Calling of disciples

Disciples learning from their master

Is 8:16; Am 7:14

See also Is 19:11; 1 Ki 20:35; Ne 3:8; Mt 10:24; Mk 2:18; Lk 6:40; Jn 1:35; Jn 9:28

Those referred to as disciples in the NT

The disciples as the apostles

Mt 10:1–2 The apostles were uniquely appointed as founding pillars of the church, but in some respects they were also representative disciples.

The disciples as believers in general

Mt 28:19; Ac 19:1–2 Christian believers, not fully mature.

See also Ac 6:2; Ac 11:26; Lk 6:13; Lk 6:17

The disciples as an intimate circle of believers

Mt 18:1; Mk 4:10

How disciples are called

It sometimes implies physically following Jesus Christ and leaving everything

Mt 4:19; Mt 8:18–22; Mt 9:9

Calling in a more general spiritual sense

John 21:19 NKJV

This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

See also Jn 8:12; Jn 21:22; Jn 12:26; Lk 9:23; Lk 14:25–27

How disciples learn from Jesus Christ the teacher

By repeating the words of Jesus Christ

Lk 11:1–4 The rhythmical form of much of Jesus Christ’s teaching suggests he intended his words to be remembered verbatim.

See also Mt 5:3–10

By signs

John 2:11 NKJV

This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

See also Mk 5:37; Mk 5:40

By understanding the OT Scriptures

John 1:45 NKJV

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

dSee also Lk 24:27; Lk 24:32; Lk 24:44–45; Lk 18:31–33

By understanding the parables

Mark 4:11–12 NKJV

And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them.’ ”

See also Mk 4:34

By practical experience of mission

Lk 10:23–24 These words follow the sending out of the seventy-two.

See also Mk 6:6–11; Lk 9:1–2

In periods of being alone with Jesus Christ

Mark 6:31 NKJV

And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

See also Mt 16:21

In spite of their faulty understanding

Luke 24:25 NKJV

Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

See also Lk 18:34; Mk 9:32