What does the Bible say about being a disciple of Jesus?

Being a disciple of Jesus, as depicted in the Scriptures, involves a transformative relationship with Him rather than a mere accumulation of time spent in religious activities. In Acts 21:16, the term 'old disciple' does not refer to the number of years someone has been a believer, but to the depth of their relationship with Christ and their growing humility in the light of His grace. The true indication of maturity in the faith is not how long one has been involved in church life, but how much one has learned to depend on Christ and see their own unworthiness in comparison to His infinite merit.