Luke 6:15
Arabic Simplified (الكِتاب المُقَدَّس: التَّرْجَمَةُ العَرَبِيَّةُ المُبَسَّطَةُ)
What Does This Mean?
This verse lists some of the names of Jesus' disciples: Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), and Simon who was known as Zelotes. There's no speaker mentioned here; it's part of a list given by Luke. The key message is about the diverse group of people who followed Jesus.
Explained for Children
Imagine you're in a classroom with friends from all sorts of backgrounds. Matthew, Thomas, James, and Simon were like that - different but together following one teacher: Jesus!
Historical Background
Luke wrote this part of his gospel around the late first century to early second century, directed at both Jewish and Gentile audiences. The cultural setting was a mix of Roman rule and various religious beliefs in the Mediterranean region.
Living It Out Today
Today, we can see that just like these disciples had different backgrounds and strengths, our communities should value diversity. For instance, a workplace could benefit from having employees with varied skills and perspectives.