Going further on, he saw two other men who were also brothers, James, Zebediah's son, and his brother John, in their boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus called them,

The names of the twelve Apostles are these: First Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebediah, and his brother John;

Then it says 'I will go back to the home which I left'; but, on coming there, it finds it unoccupied, and swept, and put in order.

When Jesus heard of it, he retired privately in a boat to a lonely spot. The people, however, heard of his going, and followed him in crowds from the towns on foot.

In the evening the disciples came up to him, and said: " This is a lonely spot, and the day is now far advanced; send the crowds away, that they may go to the villages, and buy themselves food."

Then the mother of Zebediah's sons came to him with her sons, bowing to the ground, and begging a favor.

Taking not notice till the flood came and swept them one and all away; and so will it be at the Coming of the Son of Man.

Taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebediah, he began to show signs of sadness and deep distress of mind.

Then they spat in his face, and struck him, while others dealt blows at him, saying as they did so:

They spat at him and, taking the rod, kept striking him on the head;

Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebediah's sons.

Going on a little further, he saw James, Zebediah's son, and his brother John, who also were in their boat mending the nets.

Jesus at once called them, and they left their father Zebediah in the boat with the crew, and went after him.

In the morning, long before daylight, Jesus rose and went out, and, going to a lonely spot, there began to pray.

James, the son of Zebediah, and his brother John (to whom he gave the name of Boanerges, which means the Thunderers),

"Come by yourselves privately to some lonely spot," he said, "and rest for a while"--for there were so many people coming and going that they had not time even to eat.

So they set off privately in their boat for a lonely spot.

When it grew late, his disciples came up to him, and said: "This is a lonely spot, and it is already late.

Who will mock him, spit upon him, and scourge him, and put him to death; and after three days he will rise again."

James and John, the two sons of Zebediah, went to Jesus, and said: "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask."

Some of those present began to spit at him, and to blindfold his eyes, and strike him, saying, as they did so, "Now play the Prophet!" and even the police-officers received him with blows.

At daybreak, Jesus went out and walked to a lonely spot. But crowds of people began to look for him; and they came to where he was and tried to detain him and prevent his leaving them.

And so, too, were James and John, Zebediah's sons, who were Simon's partners. "Do not be afraid," Jesus said to Simon; "from to-day you shall catch men."

He may be compared to a man building a house, who dug, and went deep, and laid the foundation upon the rock. Then, when a flood came, the river swept down upon that house, but had no power to shake it, because it had been built well.

But those who have listened and not acted upon what they have heard may be compared to a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation. The river swept down upon it, and the house immediately collapsed; and great was the crash that followed."

So they put off. While they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep. A squall swept down upon the lake, and their boat was filling and they were in danger.

The day was drawing to a close, when the twelve came up to him, and said: "Send the crowd away, so that they may make their way to the villages and farms round about, and find themselves lodgings and provisions, for we are in a lonely spot here."

A Levite, too, did the same; he came up to the spot, but, when he saw the man, passed by on the opposite side.

But, on coming there, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order.

For he will be given up to the Gentiles, mocked, insulted and spat upon;

And, when he reached the spot, he said to them: "Pray that you may not fall into temptation."

"Make the people sit down," said Jesus. It was a grassy spot; so the men, who numbered about five thousand, sat down,

Some boats, however, had come from Tiberias, from near the spot where they had eaten the bread after the Master had said the thanksgiving.

Saying this, Jesus spat on the ground, made clay with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes.

It was in this way:--Simon Peter, Thomas, who was called 'The Twin,' Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, Zebediah's sons, and two other disciples of Jesus, were together, when Simon Peter said:

Then the Lord said to him--'Take your sandals off your feet, for the spot where you are standing is holy ground.

I have the utmost confidence in you; I am always boasting about you. I am full of encouragement and, in spite of all our troubles, my heart is overflowing with happiness.

So that he might himself bring the Church, in all her beauty, into his own presence, with no spot or wrinkle or blemish of any kind, but that she might be holy and faultless.

And you yourselves began to follow, not only our example, but the Master's also; and, in spite of much suffering, you welcomed the Message with a joy inspired by the Holy Spirit,

For, although we had experienced suffering and ill-treatment, as you know, at Philippi, we had the courage, by the help of our God, to tell you God's Good News in spite of great opposition.

So much is this the case that we ourselves speak with pride, before the Churches of God, of the patience and faith which you have shown, in spite of all the persecutions and troubles that you are enduring.

But now, because you are lukewarm, neither hot not cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.