THE TWELVE APOSTLES ORDAINED.
WHEN Jesus knew that the Pharisees were laying plans to destroy him, he withdrew himself, and great multitudes followed him to hear his sayings and to be healed of their diseases. And his fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought unto him many who were possessed with devils, and those who were lunatics, and those who had the palsy; and he healed them.
His fame became so great that not only the people of Galilee, but also people from Jerusalem and other parts of Judea, from beyond Jordan, and from the region about Tyre and Sidon, hearing what great things he did, came unto him. "And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him. For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues. And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God! And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known." Thus he fulfilled the words of the prophet Isaiah, who said, "Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust,"
"And it came to pass in those days, that he went up into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God, And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples; and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles." Jesus chose these men to be with him, "that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils." "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 surname was Thaddaeus, Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him."