Definitions: Disciple Greek mathetes a learner, one who follows both the teaching and the Teacher Apostle Greek apostolos ambassador of the Gospel, messenger, he that is sent, messenger Quote: Jesus did not choose these 12 to be His associates and companions because of their faith; their faith often faltered. He didn t choose them because of their talent and ability; no one stood out with unusual ability. The disciples represented a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences, but apparently they ad no more leadership potential than those who were not chosen. The one characteristic they all shared was their willingness to obey Jesus. After Jesus ascension, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to carry out special roles in the growth of the early church being a good disciple is simply a matter of following Jesus with a willing heart. (Life 1675) About the Disciples (Life 1676-77): Peter impulsive, bold wrote 1 and 2 Peter. Lesson: Christians falter at times, but when they return to Jesus, He forgives them and strengthens their faith. James, son of Zebedee ambitious, judgmental first disciple to be martyred. Lesson: Christians must be willing to die for Jesus. John, son of Zebedee ambitious, judgmental wrote John, 1-3 John, and Revelations. Would take care of Jesus mother. Lesson: The transforming power of the love of Christ is available to all. Andrew, Peter s brother eager to bring others to Jesus. Lesson: Christians are to tell other people about Jesus. Philip questioning. Lesson: God uses our questions to teach us. Bartholomew (AKA Nathanael) honesty and straightforward. Lesson: Jesus respects honesty in people, even if they challenge Him because of it. Matthew (AKA Levi) despised outcast wrote Matthew. Lesson: Christianity is not for people who they are already good but for people who know they ve failed and want help. Thomas courage and doubt. Lesson: Even when Christians experience serious doubts, Jesus reaches out to them to restore their faith. James, son of Alphaeus. Lesson: Unknown. Thaddaeus (AKA Judas son of James). Lesson: Christians follow Jesus because they believe in Him; they do not always understand the details of God s plan. Simon (AKA Zealot) patriot. Lesson: If we are willing to give up our plans for the future, we can participate in Jesus plans. Judas Iscariot treacherous and greedy. Lesson: Jesus true followers love and obey Him. The deaths of the 12 apostles: Judas Iscariot hanged himself (Matt 27:5) James, son of Zebedee killed by a sword (Acts 12:2) Peter crucified in Rome, head downward Andrew on a cross at Patrae James thrown from a pinnacle of the temple and then beaten to death
Bartholomew flayed alive Thomas run through with a lance Philip hanged against a pillar Matthew slain by a sword Thaddeus shot to death with arrows Simon on a cross in Persia John natural death at an old age in Ephesus Questions: 1. Where is Jesus? (Matt 4:18a) What happened to Him in Matt 3:16-17? What happened to Him in Matt 4:1-11? What message is He sharing? (Matt 4:17; Mark 1:15) 2. Who does He see? (Matt 4:18; Mark 1:16) What is their relationship? (Matt 4:18) What is their occupation? (Matt 4:18) What are they doing? (Matt 4:18) 3. What does He say to them? (Matt 4:19; Mark 1:17; Luke 5:10b) 4. What is their response? (Matt 4:20; Mark 1:18; Luke 5:11) 5. Who does He then see? (Matt 4:21; Mark 1:19) What is their relationship? (Matt 4:21) What are they doing? (Matt 4:21) 6. What is their response? (Matt 4:22; Mark 1:20; Luke 5:11) 7. Who does Jesus call next? (Matt 9:9; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27) What is his occupation? (Matt 9:9) How does he respond to Jesus? (Matt 9:9; Luke 5:28)
8. How does Jesus choose His disciples? (Luke 6:12) 9. How many disciples does Jesus call? (Matt 10:1a; Mark 3:4; Luke 5:13) The number 12 corresponds to the 12 tribes of Israel, showing the continuity between the old religious system and the new one based on Jesus message. (Life 1675) 10. Who are Jesus disciples? (Matt 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 5:14-16) The list of Jesus 12 disciples doesn t give us many details probably because there weren t many impressive details to tell God can use anyone, no matter how insignificant he or she appears. When you feel small and useless, remember that God uses ordinary people to do His extraordinary work. (Life 1610) 11. What 2 powers does He give to them? (Matt 10:1b; Mark 3:15; Luke 9:1) 12. Why does Jesus send them out? (Luke 9:2) The first sending out of the Twelve was a part of their training and was also part of Jesus method of advertising to the nation that the Messiah had arrived. The only means of spreading the news was by word of mouth. These men authenticated their message by special miracles, not only to attract attention but also to indicate to the nation the extraordinary nature of the One whom they proclaimed. (Halley 515-516) 13. How does Mark 6:7 say Jesus sent them out? 14. Matthew 10 Jesus sends out the 12 disciples with the command to: Verse 6 Verse 7 Verse 8 (5 things)
Verses 9-10 Verse 11 Verses 12-13 Verse 14 Verse 16 Verse 17 Verses 18-20 Verse 22 Verse 27 Verse 28 15. What do the disciples preach? (Mark 6:12) 16. What impact do they have? (Mark 6:13; Luke 9:6) 17. What does Jesus do after sending the disciples out? (Matt 11:1) 18. What is the disciples role in the feeling of the 5000 and 4000? (Matt 14:19, 15:36; Mark 6:41, 8:6; Luke 9:16; John 6:11) 19. What does Peter do in Matthew 14:28-29?
