The Urantia Book
PAPER 138
TRAINING THE KINGDOM'S MESSENGERS
138:0.1 AFTER preaching the sermon on "The
Kingdom," Jesus called the six apostles together that afternoon
and began to disclose his plans for visiting the cities around and
about the Sea of Galilee. His brothers James and Jude were very
much hurt because they were not called to this conference. Up to
this time they had regarded themselves as belonging to Jesus'
inner circle of associates. But Jesus planned to have no close
relatives as members of this corps of apostolic directors of the
kingdom. This failure to include James and Jude among the chosen
few, together with his apparent aloofness from his mother ever
since the experience at Cana, was the starting point of an
ever-widening gulf between Jesus and his family. This situation
continued throughout his public ministry -- they very nearly
rejected him -- and these differences were not fully removed until
after his death and resurrection. His mother constantly wavered
between attitudes of fluctuating faith and hope, and increasing
emotions of disappointment, humiliation, and despair. Only Ruth,
the youngest, remained unswervingly loyal to her father-brother.
138:0.2 Until after the resurrection, Jesus'
entire family had very little to do with his ministry. If a
prophet is not without honor save in his own country, he is not
without understanding appreciation save in his own family.
1. FINAL INSTRUCTIONS
138:1.1 The next day, Sunday, June 23, A.D. 26,
Jesus imparted his final instructions to the six. He directed them
to go forth, two and two, to teach the glad tidings of the
kingdom. He forbade them to baptize and advised against public
preaching. He went on to explain that later he would permit them
to preach in public, but that for a season, and for many reasons,
he desired them to acquire practical experience in dealing
personally with their fellow men. Jesus purposed to make their
first tour entirely one of personal work. Although this
announcement was something of a disappointment to the apostles,
still they saw, at least in part, Jesus' reason for thus beginning
the proclamation of the kingdom, and they started out in good
heart and with confident enthusiasm. He sent them forth by twos,
James and John going to Kheresa, Andrew and Peter to Capernaum,
while Philip and Nathaniel went to Tarichea.
138:1.2 Before they began this first two weeks
of service, Jesus announced to them that he desired to ordain
twelve apostles to continue the work of the kingdom after his
departure and authorized each of them to choose one man from among
his early converts for membership in the projected corps of
apostles. John spoke up, asking: "But, Master, will these six men
come into our midst and share all things equally with us who have
been with you since the Jordan and have heard all your teaching in
preparation for this, our first labor for the kingdom?" And Jesus
replied: "Yes, John, the men you choose shall become one with us,
and you will teach them all that pertains to the kingdom, even as
I have taught you." After thus speaking, Jesus left them.
138:1.3 The six did not separate to go to their
work until they had exchanged many words in discussion of Jesus'
instruction that each of them should choose a new apostle.
Andrew's counsel finally prevailed, and they went forth to their
labors. In substance Andrew said: "The Master is right; we are too
few to encompass this work. There is need for more teachers, and
the Master has manifested great confidence in us inasmuch as he
has intrusted us with the choosing of these six new apostles."
This morning, as they separated to go to their work, there was a
bit of concealed depression in each heart. They knew they were
going to miss Jesus, and besides their fear and timidity, this was
not the way they had pictured the kingdom of heaven being
inaugurated.
138:1.4 It had been arranged that the six were
to labor for two weeks, after which they were to return to the
home of Zebedee for a conference. Meantime Jesus went over to
Nazareth to visit with Joseph and Simon and other members of his
family living in that vicinity. Jesus did everything humanly
possible, consistent with his dedication to the doing of his
Father's will, to retain the confidence and affection of his
family. In this matter he did his full duty and more.
138:1.5 While the apostles were out on this
mission, Jesus thought much about John, now in prison. It was a
great temptation to use his potential powers to release him, but
once more he resigned himself to "wait upon the Father's will."
