1st: Matthew:
Matthew was the son of Alpheus, & was atfirst, a tax-collecter in Capernaum. While tax-collecting, Jesus Christ passed by him & said "Follow me." Matthew immediately stopped his
"previous job" & followed Jesus Christ. From there, he became one of the 12 apostles. Matthew's original name was Levi. Mark 2:14 & Luke 5:27 shows his original name.
The moment Christ called him to follow Him, Matthew made a feast (Reason: of being called to be a disciple & apostle. The feast is listed in Luke 5:29. At this feast, he invited Jesus Christ & his current disciples, so he could get aquainted with them. Afterwards, Matthew was chosen to be anong the 12 apostles. Most memorable notes int he Book of Matthew are:
He wrote of John, the Baptist, setting the path of Jesus Christ
Matthew Ch 3 & Ch 4:11. From Matthew 4:12 to 20:16, are miracles of Jesus Christ & Matthew 20:17-28 is his writing of the crucifixion & resurrection of Jesus Christ. Matthew was the only that wrote of: The three wise men, that came to Jerusalem looking for the newborn, Jesus Christ in Chapter 2 & Judas Iscariot committing suicide, by hanging himself in Chapter 27 & Verse 5.
2nd: Mark: Mark's Gospel wa composed after Matthew, Luke & John. Mark was still young (probably between 25 & 30) when he was with apostles, Paul & Barnabas, in Acts 13, he was called John Mark. Barnabas wanted to bring Mark back, with him & Paul, but Paul dis-agreed. That Barnabas had Mark,as his new partner, to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
3rd: Luke Luke was a Gentile (not Jew!) physician (doctor). & evangelist. Luke wrote 2 Books, Gospel of Luke & Acts of the Apostles. He does not claim to have been an eye-witness of Jesus Christ's ministry as early as Peter, John & Andrew, but to have gone to the best sources of information within his reach, and to have written an orderly narrative (Luke 1:1-4). The authors of the first three Gospels the synoptics wrote independantly of each other. Each wrote his independant narrative, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. + Luke added Theophilus' name (Christian Roman Soldier?) to the Gospel of Luke & Acts of the Apostles (Luke 1:3 & Acts 1:1).
4th: John: had abrother, named James. Their father, was Zebudee. James & John were fishermen, when Jesus Christ called both of the to be two of his twelve apostles. John was doubtless trained in all that constituted the ordinary education of Jewish youth. When he grew up, he followed the occupation of a fisherman, on the Lake of Galilee. When John the Baptist began his ministry in the wilderness of Judea, John, with many others, gathered around John the Baptist, and was deeply influenced by his teaching. There, he heard the announcement, "Behold the Lamb of God," and forthwith on the invitation of Jesus Christ, John (+ Jjames) became two of the twelve disciples. John ranked high among the followers (John 1:36 &37) for a time. John & James then returned to their former avocation, for how long is uncetetain.
Jesus Christ called them a second time (Matthew 4:21 & Luke Chapter 5 & Verses 1 - 11), and now they left their nets permanently and this time, they remained followers and became two more disciples of Jesus Christ. John became one of the innermost circle (Mark 5:57; Matthew 17:1, 26:37 & Mark 13:3). John was he disciple Jesus Christ loved. In zeal and intensity of character he was nicknamed
"Boanerges"(Mark 3:17). This spirit once & again broke out
(Matthew 10:20-24, Mark 10:35-41 & Luke 9:49-54). At the betrayal, he and Peter followed Jesus Christ, but quietly stay back & observe, while the others betake themselves and quickly flee!(John 18:15) At the trial Johk follows Jesus Christ into the council chamber, and thence on to the praetorium (John 18:16, 19 28) and the place Jesus Christ was crucified.
(John 19: 26 & 27). To John and Peter, Mary first conveys tidings of the Resurrection! (Johh 20:2) and they are the first to go and see what her"strange words" mean. After the resurrection, John and Peter returt again to the Sea of Galilee, where the Lord, Jesus Christ reveals himself to them (John 21:1 & 7). We find Peter and Johnfrequently after this together (Acta 3:1 & 4:13) John remained apparently in Jerusalem as the leader of the church there (Acts 15:6 & Galatians 2:9). John's subsequent history is unrecorded. He was not there, however , at the time of Paul's last visit & (Acts 21:15-40). He appears to have retired to Ephesus, but at what time is unknown. The seven churches of Asia were the objects of his special care (Revelation 1:11). He suffered under persecution, and was banished to the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9); whence he again returned to Ephesus where he died of old age, around A.D.98, having outlived all other companions, disciples & followers, even of his mature years. There are many interesting traditions regarding John during his time in Ephasus, but these cannot claim the character of historical truth.
5: 2 most memorable note of John' Gospel are (John 3:16,
"For god so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." & John Chapter 11 Jesus Christ called Lazarus back to life, four days after he died.
6:Gospel of John: The geniuneness of this Gospel i. e., the fact that the apostle John was its author, is beyond all reasonable doubt. In recent times, from about 1820, many attempts have been made to impugn its genuineness, but without success.
PS: John was the only disciple, that was not die as a martyr.
Answered By: Math_Maestro - 11/8/2007 |