Jesus Chooses His Twelve Apostles

A few days later, Jesus went out to a mountain to pray. He stayed there all night praying to God.

The next morning he called his followers. He chose twelve of them and called them apostles. These are the ones he chose:

Jesus Teaches and Heals the People

Jesus and the apostles came down from the mountain. Jesus stood on a flat place. A large crowd of his followers was there. Also, there were many people from all around Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast cities of Tyre and Sidon.

The Group With Jesus

The next day, Jesus traveled through some cities and small towns. Jesus told the people a message from God, the Good News about God’s kingdom. The twelve apostles were with him.

Also with these women were Joanna, the wife of Chuza (the manager of Herod’s property), Susanna, and many other women. These women used their own money to help Jesus and his apostles.

Jesus Sends His Apostles on a Mission

Jesus called his twelve apostles together. He gave them power to heal sicknesses and power to force demons out of people.

So the apostles went out. They traveled through all the towns. They told the Good News and healed people everywhere.

Jesus Feeds More Than 5000

When the apostles came back, they told Jesus what they had done on their trip. Then he took them away to a town called Bethsaida. There, he and his apostles could be alone together.

Late in the afternoon, the twelve apostles came to Jesus and said, “No one lives in this place. Send the people away. They need to find food and places to sleep in the farms and towns around here.”

But Jesus said to the apostles, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish. Do you want us to go buy food for all these people?” There are too many!

This is why God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send prophets and apostles to them. Some of my prophets and apostles will be killed by evil men. Others will be treated badly.’

How Big Is Your Faith?

The apostles said to the Lord, “Give us more faith!”

Jesus Talks Again About His Death

Then Jesus talked to the twelve apostles alone. He said to them, “Listen, we are going to Jerusalem. Everything that God told the prophets to write about the Son of Man will happen.

The apostles tried to understand this, but they could not; the meaning was hidden from them.

Judas Agrees to Help Jesus’ Enemies

One of Jesus’ twelve apostles was named Judas Iscariot. Satan entered him,

The Lord’s Supper

The time came for them to eat the Passover meal. Jesus and the apostles were together at the table.

Then he took some bread and thanked God for it. He broke off some pieces, gave them to the apostles and said, “This bread is my body that I am giving for you. Eat this to remember me.”

Then the apostles asked each other, “Which one of us would do that?”

Be Like a Servant

Later, the apostles began to argue about which one of them was the most important.

Be Ready for Trouble

Then Jesus said to the apostles, “Remember when I sent you out without money, a bag, or sandals? Did you need anything?” The apostles said, “No.”

Jesus Is Arrested

While Jesus was speaking, a crowd came up. It was led by Judas, one of the twelve apostles. He came over to Jesus to kiss him.

The women left the tomb and went to the eleven apostles and the other followers. They told them everything that happened at the tomb.

These women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and some others. They told the apostles everything that happened.

But the apostles did not believe what they said. It sounded like nonsense.

So the two men got up then and went back to Jerusalem. There they found the followers of Jesus meeting together. The eleven apostles and the people with them