2. CHOOSING THE SIX
138:2.1 This first missionary tour of the six
was eminently successful. They all discovered the great value of
direct and personal contact with men. They returned to Jesus more
fully realizing that, after all, religion is purely and wholly a
matter of personal experience. They began to sense how
hungry were the common people to hear words of religious comfort
and spiritual good cheer. When they assembled about Jesus, they
all wanted to talk at once, but Andrew assumed charge, and as he
called upon them one by one, they made their formal reports to the
Master and presented their nominations for the six new apostles.
138:2.2 Jesus, after each man had presented his
selection for the new apostleships, asked all the others to vote
upon the nomination; thus all six of the new apostles were
formally accepted by all of the older six. Then Jesus announced
that they would all visit these candidates and give them the call
to service.
138:2.3 The newly selected apostles were:
138:2.4 1. Matthew Levi, the customs
collector of Capernaum, who had his office just to the east of the
city, near the borders of Batanea. He was selected by Andrew.
138:2.5 2. Thomas Didymus, a fisherman of
Tarichea and onetime carpenter and stone mason of Gadara. He was
selected by Philip.
138:2.6 3. James Alpheus, a fisherman and
farmer of Kheresa, was selected by James Zebedee.
138:2.7 4. Judas Alpheus, the twin
brother of James Alpheus, also a fisherman, was selected by John
Zebedee.
138:2.8 5. Simon Zelotes was a high
officer in the patriotic organization of the Zealots, a position
which he gave up to join Jesus' apostles. Before joining the
Zealots, Simon had been a merchant. He was selected by Peter.
138:2.9 6. Judas Iscariot was an only son
of wealthy Jewish parents living in Jericho. He had become
attached to John the Baptist, and his Sadducee parents had
disowned him. He was looking for employment in these regions when
Jesus' apostles found him, and chiefly because of his experience
with finances, Nathaniel invited him to join their ranks. Judas
Iscariot was the only Judean among the twelve apostles.
138:2.10 Jesus spent a full day with the six,
answering their questions and listening to the details of their
reports, for they had many interesting and profitable experiences
to relate. They now saw the wisdom of the Master's plan of sending
them out to labor in a quiet and personal manner before the
launching of their more pretentious public efforts.
3. THE CALL OF MATTHEW AND SIMON
138:3.1 The next day Jesus and the six went to
call upon Matthew, the customs collector. Matthew was awaiting
them, having balanced his books and made ready to turn the affairs
of his office over to his brother. As they approached the toll
house, Andrew stepped forward with Jesus, who, looking into
Matthew's face, said, "Follow me." And he arose and went to his
house with Jesus and the apostles.
138:3.2 Matthew told Jesus of the banquet he had
arranged for that evening, at least that he wished to give such a
dinner to his family and friends if Jesus would approve and
consent to be the guest of honor. And Jesus nodded his consent.
Peter then took Matthew aside and explained that he had invited
one Simon to join the apostles and secured his consent that Simon
be also bidden to this feast.
138:3.3 After a noontide luncheon at Matthew's
house they all went with Peter to call upon Simon the Zealot, whom
they found at his old place of business, which was now being
conducted by his nephew. When Peter led Jesus up to Simon, the
Master greeted the fiery patriot and only said, "Follow me."
138:3.4 They all returned to Matthew's home,
where they talked much about politics and religion until the hour
of the evening meal. The Levi family had long been engaged in
business and tax gathering; therefore many of the guests bidden to
this banquet by Matthew would have been denominated "publicans and
sinners" by the Pharisees.
138:3.5 In those days, when a reception-banquet
of this sort was tendered a prominent individual, it was the
custom for all interested persons to linger about the banquet room
to observe the guests at meat and to listen to the conversation
and speeches of the men of honor. Accordingly, most of the
Capernaum Pharisees were present on this occasion to observe
Jesus' conduct at this unusual social gathering.
138:3.6 As the dinner progressed, the joy of the
diners mounted to heights of good cheer, and everybody was having
such a splendid time that the onlooking Pharisees began, in their
hearts, to criticize Jesus for his participation in such a
lighthearted and carefree affair. Later in the evening, when they
were making speeches, one of the more malignant of the Pharisees
went so far as to criticize Jesus' conduct to Peter, saying: "How
dare you to teach that this man is righteous when he eats with
publicans and sinners and thus lends his presence to such scenes
of careless pleasure making." Peter whispered this criticism to
Jesus before he spoke the parting blessing upon those assembled.