What happens when Peter sees the wind? (30) What is Jesus response? (31) 20. Who does Peter say Jesus is in Matt 16:16? (also Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20) How does Peter know this? (17) What is Peter? (18) 21. What does Peter do in Matt 16:22? (also Mark 8:32) What had Jesus been telling them? (21; Mark 8:31) What is His response? (23; Mark 8:33) 22. Which 3 disciples see Jesus transfiguration? (Matt 17:1; Mark 9:2; Luke 9:28) What does Luke 9:28b say Jesus did? Who does Jesus talk to? (3) What does Peter suggest? (4) Why? (Mark 9:6) What is God s response? (5) 23. Why could the disciples not cast the demon out of the epileptic boy? (Matt 17:20a) 24. What does James and John s mother ask Jesus? (Matt 20:21; Mark 10:37) What is Jesus response? (23b; Mark 10:40) What lesson does He teach? (26-27; Mark 10:43-44)
Who does Mark 10:35 say makes this request? 25. What do the disciples ask in Matt 24:3? (also Mark 13:4) Who does Mark 13:3 say asked? 26. What does Judas do in Matt 26:14-15? (also Mark 14:10; Luke 22:4) Why? (Luke 22:3; John 13:2) 27. What does Jesus tell the disciples at the Passover feast? (Matt 26:21; Mark 14:18; John 13:21) Who speaks up in Matt 26:25? What does he say? 28. What does Jesus tell them in Matt 26:31? (also Mark 14:27) Who heartily disagrees? (33; Mark 14:29) What is Jesus response? (34; Mark 14:30; Luke 22:34; John 13:38) What is his response? (35; Mark 14:31) What happens in Matt 26:69-75? (also Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:56-62; John 18:15-18,25-27) 29. Who does Jesus take with Him to be deeply distressed and pray in Gethsemane? (Matt 26:37; Mark 14:33) What are the others doing? (36; Mark 14:32) What does Jesus ask of the three? (38; Mark 14:34) What do they do? (40,43; Mark 14:37,40) Why? (Luke 22:45b)
Who does Jesus specifically call out? (40; Mark 14:37) 30. Who shows up? (Matt 26:47; Mark 14:43) Who does he bring with him? (47; Mark 14:43; John 18:3) How does he greet Jesus? (49; Mark 14:45) What does Jesus call him? (50) What does Peter do? (51; Mark 14:47; Luke 22:50; John 18:10) 31. When Jesus allows Himself to be taken, what do the disciples do? (Matt 26:56b; Mark 14:50) 32. What does Peter do? (Matt 26:58; Mark 14:54; Luke 22:54-55) 33. What is Judas reaction to Jesus torture? (Matt 27:3) What does he realize? (4) What does he do? (5b) 34. What is Mary Magdalene told to do? (Matt 28:7; Mark 16:7) Who does the angle single out in Mark 16:7? What is the disciples reaction? (Mark 16:11; Luke 24:11) What does Luke 24:12 say Peter does? 35. What story do the chief priests bribe the tomb guards to tell? (Matt 28:13) 36. Where do the disciples go? (Matt 28:16) What do they do when they see Jesus? (28:17a) Does everyone believe? (17b) 37. The Great Commission Jesus gives them in Matt 28 includes instructions to 19a
19b 20a 38. How does Peter get his name? (Mark 3:16; Luke 6:14a) What does John 1:42 say is Jesus reaction upon meeting Peter? 39. What does Jesus call the sons of Zebedee? (Mark 3:17) 40. How does Mark 4:41 say the disciples reacted to Jesus rebuking the storm? (also Luke 8:25) 41. Who does Mark 5:37 say was allowed to accompany Jesus to heal Jairus daughter? (also Luke 8:51) 42. What does Mark 6:52 say about the disciples? 43. What does Jesus tell the disciples in Mark 10:33-34? 44. What does Mark 16:14 say about the disciples? What does Jesus do to assure them in Luke 24:39-40? (also John 20:20) Why might He have done this? 45. What did Jesus command them to do in Mark 16:15? 46. What does Mark 16:20 say the disciples did? 47. Luke 5 Jesus meets the fishermen From whose boat does Jesus teach? (3) Upon Jesus word they are overwhelmed with fish. What is Peter s reaction? (8)
What is Peter s relationship with Zebedee s sons? (10) 48. What do Matt 10:2a and Luke 6:13b say is another name for a disciple? 49. What 2 disciples want to command fire down on a Samaritan village that rejects Jesus? (Luke 9:54) What is Jesus response? (56) 50. How many additional disciples does Jesus send out in Luke 10:1? 51. What does Jesus teach in Luke 14:26-27,33 about being His follower? What does He mean by this? 52. What do they ask of Jesus in Luke 17:5? 53. What does Jesus tell Peter in Luke 22:31? What does Jesus pray for Peter? (32a) What will be Peter s saving grace? (32b) 54. What does Jesus tell Philip upon meeting him? (John 1:43) 55. What does Philip tell Nathanael? (John 1:45) What is Nathanael s reaction? (46) What is Jesus reaction to Nathanael? (47) What does Nathanael say upon Jesus saying I saw you? (49) 56. Who does Jesus test in John 6:5?
