Do you know people, churches, or hospitals that have the names Peter, James, John, or Andrew? Maybe someone you know is named John. Maybe you were born in St. James’s Hospital in Ireland, have heard of St. Peter’s church in Italy, or watch professional golfers play at St. Andrews in Scotland. Those people and places are named after the first four disciples that Jesus called. Peter and Andrew were brothers, and so were James and John. All four were fishermen. Jesus called them to stop fishing for fish and start fishing for people.

One day, Jesus climbed a mountain and he asked his disciples to follow him. From that group, he chose twelve men whom he called “apostles,” a word that means “people sent out.” Once he trained them about the kingdom of God (they spent a lot of time with him!), he sent them out to share what they learned with others. God gave them the power to preach and cast out demons (see Mark 3:14–15). We might say their job was to announce the coming of the Snake Crusher and show his power over evil.

All the twelve apostles were Jewish, all spoke the same language, and all were from the same part of the world. (And it’s likely twelve out of twelve had beards!) But they were also very different. For example, James and John were fishermen who worked for their dad’s business, Matthew was a tax collector who worked for the Roman government, and Simon was a “Zealot” (a freedom fighter who worked against the Roman government). Not a lot in common! What these men—along with Andrew, Bartholomew, Peter, Philip, Thomas, Thaddaeus, Judas, and another James—all had in common was Jesus. When he said, “Follow me,” they all left everything and followed him. Jesus became their leader, teacher, and friend. And on the cross he became (for the eleven who continued to follow him) the Snake Crusher, who saved them from all their sins, freed them from the power of Satan, and filled them with the Holy Spirit so they might share the good news they received with all the nations.