Matthew 10:1 ¶ And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
Notice in Matthew that the twelve disciples, the Apostles as we call them, are not mentioned as all having been called until we get to this point, after the popularly called Sermon on the Mount, while what many evangelicals call Luke’s account a version of that event as it already has the twelve Apostles chosen. See Luke 6:13-16. This is one argument for them being two different events based on the Apostles being chosen or not, the immediate audience, the exact location, and the focus of the word choices. Otherwise, Matthew and Luke are simply variations with differing details of the same sermon. If it is the same sermon then Luke should define what Matthew means and vice versa. If not, then Matthew’s record of the sermon is spiritual and Luke’s is socio-political.
Simon Peter is listed first. Roman Catholic tradition has him founding the church at Rome but there is more Biblical evidence that Paul would have founded that church as per the ending of Acts. Peter, from the Biblical narrative, went eastward to Babylon from whence the Babylonian Talmud would come, from a place that contained a great many Jewish refugees.
1Peter 5:13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
Historical church tradition can be very helpful but when it goes against the Biblical narrative we must choose the Bible. Why is Babylon thought to be used for Rome in Revelation? Because, as we know that Rome is not now likely to be the seat of the Antichrist, the Beast of Revelation, we can see by the description that that Babylon is a reference to the Babylonian tradition of paganism and rebellion against God. It is the expression of the Tower of Babel, which some governmental organizations have used as a symbol. Could Rome be Babylon at the end times? Certainly, but so could Jerusalem as I have explained in my comments on Revelation.[1] Take the Bible literally unless you cannot is the best way to think.
You will find, however, that most people will point out that several early church fathers have Peter at Rome and being crucified upside down. The first legitimate early church leader who mentions Peter at Rome is Clement of Rome in AD96. From him you can trace the future references to Peter at Rome.
Peter is a commercial fisherman.
Matthew 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
Of course, being a coarse and common person he was subject to hot temper and fits of cursing when frustrated.
Matthew 26:73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
John 18:10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
He practiced the common customs of his working class background surrounded by men of his ilk.
John 21:7 Therefore that
disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon
Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he
was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
So, don’t make the modern evangelical mistake of making Peter out to be a refined, Victorian with impeccable manners and a soft disposition. It belittles the raw power of the man whom Jesus chose to do his part in spreading the good news of Christ. Perhaps this is the toxic masculinity that Marxists lament in our current society in America but it served a purpose once Peter was able to digest in his mind what the Resurrection of Christ meant. He is a different person in Acts than he was in the gospels as we have all seen, now unafraid to preach Christ, and confident in his own resurrection. Remember him all through the book of Acts.
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, is also a commercial fisherman. There is not a lot about him in the Bible but Greek Orthodox tradition says that the Apostolic successor to Andrew is the Patriarch of Constantinople. Some commentators of old say that he preached around the Black Sea and in what is Southern Russia today. Supposedly he was crucified in Greece. Legend has it, mostly from the Middle Ages, that he was crucified on an X shaped cross, called in folklore the Saint Andrew’s Cross. Beware of Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox legends for which you can find no other historical evidence and is not backed up in the Bible, being a primary source of wisdom from the Holy Spirit of God, if you are a believer.
James is the Greek derivation of the Hebrew name Jacob. James, the son of Zebedee, is considered to be the patron saint of Spain among other things and is considered to be the first Apostle to be martyred.
Acts 12:1 ¶ Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
John, the brother of James, is called John the beloved because of these verses;
John 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son.
John 20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
John 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea…20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
Clearly, there was a special relationship between Jesus and John, who is thought to be the youngest of the Apostles, a relationship that is hard for us to understand today because of social issues we confront. Let’s remember David and Jonathan.
2Samuel 1:26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
We are uncomfortable in modern time with men who are not homosexuals showing affection and love for each other apart from combat, a case for which we make an exception. But let me remind you that in times past manly men, virile, masculine men did not have our fear of showing devotion to close friends or to young adult men they were mentoring. It can be quite disconcerting for us to read a letter from one of our heroes past. I was shocked when I read a letter that George Washington wrote to a friend and how it expressed a heartfelt love we would never dare utter for a person of the same sex today. This was particularly confusing as I knew of his devotion and affection to his wife and there was never any suggestion in his life of inappropriate feelings toward a man. So, let’s put these verses in proper perspective and not color them with our own preconceptions.
Jesus took special care for John, the youngest and most vulnerable of the Apostles. John is also known as the author of a gospel, three letters and the book of Revelation. Tradition has it that in spite of attempts to kill him he lived to be an old age. Tradition also says he taught Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, who taught Irenaeus. He is also thought to have taught Ignatius of Antioch
This Apostle Philip should not be confused with the other Christian, Philip
Acts 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them
The Apostle Philip is the one to whom Christ revealed that He was indeed God the Father in the flesh.
