Many followed Jesus to hear the Gospel of salvation; from these He chose twelve men who constantly should be with Him; these He called apostles, that is, messengers; for they should be His messengers into all countries to testify about Him.
The names of the twelve apostles are these: 1. Simon, whom the Savior called Peter (that is: the rock); 2. his brother Andrew; 3. James, the son of the fisherman Zebedee; 4. his brother John, the disciple whom Jesus loved; 5. Philip; 6. Bartholomew; 7. Thomas; 8. Matthew; 9. James, son of Alpheus; 10. Judas Thaddeus; 11. Simon Zelotes (that is: the zealous one); and 12. Judas Iscariot, who betrayed the Savior.
These twelve He sent out on short journeys to proclaim to the Jews that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. Two and two went together. Later on He sent out seventy disciples, who also went two and two, to proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. (Matt. 10:1-5; Luke 10:1.)
[61. Jesus and Nicodemus]
One of the Pharisees, a member of the council, was named Nicodemus. He came to Jesus by night and said: Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these signs that Thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered: Except a man be born anew he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus said: How can a man be born when he is old? He can not be born twice? Jesus answered: Verily, verily, I say unto thee: Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. For that which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Nicodemus answered: How can these things be? Jesus answered: Art thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these things? As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up on the cross. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:1-16.)
[62. Jesus and the Woman of Samaria]
Jesus was passing through Samaria, and being wearied with His journey, He sat by the well outside of the city of Sychar. A woman from the city came to draw water. Jesus said unto her: Give me to drink. She answered: How is it that Thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, being a Samaritan woman? For there was bitter enmity between the Jews and the Samaritans. Jesus said: If thou knew who it is that speaketh with thee, thou wouldest have asked Him to give thee to drink, and He would have given thee living water. She answered: Sir, Thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Jesus said: Go, call thy husband. She answered: I have no husband. Jesus answered: Thou saidst well: I have no husband; for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband. The woman said: Sir, I perceive that Thou art a prophet. Where ought we to worship God? We Samaritans believe it must be done on Mount Gerizim, and ye Jews say: It ought to be in Jerusalem. Jesus said: Woman, the hour cometh when no man shall ask about Gerizim and Jerusalem; for God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. The woman answered: When Messiah cometh He will declare unto us all things. Jesus said: I am Messiah. So the woman left her water pot, and went into the city and told what had happened to her; and the men went out to Jesus, and He abode two days in the city, and many believed in Him. And they said to the woman: Now we believe not because of thy speaking, for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Savior of the world. (John 4:1-42.)
[The Parables of Jesus]
[63. The Sower]
A sower went forth to sow, and as he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured them. And some fell upon rocky places, where they had not much earth; and straightway they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth; and when the sun was risen, they were scorched and withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. But some fell upon good ground and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold.