The Character of a Leader Shown by the Character of His Following
John 1:37-39
And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.…


One gets an idea of the greatness of a chief of men from the greatness of those whom he gathers around him, and who carry out his plans. Thus, for example, one infers that Cromwell must have been a great-natured man, from the fact that he had Howe for his chaplain, Milton and Marvell for his secretaries, Blake for his admiral, and so on. Noscitur a sociis, and we might add, a servia. So we reason, perhaps unconsciously, in the ease of other historic names. Speaking reverently, I would say, that in a parallel manner, we recognize the "sovran" greatness of our Lord in the fact that He gathered into His service and commanded men of such varied and magnificent natures as a Peter, a John, and a Paul; not to speak of men in other times. His heroes are no less wonderful than the most wonderful in the ancient days of Israel.

(J. Culross, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

WEB: The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.




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