First Six Apostles 

On Saturday, February 23, 26 CE, Jesus returned from his forty-day sojourn in the wilderness and rejoined the camp of John the Baptist at Pella. One of John’s followers, Andrew, had known Jesus for a while, and he was profoundly impressed with him. Jesus was heading to Pella to return an injured boy to his family, and Andrew went with him. On their way back, Andrew asked many questions and then said: "I have observed you ever since you came to Capernaum, and I believe you are the new teacher, and though I do not understand all your teaching, I have fully made up my mind to follow you; I would sit at your feet and learn the whole truth about the new kingdom." Jesus wholeheartedly welcomed Andrew as his first apostle.

Andrew had an enthusiastic brother named Simon, who was one of John’s leading disciples. Andrew told Simon that he had decided that Jesus was the great teacher that John talked about. He told him that he had offered his service to Jesus and that Jesus had accepted him. He suggested that Simon do the same. Simon answered: "Ever since this man came to work in Zebedee’s shop, I have believed he was sent by God, but what about John? Are we to forsake him? Is this the right thing to do?" So the brothers went to John to consult with him. John was sad to know that he was losing two of his best disciples, but said: "This is but the beginning; presently will my work end, and we shall all become his disciples."

Then Andrew told Jesus that his brother was also interested in joining himself in service to the new kingdom. Jesus welcomed Simon as his second apostle, saying: "Simon, your enthusiasm is commendable, but it is dangerous to the work of the kingdom. I admonish you to become more thoughtful in your speech. I would change your name to Peter."

After Jesus left the brothers Andrew and Simon Peter, he went to Pella to stay with the parents of the boy he had healed earlier. Meanwhile, James and John Zebedee, having searched for Jesus in vain, learned that Andrew and Simon had become his first apostles and were about to leave for Galilee. Feeling slighted and worried, they hurried to find Jesus in Pella. When they discovered him asleep, they awakened him and expressed their concerns, asking why Andrew and Simon were chosen over them.

Jesus reassured them, advising calmness and redirecting their search inward for the secrets of the new kingdom. He reminded them they were already part of the kingdom in spirit and encouraged them to be of good cheer. John, still concerned about their status as associates in the new kingdom, received Jesus' assurance that they were already numbered in the councils of the kingdom. James and John, no longer jealous, happily prepared to depart for Galilee with Jesus the next morning, marking the beginning of the term "apostle" to distinguish Jesus' chosen advisers from the multitude of disciples.

On a Sunday morning, February 24, 26 CE, Jesus and his four new apostles were on their way to Galilee when they encountered Philip of Bethsaida and his friend Nathaniel. Philip, familiar to the new apostles and admired by Jesus, was delighted to meet them. Upon learning about their association with Jesus in the new kingdom, Peter urged Philip to volunteer his services. Feeling the weight of the decision, Philip, in a sudden moment, considered Jesus possibly being the awaited Messiah. Andrew suggested he ask Jesus directly.

Approaching Jesus, Philip asked whether he should go to John or join his friends following Jesus. Jesus simply replied, "Follow me," filling Philip with assurance that he had found the Deliverer. Meanwhile, Nathaniel, sitting under a mulberry tree, pondered John the Baptist's teachings about the coming kingdom and the Messiah. Philip excitedly informed him about finding the Deliverer in Jesus of Nazareth, the carpenter from Capernaum. Initially skeptical of Nazareth, Nathaniel, upon meeting Jesus, was surprised by the Master's discernment and acknowledged him as a true leader. Jesus welcomed Nathaniel, saying, "Follow me," and Nathaniel, recognizing Jesus as a master of men, expressed his willingness to follow if deemed worthy.

The next day, Jesus sent his apostles to Cana since all of them were invited to the wedding of a prominent young woman in that town while he went to visit his mother and his brother, Jude. Jesus was the honored guest, and the anticipation among the guests, including his six newly chosen apostles, was palpable. Many expected Jesus to showcase his reputed abilities as the Deliverer preached by John the Baptist. However, as the wedding ceremony concluded without any apparent miraculous acts, a sense of curiosity and expectation lingered. Just before the wedding supper, Jesus gathered his six apostles and conveyed a crucial message: his purpose was not to perform wonders for mere spectacle but to align with the divine will of his Father in heaven.