When Jesus began to speak, he said: "In coming here tonight to
welcome Matthew and Simon to our fellowship, I am glad to witness
your lightheartedness and social good cheer, but you should
rejoice still more because many of you will find entrance into the
coming kingdom of the spirit, wherein you shall more abundantly
enjoy the good things of the kingdom of heaven. And to you who
stand about criticizing me in your hearts because I have come here
to make merry with these friends, let me say that I have come to
proclaim joy to the socially downtrodden and spiritual liberty to
the moral captives. Need I remind you that they who are whole need
not a physician, but rather those who are sick? I have come, not
to call the righteous, but sinners."
138:3.7 And truly this was a strange sight in
all Jewry: to see a man of righteous character and noble
sentiments mingling freely and joyously with the common people,
even with an irreligious and pleasure-seeking throng of publicans
and reputed sinners. Simon Zelotes desired to make a speech at
this gathering in Matthew's house, but Andrew, knowing that Jesus
did not want the coming kingdom to become confused with the
Zealots' movement, prevailed upon him to refrain from making any
public remarks.
138:3.8 Jesus and the apostles remained that
night in Matthew's house, and as the people went to their homes,
they spoke of but one thing: the goodness and friendliness of
Jesus.
4. THE CALL OF THE TWINS
138:4.1 On the morrow all nine of them went by
boat over to Kheresa to execute the formal calling of the next two
apostles, James and Judas the twin sons of Alpheus, the nominees
of James and John Zebedee. The fisherman twins were expecting
Jesus and his apostles and were therefore awaiting them on the
shore. James Zebedee presented the Master to the Kheresa
fishermen, and Jesus, gazing on them, nodded and said, "Follow
me."
138:4.2 That afternoon, which they spent
together, Jesus fully instructed them concerning attendance upon
festive gatherings, concluding his remarks by saying: "All men are
my brothers. My Father in heaven does not despise any creature of
our making. The kingdom of heaven is open to all men and women. No
man may close the door of mercy in the face of any hungry soul who
may seek to gain an entrance thereto. We will sit at meat with all
who desire to hear of the kingdom. As our Father in heaven looks
down upon men, they are all alike. Refuse not therefore to break
bread with Pharisee or sinner, Sadducee or publican, Roman or Jew,
rich or poor, free or bond. The door of the kingdom is wide open
for all who desire to know the truth and to find God."
138:4.3 That night at a simple supper at the
Alpheus home, the twin brothers were received into the apostolic
family. Later in the evening Jesus gave his apostles their first
lesson dealing with the origin, nature, and destiny of unclean
spirits, but they could not comprehend the import of what he told
them. They found it very easy to love and admire Jesus but very
difficult to understand many of his teachings.
138:4.4 After a night of rest the entire party,
now numbering eleven, went by boat over to Tarichea.
5. THE CALL OF THOMAS AND JUDAS
138:5.1 Thomas the fisherman and Judas the
wanderer met Jesus and the apostles at the fisher-boat landing at
Tarichea, and Thomas led the party to his near-by home. Philip now
presented Thomas as his nominee for apostleship and Nathaniel
presented Judas Iscariot, the Judean, for similar honors. Jesus
looked upon Thomas and said: "Thomas, you lack faith;
nevertheless, I receive you. Follow me." To Judas Iscariot the
Master said: "Judas, we are all of one flesh, and as I receive you
into our midst, I pray that you will always be loyal to your
Galilean brethren. Follow me."
138:5.2 When they had refreshed themselves,
Jesus took the twelve apart for a season to pray with them and to
instruct them in the nature and work of the Holy Spirit, but again
did they largely fail to comprehend the meaning of those wonderful
truths which he endeavored to teach them. One would grasp one
point and one would comprehend another, but none of them could
encompass the whole of his teaching. Always would they make the
mistake of trying to fit Jesus' new gospel into their old forms of
religious belief. They could not grasp the idea that Jesus had
come to proclaim a new gospel of salvation and to establish a new
way of finding God; they did not perceive that he was a new
revelation of the Father in heaven.
