The next day John was talking to two young men on the banks of the Jordan. He was teaching them what to do in order to please God. At the moment Jesus passed by. John pointed to Him and said to the young men, "Behold the Lamb of God!"The next day John was talking to two young men on the banks of the Jordan. He was teaching them what to do in order to please God. At the moment Jesus passed by. John pointed to Him and said to the young men, "Behold the Lamb of God!"
At these words, the young men, Andrew and John, left the Baptist and followed Jesus. When Jesus heard them following Him, He turned and asked, "What are you seeking?"
The two did not know what to say. They asked, "Master, where do You live?" Jesus replied, "Come and see." Andrew and John stayed with Jesus all that day, and Jesus taught them.
Later Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus. Jesus said to Simon, "You are Simon Bar-Jona. You shall be called Cephas, that is to say, Peter, a rock."
But Peter did not understand. He did not know then that he was to be the head of the Church founded by Jesus.
Next day, Jesus got ready to go to Galilee. Seeing a man named Philip, He looked at him and said, "Follow Me." Philip at once obeyed, and followed Jesus.
Philip had a friend called Nathanael and went to find him. He said to Nathanael, "We have found Him of Whom Moses and the prophets wrote. He is Jesus of Nazareth." Nathanael laughed and said, "Can any good come out of Nazareth?" Philip replied, "Come and see."
So Nathanael went with Philip to Jesus. When Jesus saw Nathanael, He said, "Here comes a true Israelite, in whom there is no malice." Nathanael in surprise asked, "How do You know me?"
Jesus replied, "Before Philip called you, as you sat under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael was filled with wonder and belief. He cried out, "Master, You are the Son of God." Jesus answered, "Because of what I said, you believe. Greater things than this you shall see."
These men - Andrew, John, Simon, Philip, and Nathanael - were the first disciples of Jesus, and were later on chosen by Him as Apostles.
- from My Bible History in Pictures, by Bishop Louis LaRavoire Morrow, D.D., 1934; it has the Imprimatur of Archbishop Michael J O'Doherty of Manila, Philippines