In the latter half of the first chapter of John's Gospel, we have an account of the original calling of no less than five of the Lord's first disciples. It is not only such an account, but also a lovely illustration of that most effective form of evangelism, where one simply tells another about Christ the Saviour.
It all begins in verse 35, where John the Baptist points out Christ, to Andrew and John the evangelist, as “the Lamb of God” that taketh away the sin of the world. Andrew and John, then follow Christ, and at His invitation, come to the place where He was then dwelling, and stay with Him all that night. The next day, Andrew then goes off to find his brother, Simon Peter, and he tells him, “We have found the Messiah” and he “brought him to Jesus.” The day after that again, we're told, the Lord went forth into the town of Bethsaida and there, He found Philip, and told him to follow Him. We are simply told that Philip was “of Bethsaida the town of Andrew and Peter;” and the implication seems clear enough, that we are to understand that Philip had already been told about this Messiah by Andrew, or by Peter, or by both.
Philip next finds Nathaniel, and he says to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write.” Nathaniel is sceptical; - but in that great word of gospel evangelism, Philip lays Nathaniel's obligation before him - “Come and see”. Nathaniel comes, and sees, and professes the Christ also to Whom he has been directed, as “the Son of God,” as “the King of Israel.” John the Baptist to John and Andrew; Andrew to Peter; Andrew and Peter to Philip; Philip to Nathaniel. The true “apostolic succession,” indeed.