As Jesus stood by the lake of Gennesaret one day, the people pressed
upon Him to hear the Word of God. He entered Simon Peter’s boat and
taught the people from there. When He had left speaking, He said unto
Peter: Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
Peter answered: We toiled all night, and took nothing; but at Thy word I
will let down the nets. And they enclosed a great multitude of fishes,
and their nets were breaking. And they beckoned unto James and John, who
were in another boat; they came, and they filled both the boats. When
Peter saw this, he fell down at the feet of Jesus and said: Depart from
me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord. But Jesus said to him: Fear not, from
henceforth thou shalt catch men. And they brought the boats to land, and
left all and followed Him. (Luke 5:1-11.)
Many followed Jesus to hear the Gospel of salvation; from these He chose
twelve men who constantly should be with Him; these He called apostles,
that is, messengers; for they should be His messengers into all
countries to testify about Him.
The names of the twelve apostles are these: 1. Simon, whom the Savior
called Peter (that is: the rock); 2. his brother Andrew; 3. James, the
son of the fisherman Zebedee; 4. his brother John, the disciple whom
Jesus loved; 5. Philip; 6. Bartholomew; 7. Thomas; 8. Matthew; 9. James,
son of Alpheus; 10. Judas Thaddeus; 11. Simon Zelotes (that is: the
zealous one); and 12. Judas Iscariot, who betrayed the Savior.
These twelve He sent out on short journeys to proclaim to the Jews that
the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. Two and two went together. Later on
He sent out seventy disciples, who also went two and two, to proclaim
that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. (Matt. 10:1-5; Luke 10:1.)