And one of the first things he did, after thus beginning his ministry, was to gather his disciples round him.  The first two that we find named among his disciples are John and Andrew.  They had been disciples of John the Baptist.  Their master pointed them to Jesus, and said—­“Behold the Lamb of God.”  When they heard this they followed Jesus, and became his disciples.  When Andrew met with his brother Simon Peter, he said to him “we have found the Messias—­the Christ.  And he brought him to Jesus.”  After this we are told that “Jesus findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.”  He was an acquaintance of Andrew and Peter, and lived in the same town with them.  He obeyed the call at once and became one of the disciples of Jesus.

Philip had a friend named Nathanael.  The next time he met him, he said, “we have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”  But Nazareth was a despised place, and had a bad reputation.  Nathanael had a very poor opinion of the place, and he asked—­“Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip saith unto him—­“Come and see.”

And this is what we should say to persons when we wish them to become Christians.  There is so much that is lovely and excellent in Jesus that if people will only “come and see,” if they will only prove for themselves what a glorious Saviour he is, they will find it impossible to help loving and serving him.  Nathanael came to Jesus.  And when he heard the wonderful words that Jesus spoke to him he was converted at once, and expressed his wonder by saying—­“Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.”  We can read all about this in John i:  43-51.  Nathanael became a disciple of Jesus, and one of the twelve apostles, and is supposed to be the same one who bears the name of Bartholomew in the different lists of the apostles.

After this we read of Jesus calling Matthew the publican, who was a tax-gatherer.  This is what is meant by his “sitting at the receipt of custom.”  “Follow me,” were the words spoken to him.  He obeyed at once; left all and followed Jesus.  St. Luke and St. Mark mention this same call, but they give the name of Levi to the person thus called.  This is not strange, for it was common among the Jews for persons to have two names.  Sometimes they were called by one of these names and sometimes by the other.

Here we have the account of six persons, who became disciples of Jesus; and of the different ways in which they were led to follow him.  No doubt many others were led to become his disciples from simply hearing him preach; and from listening to the gracious words that he spoke.

And very soon after he had gathered together a large company of disciples, he made choice of twelve, out of this number, who were to be his apostles.  He wished these men to be with him all the time.  They were to hear his teaching, and see his miracles, and so be prepared to take his place, and carry on his work when he should return to heaven.