Christians

John the Baptist
Other ascetics also withdrew into the wilderness, gathering disciples around them to await the coming age. The Israelites had always thought of the desert as a fitting place for religious thinkers, and in Jesus' time many men believed the Messiah would appear there first.
"In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said
"The voice of one crying the wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'
At the height of the sermon, he called upon his listeners to confess their sins and to be purified by baptism in the waters of the Jordan. Men baptized by him, John said, entered a completely new existence as members of the community of the righteous, who would form the core of the coming kingdom of God.

Most of the men who were baptized by John returned to their homes to await the Messiah, but a few stayed behind and became John's disciples. John taught these followers to pray and to fast periodically.

An Essene Baptism Ceremony
"For John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1.5). Baptism was a daily ritual for the Essenes, a religious group and community of Jesus' time. In specially built pools they purified themselves repeatedly for the coming of a Messiah. An Essene priest reads from one scared text while a follower bathes. Some Biblical scholars now think that John the Baptist was an Essene.

"Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Mt. 4.19) At least six of the twelve disciples were fisherman on the Sea of Galilee (left), a lake supporting a sizable fishing industry. Men who fished its waters where husky and weathered from long hot hours of casting their nets and hauling in fish. The best time to fish was late as night, when the still waters were plentiful with fish. During the day they repaired their sturdy wooden sailboats and amended their nets and sails. At dawn they gathered their night's catch in baskets, to be sold fresh or salted and dried for export to countries as far as Spain.

St. Paul

Saul or Paul of Tarsus was a hellinized Jew with Roman citizenship. He was converted by a vision of Jesus and was the greatest influence on the Gentile world. His background and ability to unite people of different cultures to a common cause made his contribution paramount to the spread of Christianity, and the organization of the scriptures.

The Apostles

Simon Peter Preached on Pentecost; raised Dorcas from the dead; wrote Two epistles. Crucified upside down in Rome during Neroian persecution.

Andrew believed to have preached in Scythia, Asia Minor, and Greece. Crucified at Patras.

James son of Zebedee was executed by Herod Agrippa I

John wrote Gospel, three epistles and Apocalypse. Dies a natural death.

Philip said to have been crucified in Asia Minor.

Matthew wrote a Gospel and said to have possibly ministered in Ethiopia, Parthia, Persia, and Macedonia

Thomas said to have preached in Babylon and founded churches. Martyred in India.

Bartholomew said to have traveled with Philip. Martyred in Armenia.

James son of Alphaeus said to have ministered in Syria

Thaddaeus said to have ministered in Edessa

Simon the Zealot sometimes associated with Persia, Egypt, Carthage, and Britain

Judas Iscariot Hanged himself for betraying Jesus

These were the twelve after Jesus' death...later..

Luke wrote a Gospel

Mark wrote a Gospel