The Bible teaches us that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. He came to earth to teach us about God’s love and to bring salvation to all who believe in Him.
One of the ways He did this was by calling disciples to follow Him. In this article, we will take a closer look at who were the first four disciples Jesus called.
The First Disciples
The first disciples Jesus called were Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John. These four men were fishermen who lived in Galilee. Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
Simon Peter
Simon Peter was originally named Simon but Jesus gave him the name Peter which means “rock”. He was a fisherman and lived in Bethsaida with his brother Andrew. Simon Peter was married and had a mother-in-law whom Jesus healed from a fever.
Fun Fact: Simon Peter is mentioned more times in the New Testament than any other disciple.
Andrew
Andrew was Simon Peter’s brother and also a fisherman from Bethsaida. Andrew was actually a disciple of John the Baptist before he met Jesus. When John pointed out Jesus as “the Lamb of God”, Andrew followed Him and brought his brother Simon to meet Him.
Fun Fact: Andrew is known for being a great evangelist and missionary. He is said to have traveled as far as modern-day Russia to spread the Gospel.
James
James was one of two brothers who were both called by Jesus to be His disciples. James, along with his brother John, were fishing partners with Simon Peter and Andrew. They were known as “Sons of Thunder” because they had fiery tempers.
Fun Fact: James was the first apostle to be martyred for his faith in Jesus. He was beheaded by King Herod Agrippa I in Jerusalem.
John
John was the brother of James and also a fisherman from Galilee. He is often referred to as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. John was the only one of the twelve disciples to witness Jesus’ crucifixion and was given the responsibility of caring for Mary, Jesus’ mother, after His death.
Fun Fact: John went on to write five books in the New Testament: the Gospel of John, three letters (1st, 2nd, and 3rd John), and the book of Revelation.
The Call to Discipleship
Jesus called these four fishermen to follow Him while they were working on their boats. He said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19) They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
These first four disciples were not perfect men but through their relationship with Jesus they were transformed. They became bold witnesses for Christ and played a crucial role in spreading the Gospel message throughout the world.
In Conclusion
The first four disciples Jesus called were Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John. These ordinary fishermen became extraordinary men of God through their obedience to Jesus. We can learn from their example that no matter who we are or where we come from, God can use us for His purposes if we are willing to follow Him.