During that time, the Savior was continually followed by a crowd eager to hear His divine teachings and witness His miracles. After a period of preaching, He sought solitude, spending the night in prayer on a mountaintop. Having been raised among the hills around Nazareth, He cherished their solitude, fresh air, and expansive skies, which seemed to draw Him closer to His Father in Heaven. The specific mountain remains unknown; perhaps it was one that offered a breathtaking view of the Sea of Galilee— that clear "eye of the Holy Land," where the stars shone with extraordinary brilliance at night. In that sacred communion with His Father, He prepared for the significant events of the following day.
At dawn, Christ summoned His most dedicated followers and selected twelve disciples, who from that moment would no longer just follow Him but would become His apostles, or messengers—entrusted not only to receive but also to disseminate the new teachings. He chose twelve so that the new covenant community, akin to the people of the Old Testament, would also have twelve spiritual forebears or patriarchs. These chosen ones were all pure Israelites, not Gentiles or converts, for through Abraham's lineage, the blessings of the new covenant would reach the Gentiles, rather than from the tribe of Levi or the Aaronic priesthood, since Christ was establishing an entirely new order of priesthood. In making His selections, the Savior certainly considered the spiritual qualities of those chosen. Instead of the wealthy, learned, or influential, He opted for the simplest individuals, whose worth lay in their untainted souls and pure hearts—ideal soil for the new gospel's planting. Christ understood that true spiritual renewal would arise from the lower classes (Matthew 11:25). He recognized that the educated classes, including the rabbis and priests, had allowed their human intellect to distort spiritual truths and held biases against anything beyond their narrow scholarly and legalistic confines; thus, they could not be expected to engage with the new spiritual teachings or serve as conduits for the divine truth of this revelation.
Conversely, the unrefined, uneducated people, free from the entanglements of rabbinical doctrine, were more likely to grasp the profound truths of God's Kingdom. Nonetheless, were the choice broader, some educated individuals might have suited the apostleship in the new paradigm. In His choice of those with sincere hearts, Christ did not dismiss the value of enlightened minds; for history acknowledges the critical role of learned individuals, like Paul of Tarsus, who was later called to apostleship by Christ Himself from His heavenly throne. In the selection of apostles, prior social status or political beliefs were irrelevant; thus, individuals such as the tax collector, socially reviled for compromising his Levitical honor, and a member of the Zealots, who resisted Roman oppression, received divine calling. He also did not mandate celibacy, contrary to the Roman Church's later imposition of this condition upon its clergy. It is well-known in the Gospel that the foremost Apostle, Peter, was married, having a wife and mother-in-law. Early traditions suggest that most Apostles were also family men, with the exception of the sons of Zebedee and Thomas.
Originating mainly from the towns and villages near the Sea of Galilee, at least seven of the twelve, including Peter and his brother Andrew, came from Capernaum or its vicinity, along with the sons of Zebedee, James and John, and the sons of Alphaeus—James the Less and Judas, referred to as Thaddaeus. Matthew, a tax collector in Capernaum, also joined them, while Philip hailed from Bethsaida, a nearby fishing village. Nathanael, also known as Bartholomew, came from Cana. The other disciples likely also emerged from nearby areas, though their specific origins are not identified in the Gospel narrative (John 1:44, John 21:2). In terms of social status, at least three disciples—Matthew, a lucrative tax collector, and the sons of Zebedee, prosperous fishermen—had some financial stability; the others primarily relied on their simple fishing occupations on the lake. It is known that Peter returned to fishing following the death and resurrection of Christ, with one Gospel image depicting him casting a net—a vivid representation of these fishermen destined to catch souls for the Kingdom. All Evangelists, except John, list the apostles, providing the following names:
Simon Peter Andrew James John Philip Bartholomew Matthew Thomas James (son of Alphaeus) Thaddeus Simon the Zealot Judas (brother of James)
Peter, Philip, and James son of Alphaeus head these groups, all concluding with a singular name. This newly appointed circle of twelve became the constant companions of the God-man throughout His earthly ministry. They were uniquely blessed to have the Son of God reveal His innermost being to them and, living closely with Him, they were inspired with His zeal for the significant work ahead. Their continual exposure to His life allowed them to gain firsthand experience of a divinely perfect existence. Through trials and the opposition they faced alongside Him, their devotion was purified and strengthened, ultimately preparing them for the monumental charge to proclaim salvation and demonstrate the signs and wonders of their Lord as evidence of their divine authority. Though all twelve were chosen by Christ, three—Peter, James, and John—were granted the honored distinction of belonging to the innermost circle of His companions. They alone witnessed significant events such as the resurrection of Jairus' daughter, the transfiguration, and His prayer in the garden of Gethsemane.
THEOSIS