We the Apostles

By Lonzo Williams

This book was compiled from a paper that was written while I attended seminary college. God revealed that others would gain knowledge and benefit from this work. As I studied in preparation for this book, I was enlightened by this study and wanted to know more beyond this particular assignment. This study and daily research was intense, but it was full circle in God's plan to be written. As you read this book, my prayer for each of you is that this message resonates in your heart and mind. It is my prayer that this study is what you've been searching for. When we keep our eyes on God, we know there is nothing he cannot do, "We, the Apostles" shares insight into the disciples and their time at the feet of Jesus. Today, we are not at Jesus's physical feet, but as we mature in the holy word, we are sitting at his spiritual feet receiving all that we need. My prayer is to make sure we are aware of the special yet serious impact the disciples continue to have on our spiritual lives. I continue to look to God for clarity and wisdom. I also asked for his direction in completion of this work. We as believers must look to God for direction and wisdom in our daily lives. As we look to God, he will lead us in the right direction. I am a firm believer in doing the work for the kingdom of God! Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding… —Proverbs 3:13

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781645448655

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The Twelve Appointed

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother. Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus and Lebbaeus, whose sur­ name was Thaddaeus. Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot who also betrayed Him.

—Matthew 10:2–4

The Twelve Instructed

These twelve Jesus sent forth and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils. Freely ye have received; freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip [no wallet] for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves [staff], for the workman is worthy of his meat [food].’

—Matthew 10:5–10

The Twelve Ordained

And He straightly charged them that they should not make Him known. And He goeth up into the mountain and calleth unto Him whom He would, and they came unto Him. And He ordained twelve that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out devils.

—Mark 3:12–15

The Twelve Sent Forth

And when He had called unto him His twelve disciples, He gave them power [authority] against unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of diseases.

—Matthew 10:1

Peter: The Man of Impulse

The Man of Impulse

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you and peace be multiplied.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

—1 Peter 1:1–5

Peter

He was probably brought up among those who waited for the consolation of Israel for expectation. He lived in Bethsaida, on the coast of Lake of Galilee, and by trade was a fisherman. The new name given implied the claim of authority, somewhat similar to change his name at marriage; it meant a new position and new responsibility.

Christ, at once, linked Simon’s initial coming with his subsequent experience. Conversion was intended to lead to consecration and, therefore to character without any gap. Prompt acceptance by Simon of the new relation and the commencement of the life of discipleship. What grace can do as seen in Simon Peter. The process was long and painful, but the result was certain. We should note so very carefully all the usages of the names Simon and Peter in the New Testament.

After entrance upon discipleship, came the earliest lessons and impressions. After conversion, we find Simon Peter with Jesus at Cana and sharing in the impression of his glory through that first sign. Probably also, he was with Jesus Christ through the Judaean tour of eighteen months, or some part of it, gaining still deeper insight into the master from personal contact.

Here was a hint to young converts of the need of learning before teaching. Then on return to Galilee, Peter seemed to have gone back to his ordinary work of fishing. Now came a second stage, involving call from ordinary discipleship to special ministry. Probably this miracle was used almost exclusively as an appropriate means of the calling of Peter and his fellow fisherman.

After the call to definite ministry involving constant and close association with Jesus, we have to consider the special training of Peter leading up to and immediately following his choice as one of the twelve. It is necessary to study every passage very carefully and to try to realize the particular impression made on him by our Lord and what special aspect of Peter’s character is revealed. We must bear in mind the continuous influence of our Lord on Peter by reason of continuous fellowship, even though now we study only those incidents where Peter is particularly referred to and observe only some of the results of the training.

The revelations of the master to the disciples and the impressions of the master on the disciples were necessarily continuous and ever-deepening, but this constant influence was accentuated from time to time by specially important lessons. Such were the Walking on the Sea, the Feeding of the Five Thousand with the incidents arising out of it, and the discourse on Eating with Unwashed Hands.