138:5.3 The next day Jesus left his twelve
apostles quite alone; he wanted them to become acquainted and
desired that they be alone to talk over what he had taught them.
The Master returned for the evening meal, and during the
after-supper hours he talked to them about the ministry of
seraphim, and some of the apostles comprehended his teaching. They
rested for a night and the next day departed by boat for
Capernaum.
138:5.4 Zebedee and Salome had gone to live with
their son David so that their large home could be turned over to
Jesus and his twelve apostles. Here Jesus spent a quiet Sabbath
with his chosen messengers; he carefully outlined the plans for
proclaiming the kingdom and fully explained the importance of
avoiding any clash with the civil authorities, saying: "If the
civil rulers are to be rebuked, leave that task to me. See that
you make no denunciations of Caesar or his servants." It was this
same evening that Judas Iscariot took Jesus aside to inquire why
nothing was done to get John out of prison. And Judas was not
wholly satisfied with Jesus' attitude.
6. THE WEEK OF INTENSIVE TRAINING
138:6.1 The next week was devoted to a program
of intense training. Each day the six new apostles were put in the
hands of their respective nominators for a thoroughgoing review of
all they had learned and experienced in preparation for the work
of the kingdom. The older apostles carefully reviewed, for the
benefit of the younger six, Jesus' teachings up to that hour.
Evenings they all assembled in Zebedee's garden to receive Jesus'
instruction.
138:6.2 It was at this time that Jesus
established the mid-week holiday for rest and recreation. And they
pursued this plan of relaxation for one day each week throughout
the remainder of his material life. As a general rule, they never
prosecuted their regular activities on Wednesday. On this weekly
holiday Jesus would usually take himself away from them, saying:
"My children, go for a day of play. Rest yourselves from the
arduous labors of the kingdom and enjoy the refreshment that comes
from reverting to your former vocations or from discovering new
sorts of recreational activity." While Jesus, at this period of
his earth life, did not actually require this day of rest, he
conformed to this plan because he knew it was best for his human
associates. Jesus was the teacher -- the Master; his associates
were his pupils -- disciples.
138:6.3 Jesus endeavored to make clear to his
apostles the difference between his teachings and his life
among them and the teachings which might subsequently spring
up about him. Said Jesus: "My kingdom and the gospel
related thereto shall be the burden of your message. Be not
sidetracked into preaching about me and about my
teachings. Proclaim the gospel of the kingdom and portray my
revelation of the Father in heaven but do not be misled into the
bypaths of creating legends and building up a cult having to do
with beliefs and teachings about my beliefs and teachings."
But again they did not understand why he thus spoke, and no man
dared to ask why he so taught them.
138:6.4 In these early teachings Jesus sought to
avoid controversies with his apostles as far as possible excepting
those involving wrong concepts of his Father in heaven. In all
such matters he never hesitated to correct erroneous beliefs.
There was just one motive in Jesus' postbaptismal life on
Urantia, and that was a better and truer revelation of his
Paradise Father; he was the pioneer of the new and better way to
God, the way of faith and love. Ever his exhortation to the
apostles was: "Go seek for the sinners; find the downhearted and
comfort the anxious."
138:6.5 Jesus had a perfect grasp of the
situation; he possessed unlimited power, which might have been
utilized in the furtherance of his mission, but he was wholly
content with means and personalities which most people would have
regarded as inadequate and would have looked upon as
insignificant. He was engaged in a mission of enormous dramatic
possibilities, but he insisted on going about his Father's
business in the most quiet and undramatic manner; he studiously
avoided all display of power. And he now planned to work quietly,
at least for several months, with his twelve apostles around about
the Sea of Galilee.
7. ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT
138:7.1 Jesus had planned for a quiet missionary
campaign of five months' personal work. He did not tell the
apostles how long this was to last; they worked from week to week.
