Southwestern Union Record

We know more about some of them than others. At least four of them were fishermen; one was a tax collector; and the others came from various walks of life. Bible commentaries generally agree that they were unschooled and from the common class of society. While we don’t know much about them before Jesus chose them, we can learn much about them as we follow the gospel story. They seem selfish, quick to speak, and slow to listen. I think that if we had known them we would have seen that they were quite distinct in their temperaments. I know that any group of twelve people today would reveal different personalities, and I’m sure that it was no different then. Knowing human nature as we do, it is not too much of a stretch to believe that they didn’t all like the same food, have the same talents, or ascribe to the same political views.  And yet the Book of Acts tells us, “When the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place” (Acts 2:1, NKJV). A marginal reference in my Bible reads, “one purpose or mind.”   

Jesus didn’t choose them because they were alike, but used their differences in the establishment of an organization that would take the message of His love and sacrifice to the world.  Their weaknesses and differences would highlight the fact that this movement was of God and not the result of leadership skills in these individuals, but in the power of the Holy Spirit. In the beginning they tended to focus on themselves and what they wanted to see happen, but association with Jesus and focus on Him had changed them. Someone has said that the closer we come to Christ the closer we come to each other. We long for unity, but that unity must be based on the One who has called us and on whom we focus. That which makes us the same is greater than that which makes us different.