Jenny L. Hassell Early Christian traditions describe the regions where the apostles carried the gospel after the Resurrection. While not all details are recorded in Scripture, these traditions reflect how the early church understood the spread of Christianity. Disciple Region/Mission Area Notes Peter Rome Led the church in Rome and was martyred there under Nero. Andrew Greece / … Read more
Several of the Twelve are known by more than one name in the Gospels. This chart shows the alternate names and nicknames given to and used by each. Disciple Alternate Name/Nickname Meaning/Note Scripture Reference Peter Simon; Cephas Jesus renamed Simon as Peter/Cephas, meaning “rock.” John 1:42; Matthew 16:18; Mark 3:16 Andrew — No alternate name … Read more
Only 7 of the 12 have an actual calling story recorded in the Bible. The others simply appear later in lists of the Twelve. Those lists are in:Matthew 10:2-4Mark 3:15-19Luke 6:13-16Acts 1:13 Disciple How Jesus Called Him Scripture Reference Andrew Disciple of John the Baptist who followed Jesus after John said “Behold, the Lamb of … Read more
The Gospels record 37 miracle accounts performed by Jesus, representing 21 distinct miracles, since many are recorded in more than one Gospel. Do you have them memorized? Healings – 23Exorcisms – 6Nature miracles – 8 It should also be noted that John 21:25 says, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which … Read more
Sometimes temptation shows up as the easy way out. After forty days of fasting in the wilderness, Jesus was starving when the Tempter came to Him. The suggestion seemed innocuous. Turn the stones into bread, eat them so you won’t be hungry. Solve the problem. End the hunger. Take the shortcut. But Jesus responded with … Read more
Sometimes it all seems lost. There is no hope at all. Only darkness seems to lie ahead. Two criminals were crucified beside Jesus. One joined the crowd in mocking him. The other saw something different. He admitted his own guilt and recognized that Jesus had done nothing wrong. In the middle of that hopelessness, he … Read more
Sometimes we just get tired of fighting. Conflict arises, and yeah, we could go at it again – but those times when we choose not to are the pinnacle of self-control and often where peace can be found. Isaac’s servants dug a well in the valley, and the local herdsmen immediately claimed it as their … Read more
We’ve all had a moment when doing the right thing costs us immediately. Joseph was a slave in the house of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, when Potiphar’s wife began pressuring him day after day. Joseph could have done it in secret. No one would have ever known. No one would have stopped him. But … Read more
What do you do when everyone around you agrees…and you know they are wrong? There was a prophet named Micaiah who stood before King Ahab while four hundred other prophets promised victory in battle. The king wanted reassurance. The court wanted agreement. But Micaiah refused to adjust the message. He said, “If you ever return … Read more
You’ve felt this before. The moment when you act without guarantees. There was a woman in Jericho who hid two foreign spies in her home while her city prepared for war. The walls were still standing. No trumpet had sounded. No proof had been given. But she had heard enough about Israel’s God to stake … Read more