And early on this first day of the week, just as he was about to
announce this to his twelve apostles, Simon Peter, James Zebedee,
and Judas Iscariot came to have private converse with him. Taking
Jesus aside, Peter made bold to say: "Master, we come at the
behest of our associates to inquire whether the time is not now
ripe to enter into the kingdom. And will you proclaim the kingdom
at Capernaum, or are we to move on to Jerusalem? And when shall we
learn, each of us, the positions we are to occupy with you in the
establishment of the kingdom --" and Peter would have gone on
asking further questions, but Jesus raised an admonitory hand and
stopped him. And beckoning the other apostles standing near by to
join them, Jesus said: "My little children, how long shall I bear
with you! Have I not made it plain to you that my kingdom is not
of this world? I have told you many times that I have not come to
sit on David's throne, and now how is it that you are inquiring
which place each of you will occupy in the Father's kingdom? Can
you not perceive that I have called you as ambassadors of a
spiritual kingdom? Do you not understand that soon, very soon, you
are to represent me in the world and in the proclamation of the
kingdom, even as I now represent my Father who is in heaven? Can
it be that I have chosen you and instructed you as messengers of
the kingdom, and yet you do not comprehend the nature and
significance of this coming kingdom of divine pre-eminence in the
hearts of men? My friends, hear me once more. Banish from your
minds this idea that my kingdom is a rule of power or a reign of
glory. Indeed, all power in heaven and on earth will presently be
given into my hands, but it is not the Father's will that we use
this divine endowment to glorify ourselves during this age.
In another age you shall indeed sit
with me in power and glory, but it behooves us now to submit to
the will of the Father and to go forth in humble obedience to
execute his bidding on earth."
138:7.2 Once more were his associates shocked,
stunned. Jesus sent them away two and two to pray, asking them to
return to him at noontime. On this crucial forenoon they each
sought to find God, and each endeavored to cheer and strengthen
the other, and they returned to Jesus as he had bidden them.
138:7.3 Jesus now recounted for them the coming
of John, the baptism in the Jordan, the marriage feast at Cana,
the recent choosing of the six, and the withdrawal from them of
his own brothers in the flesh, and warned them that the enemy of
the kingdom would seek also to draw them away. After this short
but earnest talk the apostles all arose, under Peter's leadership,
to declare their undying devotion to their Master and to pledge
their unswerving loyalty to the kingdom, as Thomas expressed it,
"To this coming kingdom, no matter what it is and even if I do not
fully understand it." They all truly believed in Jesus,
even though they did not fully comprehend his teaching.
138:7.4 Jesus now asked them how much money they
had among them; he also inquired as to what provision had been
made for their families. When it developed that they had hardly
sufficient funds to maintain themselves for two weeks, he said:
"It is not the will of my Father that we begin our work in this
way. We will remain here by the sea two weeks and fish or do
whatever our hands find to do; and in the meantime, under the
guidance of Andrew, the first chosen apostle, you shall so
organize yourselves as to provide for everything needful in your
future work, both for the present personal ministry and also when
I shall subsequently ordain you to preach the gospel and instruct
believers." They were all greatly cheered by these words; this was
their first clearcut and positive intimation that Jesus designed
later on to enter upon more aggressive and pretentious public
efforts.
138:7.5 The apostles spent the remainder of the
day perfecting their organization and completing arrangements for
boats and nets for embarking on the morrow's fishing as they had
all decided to devote themselves to fishing; most of them had been
fishermen, even Jesus was an experienced boatman and fisherman.
Many of the boats which they used the next few years had been
built by Jesus' own hands. And they were good and trustworthy
boats.
138:7.6 Jesus enjoined them to devote themselves
to fishing for two weeks, adding, "And then will you go forth to
become fishers of men." They fished in three groups, Jesus going
out with a different group each night. And they all so much
enjoyed Jesus! He was a good fisherman, a cheerful companion, and
an inspiring friend; the more they worked with him, the more they
loved him. Said Matthew one day: "The more you understand some
people, the less you admire them, but of this man, even the less I
comprehend him, the more I love him."
