He went a little farther on and saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in their boat getting their nets ready.

As soon as Jesus saw them, he called them; they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and went with Jesus.

Then he did not let anyone else go on with him except Peter and James and his brother John.

Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain, where they were alone. As they looked on, a change came over Jesus,

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus. "Teacher," they said, "there is something we want you to do for us."

He took Peter, James, and John with him. Distress and anguish came over him,

Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael (the one from Cana in Galilee), the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of Jesus were all together.

Peter turned around and saw behind him that other disciple, whom Jesus loved---the one who had leaned close to Jesus at the meal and had asked, "Lord, who is going to betray you?"

Jesus answered him, "If I want him to live until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!"

He is the disciple who spoke of these things, the one who also wrote them down; and we know that what he said is true.

About this time King Herod began to persecute some members of the church.

The LORD says, "Shout as loud as you can! Tell my people Israel about their sins!

My message is like a fire and like a hammer that breaks rocks in pieces.

The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart.

Then I was told, "Once again you must proclaim God's message about many nations, races, languages, and kings."