Crowds Follow Jesus
7 Jesus went off to the Sea of Galilee with his disciples. A large crowd from Galilee followed.
8
People heard about all that Jesus was doing. And many came to him. They came from Judea, Jerusalem, and Idumea. They came from the lands east of the Jordan River. And they came from the area around Tyre and Sidon.
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Because of the crowd, Jesus told his disciples to get a small boat ready for him. This would keep the people from crowding him.
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Jesus had healed many people. So those who were sick were pushing forward to touch him.
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When people with evil spirits saw him, they fell down in front of him. The spirits shouted, "You are the Son of God!"
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But Jesus ordered them not to tell who he was.
Jesus Appoints the Twelve Apostles
13 Jesus went up on a mountainside. He called for certain people to come to him, and they came.
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He appointed 12 of them and called them apostles. From that time on they would be with him. He would also send them out to preach.
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They would have authority to drive out demons.
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So Jesus appointed the Twelve. Simon was one of them. Jesus gave him the name Peter.
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There were James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. Jesus gave them the name Boanerges. Boanerges means Sons of Thunder.