Why do you think He does this? 57. What does Jesus do in John 13:4-5? What is Peter s reaction? (9) Why does He do this? (10) Why does He do this? (15) 58. How does Jesus identify His betrayer in John 13:26? What does He say? (27) 59. What was Judas role with the disciples? (John 13:29) 60. What does Philip ask of Jesus in John 14:8? What is Jesus reaction? (9-11) 61. What does Jesus give to John in John 19:26-27? 62. Who was not present to see Jesus wounds? (John 20:24) What does he say? (25) What does Jesus say? (27) 63. What do 7 of the disciples do in John 21:3? How does Peter react to the news of Jesus on the shore? (7)
64. What does Jesus ask of Peter three times in John 21:15-17? What does Jesus tell him? (19b) 65. What does Acts 1:3 say about Jesus and the disciples before His resurrection? 66. Who replaces Judas? (Acts 1:26) GOING DEEPER AND PERSONAL APPLICATION: A. Why did Jesus look for and appoint men to accompany Him and help share His message? B. Is it significant that Jesus chooses Peter as His first disciple? [reference Peter s walk with Christ and Matt 16:18] C. Why were the fishermen so willing to leave everything to follow Jesus? Is their response in any way surprising? D. How are the original disciples reactions to Jesus invitation in Matt 4:18-21 important? E. What does Jesus mean when He says he will make them fishers of men? Why would He phrase His invitation this way to them? [reference Matt 4:18-21]
F. Why do you think we are only told of how 5 of the 12 original disciples are called? G. Knowing Judas choice to betray Him, why do you think Jesus called Him to be a disciple? H. Why would Matthew be so willing to follow Jesus? I. Why does Jesus empower the disciples the way He does in Matt 10:1? J. Why does Jesus send the disciples to their own people instead of to the Gentiles (non descendants of Abraham) in Matt 10:6? K. Why are the disciples not allowed to bring provisions while out preaching (as summarized in Mark 6:8)? L. How is Jesus instruction in Matt 10:16 important? M. Why do you think Peter was willing to get out of the boat in Matt 14?
N. Why did Peter get distracted by the wind? How is his reaction comparable to your reaction to adversity? O. Why would God choose Peter to say that Jesus was the saving Christ? P. Why would Peter be so upset by Jesus announcement in Matt 16:21? Q. Why do you think only 3 of the 4 brothers in Matt 4 allowed to be Jesus inner circle? R. Why would Jesus not want the 12 to see His glory as the Messiah in Matt 17? S. What was the unbelief of the disciples in Matt 17:20? T. How does Jesus use the request for honor in Matt 20:21-21 to teach about humility to the disciples? U. Why does Judas ask is it i? to Jesus in Matt 26:21-25? Do you think he is second guessing his choice?
V. How are you like Peter, thinking you won t deny Jesus? Why is this a pride issue? How do we overcome it? W. Why can the disciples not stay awake in Matt 26:40-45? X. Why does Judas bring a multitude with him to arrest Jesus? Y. Why does Jesus call Judas friend in Matt 26:50? Z. Why does Peter deny Jesus in the courtyard? AA. What might Judas have hoped in Matt 27:3? BB. After forsaking Him in Matt 26:56, how do you think they felt at seeing Him resurrected in 28:17? CC. Why does Jesus expand their commission to all nations in Matt 28:19-20?
DD. Do you think the disciples ultimately realized who Jesus was while walking with Him? EE. Why does the Bread of Life identify His betrayer with a piece of bread? Bibliography Halley, Henry, editor. Halley s Bible Handbook. Deluxe Edition. Zondervan, 2007. Life Application Study Bible. New American Standard Version. Zondervan, 2000.