Part 14 (1/2)

[Footnote 2: The traces of the rich Pagan civilization of that time still cover all the Beled-Besharrah, and especially the roup of Cape Blanc and Cape Nakoura]

CHAPTER IX

THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS

In this terrestrial paradise, which the great revolutions of history had till then scarcely touched, there lived a population in perfect harmony with the country itself, active, honest, joyous, and tender-hearted The Lake of Tiberias is one of the best supplied with fish of any in the world[1] Very productive fisheries were established, especially at Bethsaida, and at Capernauree of wealth These faentle and peaceable society, extending by nuh the whole district of the lake which we have described Their coination The ideas about the kingdom of God found in these small companies of worthy peopleof that which we call civilization, in the Greek and worldly sense, had reached them Neither was there any of our Gerst them was often superficial and without depth, their habits were quiet, and they were in soine theous to the better populations of the Lebanon, but with the gift, not possessed by the latter, of producing great men Jesus met here his true family He installed himself as one of them; Capernaum became ”his own city;”[2] in the centre of the little circle which adored hirateful Nazareth and itsincredulity

[Footnote 1: Matt iv 18; Luke v 44, and following; John i 44, xxi

1, and following; Jos, _BJ_, III x 7; Jac de Vitri, in the _Gesta Dei per Francos_, i p 1075]

[Footnote 2: Matt ix 1; Mark ii 1, 2]

One house especially at Capernaue and devoted disciples It was that of two brothers, both sons of a certain Jonas, who probably was dead at the period when Jesus came to stay on the borders of the lake These two brothers were Simon, surnamed _Cephas_ or _Peter_, and Andrew Born at Bethsaida,[1] they were established at Capernaum when Jesus commenced his public life Peter was married and had children; his mother-in-law lived with him[2]

Jesus loved this house and dwelt there habitually[3] Andrew appears to have been a disciple of John the Baptist, and Jesus had perhaps known him on the banks of the Jordan[4] The two brothers continued always, even at the period in which it seems they must have been most occupied with their master, to follow their business as fishermen[5]

Jesus, who loved to play upon words, said at ti all his disciples he had none more faithfully attached

[Footnote 1: John i 44]

[Footnote 2: Matt viii 14; Mark i 30; Luke iv 38; 1 _Cor_ ix 5; 1 Peter v 13; Clen_, vii 25; Eusebius, _HE_, iii 30]

[Footnote 3: Matt viii 14, xvii 24; Mark i 29-31; Luke iv 38]

[Footnote 4: John i 40, and following]

[Footnote 5: Matt iv 18; Mark i 16; Luke v 3; John xxi 3]

[Footnote 6: Matt iv 19; Mark i 17; Luke v 10]

Another family, that of Zabdia or Zebedee, a well-to-do fisherave Jesus a welcome reception Zebedee had two sons: Jaer son, John, who later was called to play so prominent a part in the history of infant Christianity Both were zealous disciples Salome, wife of Zebedee, was also much attached to Jesus, and accompanied him until his death[2]

[Footnote 1: Mark i 20; Luke v 10, viii 3; John xix 27]

[Footnote 2: Matt xxvii 56; Mark xv 40, xvi 1]

Woerness He manifested toward them those reserved manners which render a very sweet union of ideas possible between the two sexes The separation of men fro the Semitic peoples, was no doubt then, as in our days, es than in the large towns Three or four devoted Galilean woto and of tending him in turn[1] They infused into the new sect an element of enthusiasm and of the un to be understood One of thedala, who has rendered the name of this poor town so celebrated in the world, appears to have been of a very enthusiastic tee of the time, she had been possessed by seven demons[2] That is, she had been affected with nervous and apparently inexplicable maladies Jesus, by his pure and sweet beauty, caldalene was faithful to hiotha, and on the day but one after his death, played a prominent part; for, as we shall see later, she was the principal means by which faith in the resurrection was established

Joanna, wife of Chuza, one of the stewards of Antipas, Susanna, and others who have remained unknown, followed him constantly and ministered unto hi prophet to live without following the trade which he had until then practiced[4]

[Footnote 1: Matt xxvii 55, 56; Mark xv 40, 41; Luke viii 2, 3, xxiii 49]

[Footnote 2: Mark xvi 9; Luke viii 2; cf _Tobit_ iii 8, vi 14]

[Footnote 3: Luke viii 3, xxiv 10]

[Footnote 4: Luke viii 3]

Many others followed hinized him as their master--a certain Philip of Bethsaida; Nathanael, son of Tolmai or Ptolemy, of Cana, perhaps a disciple of the first period;[1] and Matthew, probably the one as the Xenophon of the infant Christianity The latter had been a publican, and, as such, doubtless handled the _Kalaested to hiia_,[2] which are the basis of e know of the teachings of Jesus A the disciples are also mentioned Thomas, or Didymus,[3] who doubted sometienerous sympathies;[4] one Lebbaeus, or Thaddeus; Simon Zelotes,[5]