138:7.7 This plan of fishing two weeks and going
out to do personal work in behalf of the kingdom for two weeks was
followed for more than five months, even to the end of this year
of A.D. 26, until after the cessation of those special
persecutions which had been directed against John's disciples
subsequent to his imprisonment.
8. FIRST WORK OF THE TWELVE
138:8.1 After disposing of the fish catches of
two weeks, Judas Iscariot, the one chosen to act as treasurer of
the twelve, divided the apostolic funds into six equal portions,
funds for the care of dependent families having been already
provided. And then near the middle of August, in the year A.D. 26,
they went forth two and two to the fields of work assigned by
Andrew. The first two weeks Jesus went out with Andrew and Peter,
the second two weeks with James and John, and so on with the other
couples in the order of their choosing. In this way he was able to
go out at least once with each couple before he called them
together for the beginning of their public ministry.
138:8.2 Jesus taught them to preach the
forgiveness of sin through faith in God without penance or
sacrifice, and that the Father in heaven loves all his children
with the same eternal love. He enjoined his apostles to refrain
from discussing:
138:8.3 1. The work and imprisonment of John the
Baptist.
138:8.4 2. The voice at the baptism. Said Jesus:
"Only those who heard the voice may refer to it. Speak only that
which you have heard from me; speak not hearsay."
138:8.5 3. The turning of the water into wine at
Cana. Jesus seriously charged them, saying, "Tell no man about the
water and the wine."
138:8.6 They had wonderful times throughout
these five or six months during which they worked as fishermen
every alternate two weeks, thereby earning enough money to support
themselves in the field for each succeeding two weeks of
missionary work for the kingdom.
138:8.7 The common people marveled at the
teaching and ministry of Jesus and his apostles. The rabbis had
long taught the Jews that the ignorant could not be pious or
righteous. But Jesus' apostles were both pious and righteous; yet
they were cheerfully ignorant of much of the learning of the
rabbis and the wisdom of the world.
138:8.8 Jesus made plain to his apostles the
difference between the repentance of so-called good works as
taught by the Jews and the change of mind by faith -- the new
birth -- which he required as the price of admission to the
kingdom. He taught his apostles that faith was the only
requisite to entering the Father's kingdom. John had taught them
"repentance -- to flee from the wrath to come." Jesus taught,
"Faith is the open door for entering into the present, perfect,
and eternal love of God." Jesus did not speak like a prophet, one
who comes to declare the word of God. He seemed to speak of
himself as one having authority. Jesus sought to divert their
minds from miracle seeking to the finding of a real and personal
experience in the satisfaction and assurance of the indwelling of
God's spirit of love and saving grace.
138:8.9 The disciples early learned that the
Master had a profound respect and sympathetic regard for every
human being he met, and they were tremendously impressed by this
uniform and unvarying consideration which he so consistently gave
to all sorts of men, women, and children. He would pause in the
midst of a profound discourse that he might go out in the road to
speak good cheer to a passing woman laden with her burden of body
and soul. He would interrupt a serious conference with his
apostles to fraternize with an intruding child. Nothing ever
seemed so important to Jesus as the individual human who
chanced to be in his immediate presence. He was master and
teacher, but he was more -- he was also a friend and neighbor, an
understanding comrade.
138:8.10 Though Jesus' public teaching mainly
consisted in parables and short discourses, he invariably taught
his apostles by questions and answers. He would always pause to
answer sincere questions during his later public discourses.
138:8.11 The apostles were at first shocked by,
but early became accustomed to, Jesus' treatment of women; he made
it very clear to them that women were to be accorded equal rights
with men in the kingdom.
9. FIVE MONTHS OF TESTING
138:9.1 This somewhat monotonous period of
alternate fishing and personal work proved to be a grueling
experience for the twelve apostles, but they endured the test.
With all of their grumblings, doubts, and transient
dissatisfactions they remained true to their vows of devotion and
loyalty to the Master. It was their personal association with
Jesus during these months of testing that so endeared him to them
that they all (save Judas Iscariot) remained loyal and true to him
even in the dark hours of the trial and crucifixion. Real men
simply could not actually desert a revered teacher who had lived
so close to them and had been so devoted to them as had Jesus.
