Reference: Disciples
Hastings
In the ancient world every teacher had his company of disciples or learners. The Greek philosophers and the Jewish Rabbis had theirs, and John the Baptist had his (Mr 2:18 'the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees'; cf. Joh 1:35; Mt 14:12). In like manner Jesus had His disciples. The term had two applications, a wider and a narrower. It denoted (1) all who believed in Him, though they remained where He had found them, pursuing their former avocations, yet rendering no small service to His cause by confessing their allegiance and testifying to His grace (cf. Lu 6:13; 19:37; Joh 4:1; 6:60,66-67). (2) The inner circle of the Twelve, whom He called 'Apostles,' and whom He required to forsake their old lives and follow Him whithersoever He went, not merely that they might strengthen Him by their sympathy (cf. Lu 22:28), but that they might aid Him in His ministry (Mt 9:37; 10:1,5), and, above all, that they might be trained by dally intercourse and discipline to carry forward the work after He was gone. These were 'the disciples' par excellence (Mt 10:1; 12:1,49; 15:23,32; Mr 8:27; Lu 8:9; Joh 11:7; 12:4; 16:17,29). See also Apostles.
David Smith.
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Then saith he to his disciples, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few.
And having called to him his twelve disciples, he gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to heal every disease and every malady.
And having called to him his twelve disciples, he gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to heal every disease and every malady.
These twelve Jesus sent forth, having commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into a city of the Samaritans enter not:
At that time Jesus went on the sabbath thro' the corn, and his disciples were hungry, and plucked the ears of corn and ate.
And stretching forth his hand toward his disciples he said, Behold my mother and my brethren.
And his disciples came and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away, for she crieth after us.
Then Jesus calling his disciples to him said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I am not willing to send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say to him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
And Jesus went out and his disciples into the towns of Cesarea Philippi. And in the way he asked his disciples, saying to them, Whom do men say that I am?
And when it was day, he called to him his disciples, and chose twelve of them, whom also he named Apostles:
And his disciples asked him, What is this parable?
And when he was now come nigh, at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God with a loud voice, for all the mighty works that they had seen,
Ye are they who have continued with in me in my temptations.
Again, the next day, John was standing, and two of his disciples.
When therefore the Lord knew, that the Pharisees had heard, Jesus maketh and baptizeth more disciples than John,
Many of his disciples hearing it, said, This is an hard saying: who can hear it?
From this time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus to the twelve, Are ye also minded to go away?
Then after this he saith to his disciples, Let us go into Judea again.
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was about to betray him,
Then some of his disciples said to each other, What is this that he said to us? A little while and ye shall not see me; and again, a little while and ye shall see me? and, Because I go to the Father?
His disciples say to him, Lo now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no parable.