Peter’s most constant and pressing need was a deepening trust in his master. This was only possible in proportion as the master revealed himself in fresh aspects of his character. Now Peter was to learn his lesson. Jesus only said, Come, as if permitting rather than (as Peter wished) bidding. He was just allowed to have his own way. So he started, and for a while, all was well. But soon came the test, the state of wind and waves led to fear. Then his faith at once went, and he began to sink. But the master was near, and in an instant, Peter was safe, not however, without a rebuke about his lack of faith Peter had already been reminded of his own sin; now he was reminded of his own weakness.

It was personal; it was doubtless in reference to Peter’s position in the early church. He opened the Kingdom to the Jews and to Gentiles. He exercised disciplinary authority in the case of Ananias and Sapphice and of Simon Magus. Yet this authority to exercise discipline was not unique. Peter’s leadership, however, was undoubted—though the difference between him and the others was one of degree, not of kind.

There is no authority for transmission, and no proof of it, because there is no possibility of it. Nor do we find any supreme authority exercised over the rest of the twelve where Peter was called to account for his action. The commission was a personal recognition of a personal confessions and was a promise and prophecy of special personal work in days to come. After great blessings comes severe discipline.

The testing came to Peter through deeper teaching, new and strange revelations of the master, teaching about the cross. Until now, there had been no definite or clear words about the cross. Nearly two years of the ministry had passed without this revelation. All the earlier allusions had been only vague, veiled, and indirect. Now he spoke openly. Circumstances called for it. Storms threatened, the end was approaching, and above all, the disciples were more spiritually prepared for it after Peter’s confession.

The revelation of the cross at Caesarea Philippi was a great mystery to the disciples. The transfiguration occurred soon afterwards and had a distinct bearing on this conversation of Christ and his disciples. The transfiguration was a landmark in our Lord’s history and in the history of the disciples.

It stands midway between the incarnation and the ascension, and it is the justification of our faith in the one and the warrant of our faith in the other.

The transfiguration was thus the direct result of communion with and the communication from God. It affected both his appearance and raiment. It was the glorification of his humanity by his divinity.

From the Mount of Transfiguration to the Valley of Duty. After high communion and new teaching comes daily living. Our Lord’s Training of the Twelve in henceforth concerned either with the cross or with the true spirit and character of his followers.

The acknowledgment of God’s claims, the duty of God’s people to uphold their sanctuary. In our Lord’s case, the contrast between the transfiguration and taxation is striking and very suggestive. It was indeed a call to humility in a definite shape and concrete form. The day before the crucifixion was particularly full of deep lessons for Peter.

He, with John, had been sent to prepare the Passover, and now, we turn to the consideration of the solemn teaching of the upper room so far as it concerned Peter directly. The hours spent in the upper room were fraught with deep meaning to Peter and were filled with lessons which, when illuminated later by the Holy Spirit, became prominent factors in his experience.

From the upper room, we pass to Gethsemane and notice how the disciples behaved after all the wonderful teaching and influence of those hallowed hours. Peter’s denial of his master was at once the climax of his sin and the occasion of a new start. It was, therefore, a pivot in his career and demanded very careful stud and, still more, very earnest meditation.

In connection with the commission to Peter already considered, we find our Lord revealing to his servant some of the secrets of true service in the need of power and character and faithfulness. His whole life was laid open, and the true attitude of the disciple’s future was contrasted with his past. The time between the resurrection and ascension must have had a profound and important influence on Simon Peter’s life.

The appearances of our Lord and his instructions enabled the apostle to understand what before had been mysterious and to enter more fully into his master’s purpose. Then came the ten days between ascension and Pentecost.

The similarity of thought and contents corroborates this fact, and the testimony of the Christian church for over seventeen centuries has borne witness to it. While for some years, it was questioned, yet the most exacting scrutiny of the church compelled it on the basis of incontrovertible evidence; it admitted it into the canon of the Scriptures.

While it is true, the Scriptures had their first meaning and applications to those to whom they were written, they nevertheless because they set forth eternal principles of righteousness, truth, and faith in, by and under which God deals with his people of all ages have always their present-day applications and apply equally to those of any day.

One cannot help but wonder if Peter was thinking not only of the faith which Christ had in him when he prayed for him—that thy faith fails no—but also that Gentiles who believed in Christ were alike and equally precious to God in Christ as even Israel was.

It is the same thought as