Despite this proclamation, the unexpected occurred when, just after Jesus' words, water was miraculously transformed into wine. The following day, Jesus and the six apostles left abruptly, heading to Zebedee’s home in Bethsaida. During the journey, Jesus engaged them in discussions about the kingdom and cautioned against divulging the water-to-wine miracle. That evening, a significant meeting unfolded where Jesus attempted to explain and clarify his identity, mission, and potential outcome. The apostles, entrenched in preconceived notions of the Messiah, were left speechless and bewildered. Although initially thrilled to be in Jesus' close circle, their struggle to comprehend his true nature cast a shadow over their happiness. The next morning, Jesus gathered his friends for breakfast and disclosed that it was God’s will to await the completion of John's preaching before initiating the proclamation of the kingdom. He assured them of his presence at the synagogue the following day, where he intended to speak.

On the Sabbath, March 2, 26 CE, Jesus went to the Capernaum synagogue for his first public appearance since his baptism. Despite heightened expectations fueled by reports of the Cana wedding, Jesus conducted an ordinary service, leaving the audience disappointed. Later that day, Jesus, along with his six apostles and brothers James and Jude, ventured onto a boat. Rowing down the shore, he elaborated on the impending kingdom, fostering a deeper understanding among his followers. Instructing them to return to their regular work until the kingdom's arrival, Jesus emphasized the need for patient preparation and cautioned against seeking sensational signs, emphasizing the kingdom's subtle transformation within their hearts. Acknowledging the challenges ahead, he urged them to maintain joy in service while anticipating tribulations, reinforcing the inevitability of stumbling blocks in spreading the kingdom's message.

As Jesus set an example by resuming his work in the boatshop, he imparted a vision of laboring for a generation seeking signs. Emphasizing the importance of a genuine revelation of the Father's love over flashy miracles, he prepared his followers for the world's slow recognition of his divine mission. Despite their limited understanding, he cautioned them against false hope and affirmed the challenging yet fulfilling journey ahead. Returning to the shore, Jesus stood by the water, praying for unity among his followers, expressing gratitude for their belief amid doubts, and consecrating himself for the Father's will.

For four months: March, April, May, and June of 26 CE, Jesus met with his six apostles and his brother James more than one hundred times. These meetings were long sessions full of cheer and joy while also very intense and serious. During these months of training, the new apostles were getting to know Jesus better and getting used to the idea of living with him. They called him Rabbi, but they were not afraid of him. They all found it easy to be "friends with God" incarnated in human form.

Nothing extraordinary happened, nor did anything miraculous occur. All of the men went about their work during the day, and night after night, they sat at Jesus’ feet. Two of those evenings were spent at the synagogue studying Hebrew scripture. They were all eager to begin doing the work of the kingdom, and this waiting time was hard for all of them. But what kept them all together was Jesus’ graceful personality, which was beyond compare, and the gracious words that he spoke to them every day. Years later, the apostles looked back upon these four months as the most precious of all their association with the Master.

On Tuesday, June 18, 26 CE, when Jesus was at work in the boatshop, Simon Peter brought him the news that John the Baptist had been arrested. Jesus laid down his tools, removed his apron, and said to Peter: "The Father’s hour has come. Let us make ready to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom." The next day, James arranged with the ruler of the synagogue for Jesus to speak on the Sabbath.

On Sabbath, June 22, shortly before they went out on their first preaching tour and about ten days after John’s imprisonment, Jesus occupied the synagogue pulpit for the second time since bringing his apostles to Capernaum. Jesus preached this memorable sermon on the kingdom of God, the first outward effort of his public career.

Later that afternoon, Jesus gathered the six apostles and outlined his plans for visiting cities around the Sea of Galilee. The following day, Jesus provided final instructions for their two-week tour, sending them out in pairs to teach the kingdom's glad tidings. Emphasizing personal interaction over public preaching or baptisms, the apostles, though somewhat disappointed, embarked on the journey with enthusiasm. Jesus expressed his desire for a total of twelve apostles and authorized each of the six to choose a new member from among the early converts. Assuring equal status, Jesus instructed the six to teach the chosen ones everything about the kingdom.

Before their departure, the apostles, led by Andrew, acknowledged the wisdom in Jesus' decision, recognizing the need for more workers. Despite the anticipation of challenges and a sense of uneasiness, the six apostles accepted their new roles and the expanding vision for the kingdom's work.

This first missionary tour of the six was exceptionally successful. Upon their return, Andrew called upon them one at a time as they made their formal reports and presented their nominations for the six new apostles.

After each man had presented his selection for the new apostolic corps, Jesus asked all the others to vote upon the nomination. And all six of the new apostles were formally accepted by all of the older six. Then Jesus announced that they would visit these candidates all together and give them the call to service the next day.