PDF Summary:Twelve Ordinary Men, by John MacArthur

The twelve apostles were ordinary men—fishermen, tax collectors, and other common workers—who became the foundation of the early Christian church. In Twelve Ordinary Men, John MacArthur examines how Jesus chose these unlikely leaders and transformed them into powerful evangelists who spread the gospel and established church doctrine.

MacArthur explores the selection process, the significance of choosing twelve apostles, and the character traits that made them effective leaders. He discusses how the Holy Spirit empowered them to perform miracles and validate their message, and he presents their stories as examples of transformation. Through figures like the zealous James and the faithful Nathanael—as well as the cautionary tale of Judas Iscariot—MacArthur shows how God works through flawed, ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.

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(Shortform note: In The God of Israel and Christian Theology, R. Kendall Soulen argues that Christian theology has often been “supersessionist,” meaning that it has portrayed the church as replacing Israel in God’s plan. He contends that this has led to a distorted understanding of the Bible, in which the ongoing significance of the Jewish people is marginalized. Soulen calls for a rethinking of Christian theology that takes seriously God’s enduring covenant with Israel.)

Character & Qualification

MacArthur asserts that character is essential for genuine leadership. People don't trust or respect those who lack character. Leaders who lack it will ultimately let their followers down and fail to maintain their confidence. Integrity earns admiration, leading to confidence, which inspires people. Real leadership is linked to traits such as honesty, dependability, honor, selflessness, modesty, self-mastery, willpower, and bravery. Christ epitomizes genuine leadership. He exemplifies perfection in every trait that forms a leader's nature and personifies the most genuine, virtuous, supreme, and honorable leadership qualities. MacArthur also says that a leader should embody character traits like Christ's. The apostle Paul encapsulated the essence of genuine leadership with his words, "Follow my example, as I emulate Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1).

(Shortform note: MacArthur’s emphasis on Christlike character as the essence of genuine leadership aligns with the broader Christian tradition of virtue ethics. Virtue ethics, rooted in the teachings of Aristotle and developed by Christian thinkers like Thomas Aquinas, focuses on the cultivation of moral character and virtues rather than merely following rules (deontology) or maximizing outcomes (consequentialism). N. T. Wright, in After You Believe, argues that Christian ethics is fundamentally about the formation of a renewed, Christ-shaped character. He explains that the Holy Spirit works through repeated choices, disciplines, and practices to produce settled habits of heart and life. This process makes doing what reflects God’s new-creation purposes become “second nature” to us, enabling us to live as genuinely human beings who bear God’s image wisely and faithfully in the world.)

Peter’s character was influenced by the model of Christ that he observed. He had the potential to become a leader, and his life experiences helped refine and strengthen his innate abilities. However, the genuine core of it all—the crucial basis that determines the success or failure of authentic leadership—is character. Peter became a great leader because of the traits he cultivated through his deep connection with Christ.

(Shortform note: To cultivate Peter-like character traits through a deep connection with Christ, try this practical approach: Each day, choose a scene from the Gospels where Peter observes Christ. Write down one specific action you can take that day to imitate a character trait of Christ from that scene. For example, if you read about Jesus showing compassion to the sick, plan to visit someone in need or volunteer at a local charity that day.)

The Apostles: Preparation, Power, and Empowerment

MacArthur notes that the Holy Spirit granted power to the apostles to spread the gospel. They could perform wonders that validated their message, and God supported His word through them. The New Testament indicates that the apostles and their close associates were the only ones empowered to perform miracles. They were blessed and highly regarded by God's people.

Jesus' hopes for the apostles were realized through their dedicated persistence, and His promise to them was kept in the church's expansion and growth. Their work persists now. They demonstrate that God’s power is perfected through frailty. Through Christ, God guided them to victory and spread the fragrance of His wisdom everywhere using them.

Miracles and the Spread of Christianity

In Christianizing the Roman Empire (A.D. 100–400), historian Ramsay MacMullen argues that the most convincing appeal of Christianity for many pagans lay in its demonstrated power, above all in healings and exorcisms. Conversion stories repeatedly describe people deciding to join Christian communities because they themselves were cured, saw relatives or neighbors cured, or heard reliable reports of demons being driven out and illnesses remedied in Christ’s name. These experiences led them to judge the Christian god stronger than rival divinities and more effective in dealing with the dangers and misfortunes of everyday life.

MacArthur adds that the authority to perform miracles was given to the apostles, which confirmed their message.

(Shortform note: In the first-century Mediterranean world, people believed that spectacular events were direct acts of a deity. So, when the apostles performed miracles, people saw this as evidence that the God they proclaimed was behind their message.)

The Apostles: Examples of Transformation and Enduring Impact

MacArthur explains that the apostles exemplify transformation and lasting influence. Their stories show how God can work through ordinary people to do extraordinary things. For example, James, John's brother, became the initial apostle to be martyred. He was so passionate and zealous that Jesus called him and his sibling "Sons of Thunder" due to their fiery temperaments. James’s zeal was initially mixed with selfish ambition, but God turned him into a leading apostle. MacArthur also mentions Nathanael, also called Bartholomew, who was a close friend of Philip and studied the Old Testament. He acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah from the outset and was fully committed to Him.

(Shortform note: The stories of James and Nathanael are important because they show how early Christian communities used apostolic narratives to teach and reinforce Christian character. James’s martyrdom and Nathanael’s immediate recognition of Jesus as the Messiah were likely used as examples of faith and commitment. These stories helped early Christians understand what it meant to follow Jesus and how to live out their faith. By studying these narratives, we can better understand how Christian character was taught and maintained in the early church.)

In contrast, Judas Iscariot serves as a cautionary example. This ordinary man followed Jesus willingly, though he didn’t truly believe. He became callous due to sin and betrayed Jesus for money. His story teaches us that you can have a close, external connection with Jesus, yet remain unchanged inwardly.

(Shortform note: While John MacArthur sees Judas as a cautionary example of unbelief, some scholars argue that the Christian community behind the second-century Gnostic text known as the Gospel of Judas saw him as a uniquely enlightened disciple. In this text, Jesus separates Judas from the other apostles, discloses to him “the mysteries of the kingdom,” and directs him to hand Jesus over so that Jesus can be released from his mortal body and return to the divine realm.)