Through the dark hours of the Master's death, in the hearts of
these apostles all reason, judgment, and logic were set aside in
deference to just one extraordinary human emotion -- the supreme
sentiment of friendship-loyalty. These five months of work with
Jesus led these apostles, each one of them, to regard him as the
best friend he had in all the world. And it was this human
sentiment, and not his superb teachings or marvelous doings, that
held them together until after the resurrection and the renewal of
the proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom.
138:9.2 Not only were these months of quiet work
a great test to the apostles, a test which they survived, but this
season of public inactivity was a great trial to Jesus' family. By
the time Jesus was prepared to launch forth on his public work,
his entire family (except Ruth) had practically deserted him. On
only a few occasions did they attempt to make subsequent contact
with him, and then it was to persuade him to return home with
them, for they came near to believing that he was beside himself.
They simply could not fathom his philosophy nor grasp his
teaching; it was all too much for those of his own flesh and
blood.
138:9.3 The apostles carried on their personal
work in Capernaum, Bethsaida-Julias, Chorazin, Gerasa, Hippos,
Magdala, Cana, Bethlehem of Galilee, Jotapata, Ramah, Safed,
Gischala, Gadara, and Abila. Besides these towns they labored in
many villages as well as in the countryside. By the end of this
period the twelve had worked out fairly satisfactory plans for the
care of their respective families. Most of the apostles were
married, some had several children, but they had made such
arrangements for the support of their home folks that, with some
little assistance from the apostolic funds, they could devote
their entire energies to the Master's work without having to worry
about the financial welfare of their families.
10. ORGANIZATION OF THE TWELVE
138:10.1 The apostles early organized themselves
in the following manner:
138:10.2 1. Andrew, the first chosen apostle,
was designated chairman and director general of the twelve.
138:10.3 2. Peter, James, and John were
appointed personal companions of Jesus. They were to attend him
day and night, to minister to his physical and sundry needs, and
to accompany him on those night vigils of prayer and mysterious
communion with the Father in heaven.
138:10.4 3. Philip was made steward of the
group. It was his duty to provide food and to see that visitors,
and even the multitude of listeners at times, had something to
eat.
138:10.5 4. Nathaniel watched over the needs of
the families of the twelve. He received regular reports as to the
requirements of each apostle's family and, making requisition on
Judas, the treasurer, would send funds each week to those in need.
138:10.6 5. Matthew was the fiscal agent of the
apostolic corps. It was his duty to see that the budget was
balanced, the treasury replenished. If the funds for mutual
support were not forthcoming, if donations sufficient to maintain
the party were not received, Matthew was empowered to order the
twelve back to their nets for a season. But this was never
necessary after they began their public work; he always had
sufficient funds in the treasurer's hands to finance their
activities.
138:10.7 6. Thomas was manager of the itinerary.
It devolved upon him to arrange lodgings and in a general way
select places for teaching and preaching, thereby insuring a
smooth and expeditious travel schedule.
138:10.8 7. James and Judas the twin sons of
Alpheus were assigned to the management of the multitudes. It was
their task to deputize a sufficient number of assistant ushers to
enable them to maintain order among the crowds during the
preaching.
138:10.9 8. Simon Zelotes was given charge of
recreation and play. He managed the Wednesday programs and also
sought to provide for a few hours of relaxation and diversion each
day.
138:10.10 9. Judas Iscariot was appointed
treasurer. He carried the bag. He paid all expenses and kept the
books. He made budget estimates for Matthew from week to week and
also made weekly reports to Andrew. Judas paid out funds on
Andrew's authorization.
138:10.11 In this way the twelve functioned from
their early organization up to the time of the reorganization made
necessary by the desertion of Judas, the betrayer. The Master and
his disciple-apostles went on in this simple manner until Sunday,
January 12, A.D. 27, when he called them together and formally
ordained them as ambassadors of the kingdom and preachers of its
glad tidings. And soon thereafter they prepared to start for
Jerusalem and Judea on their first public preaching tour.
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