The Seventy-Two Disciples
This group is distinct from that of the twelve Apostles. However, both groups are formed from the same origin: the Disciples who follow Jesus. They are called in the same way: by a nominative Call from Jesus. It is important to note these points because one group will give rise to bishops and the others to priests.
In both cases, the initial group changes: that of the Apostles following the betrayal and suicide of one of them; the second following the defection of a large number of them[1].
Formation of the group
During the summer of 28, the second year of His Public Life, Jesus successively sends out, two by two, the two groups to evangelize in His name: first the Apostles[2], at the end of July, then the 72, in mid-September[3].
Jesus supports them with His prayer: "I saw Satan fall..."[4].
Some Disciples are however kept close to Him due to their particular situation: these Disciples are either persons serving the Temple or affected by a Scandal. In other words, people likely to shock, even though they are good, are also counted among the 72. In the list below, they are marked with an (*).
After this first experience, the Disciples spread throughout all Palestine to proclaim the Gospel quite autonomously.
While the Apostles benefit from constant training, the Disciples train through mutual exhortation and, when they can, by listening to Jesus' public teachings. They have no supervision except Isaac of Juttah, one of the shepherds of the Nativity, and Joseph the Just.
The first trains the new arrivals and coordinates them. But he does not lead them: the Disciples independently announce "the kingdom of God… where Jesus was to go" Salton Luke 10:1. They only meet on great occasions, including Jewish festivals.
The second, Joseph the Just, receives more special training from Jesus. His role is to proclaim the fundamentals of Jesus' Doctrine[5].
Maria Valtorta mentions only thirty names of the initial core out of the seventy-two. She explains this point:I name them thus (the seventy-two) to indicate the Disciples chosen by Jesus to evangelize, whose number changed, and also the Faces because some of the former are no longer there after the defection following the discourse on the Bread of Heaven, and others new came in"[6].We can therefore extrapolate, from these elements, the extent of the defection caused by Jesus' discourse on the "Bread of Heaven"[7]: 60%.
According to Maria Valtorta, there are therefore three categories of Disciples of Jesus: the Apostles, the "seventy-two," and the faithful.
Composition of the group (alphabetical order).
Initial group
- (*) Abel of Bethlehem in Galilee, called Ananias: he probably baptized Paul at Damascus.
- Abel of Korazim: the leper healed in Mark 1:40-45 and Luke 5:12-16.
- Agapo: the Agabus (Agapus) of the Acts of the Apostles Acts 11:27-30 and Acts 21:10-11.
- Aser the donkey keeper of Nazareth[8]
- Benjamin of Bethlehem in Judah.
- Daniel of Bethlehem.
- Elijah of Bethlehem.
- Elias of Korazim.
- (*) Stephen, one of the future seven deacons[9] and the first martyr.
- (*) Hermas.
- (*) Hermasteus.
- Isaac of Mount Hermon, about whom very little is known.
- Isaac of Juttah.
- Ismael, the second donkey keeper of Nazareth.[10]
- (*) John the Priest of Jerusalem.
- (*) John the Scribe of Capernaum.
- John of Endor.
- John of Bethlehem, shepherd of the Nativity.
- Jonas. Nothing more is known.
- (*) Joseph of Emmaus.
- Joseph of Bethlehem, called the Just.
- Levi of Bethlehem.
- Matthias the future apostle.
- Philip of Arbela, one of the future seven deacons[11].
- Solomon the ferry-man of Jericho.
- Samuel of Korazim.
- Simeon, shepherd of the Nativity.
- Simon, a disciple not otherwise identified[12].
- (*) Timon the synagogue leader of Beautiful Water, one of the future seven deacons[13].
Associate members at the penultimate Passover[14]
- Joseph, the ferryman of Tiberias.
- John of Ephesus, the head of a synagogue in that city.
- Nicholas of Antioch, one of the future seven deacons[15].
Associate members after the Resurrection[16]
- Benjamin, the shepherd of Enon.
- Daniel of Beth-Horon, relative of Elchias, a hostile Pharisee.
- Elijah the Essene.
- Elisha of Engedi, the healed leper.
- Joseph Barnabas, the future companion of Paul.[17]
- Mark of Arbela, companion of Philip.
- Margziam, called Martial, the prodigy disciple, adopted son of Peter.