Who are the apostles?

Jesus is near Lake Meron. Peter thinks they'll never get to Jerusalem in time, having healed a wounded man and created joy in a family, but Jesus reassures him and tells him never to put love before acts of piety. Peter has been touched by the act of Publius Quintilianus and Jesus asks him if he would be interested in the Romans. Just afterwards, the rain falls and they take refuge with Jacob of Meron, who is very poor and full of worries. But he welcomes the apostolic group and Jesus blesses him for his mercy. He then speaks of God's will, which is his food.

Jesus is at the Jordan ford: they're looking for John the Baptist, but he's not here. Instead, they meet Solomon, who is a disciple of John and has brought souls to him without asking for money to cross the Jordan. He is a righteous man. Christ greets him and they continue on their way to Jericho. The Lord then gives them a parable about the fields being tilled by the farmer: so it is with souls who allow themselves to be more or less tilled by the Lord. Then they talk indirectly about the Passion. Jesus says that even if legions of angels came to defend him, they could do nothing, for Justice must be done. They also speak of the present cup, the second cup, and the third cup that will be drunk at the end of the world. Simon the Zealot understands the words of the Book and guesses that the Redeemer will have to suffer enormously. Jesus confirms his vision of things, and Peter comes to ask Simon for an explanation. He wants to defend his Master, but the Zealot, being a wise man, guesses that the apostles' courage will melt like snow in the sun. They continue talking until Peter, who sees how sad Jesus is, goes off to the Savior and tells him not to be so sad anymore. This passage is a fine example of Peter's spontaneity.

The apostolic group is in Jericho. Zacchaeus, still a tax collector, receives an offering from Aglaia (who is anonymous in this chapter) and Judas, who is not far away, investigates her. But Zacchaeus won't tell him anything, and the Iscariot leaves in a huff. That's when he runs into the rest of his companions, who thought he'd gone to Keroth to help his mother. Peter is rather... ironic, and there's a spat between the two apostles. Jesus cuts the conversation short, and no doubt seeing that Judas is about to lie in order to apologize, begs him to be quiet and ask him if he'll see them off again. Judas agrees. Jesus divides the group into three. Peter, Jude Thaddeus, James of Alphaeus, Matthew will go to Bethlehem and meet Isaac and the shepherds on the way. Judas, Thomas, Andrew, James of Zebedee will go to Gethsemane to prepare for the Feast of Tabernacles. John, Simon the Zealot, Philip and Bartholomew stay with Christ in Bethany, at the home of Lazarus. When they arrive near the home of Theophilus' son, Judas excuses himself, but keeps his eyes on Lazarus' house. No doubt he hopes for a change of group, but Jesus maintains his decision. He goes to see Lazarus, who introduces him to Martha for the first time. Then they talk about Jonah (Jesus announces his death) and he reveals that he knows he has seen Mary Magdalene. Lazarus is devastated, even though Jesus assures him that he has pity for her. Respectful of his grief, Jesus leaves him alone for a moment and speaks with Martha. She tells him that Doras and Judas had been insinuating things to her brother, and that he had lost his peace. The conversation then turns to Mary Magdalene, and Jesus encourages them to forgive, as their forgiveness may help his conversion. The importance of brotherly and family forgiveness.