University Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2025 evolke
© 2025 evolke