John 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
There is more than one tradition about Philip’s end with one having him crucified upside down and preaching from his cross and another has him beheaded. We simply don’t know anything at this moment that is not presented in the Bible.
Bartholomew’s name is perplexing as it is not mentioned very often in the Bible. However, it was accepted by many that this is the Anglicized version of Bartholmi, or the son of Tholmi, and that this is the same Apostle as Nathanael. In this, Strong’s dictionary, agrees. Most people have more than one name, for instance, Simon Peter. We know Simon and Peter are the same person based on the contexts in which those names are found.
John 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Jesus revealed Bartholomew/Nathanael’s character and Nathanael acknowledged who Jesus was.
John 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
Extrabiblical tradition says he went to India, founded Christianity in Armenia, and was finally martyred in what is called Azerbaijan today.
Thomas was also called “doubting Thomas” in popular culture because of his requiring proof that Christ was risen.
John 20: 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.26 ¶ And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed
Thomas is not only a doubter and needs convincing. He is pessimistic, not believing there would be a good outcome if the company returned to Judea where the Jews had wanted to stone Jesus
John 11:14 Then said Jesus
unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 15
And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may
believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
Notice that Thomas is also called Didymus. Thomas is from the Aramaic word for twin and Didymus the Greek. Didymus was not an uncommon name in the Greek world. There was a Stoic philosopher named Arias Didymus, a scholar and grammarian named Didymus Chalcenterus, Didymus the Blind, Didymus the Musician, etc. Maybe, though, Thomas just was a twin.
Tradition has it that he traveled to India and, in fact, he is the patron saint of many Indian Christians. Supposedly, he was killed by a spear.
Matthew the publican, or tax collector, is writing this gospel. We saw his calling back in chapter 9.
Mathew 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
According to many commentators he was also known as Levi.
Mark 2:14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
Luke 5:27 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
If that is so, we may surmise that there were more than two pairs of brothers among the Apostles, Simon Peter and Andrew being one pair and James and John, sons of Zebedee, the others mentioned earlier, along with Matthew and James, the son of Alphaeus, as Matthew is also said to be in Mark 2:14. However, as Matthew is not mentioned as James, the son of Alphaeus’, brother it is more likely that their fathers simply had the same name. It would not be uncommon for a company of men or women to have parents with the same name. Catholic tradition says they were not brothers while the Eastern Orthodox, which split from the Catholics in 1054 claims they were.
Various traditions have Matthew being crucified in Alexandria, Egypt or martyred in Ethiopia.
James, the son of Alphaeus, is also identified as being James the less in Mark.
Mark 15:40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
He is also identified by some as being an actual sibling of Jesus as per this verse keeping him separate from James, the brother of John.
Galatians 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.
It is likely that this half-brother of Jesus wrote the letter of James sometime after Jesus revealed Himself to him post-resurrection.
1Corinthians 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus, is according to Gill named after the town of Lebba, on the sea coast of Galilee. The surname Thaddeus is derived from the root of Jude or Judah according to Gill and some say he is Jude who writes the letter. I’m not going to go into all of the possibilities and opinions.
He is a patron saint, along with Bartholomew, of the Armenian church and there is a Saint Thaddeus Monastery in Northern Iran and a Saint Thaddeus Church in Armenia.
Simon the Canaanite is mentioned in another verse;
Mark 3:18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
…but also as Simon the Zealot.
Luke 6:15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,
Acts 1:13 And when they
were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and
James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew,
James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
So, with the name of Zelotes this indicates he may have been one of that party of Zealots who were basically terrorists in First Century Judea. Some say, though, that this only refers to his zeal for Christ.
Traditions on his demise vary with him being sawn in half in Persia or crucified in Roman Britain. We won’t know until we reach Heaven what really happened to him.
Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ, has a name that means ‘man of Kerioth’. Kerioth is a town in the territory of Moab.
Jeremiah 48:24 And upon Kerioth, and upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near.
He is referred to as the son of perdition.
John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
And so is the Antichrist at the end of history.
2Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Does this mean, as one commentator said, that the Antichrist will be from the area of ancient Moab and be a Jew?
Matthew Henry’s comments on Judas are quite interesting and I want
to quote them here from his readily available commentary online;
Judas Iscariot is always
named last, and with that black brand upon his name, who also betrayed
him; which intimates that from the first, Christ knew what a wretch he
was, that he had a devil, and would prove a traitor; yet Christ took him among
the apostles, that it might not be a surprise and discouragement to his church,
if, at any time, the vilest scandals should break out in the best societies.
Such spots there have been in our feasts of charity; tares among the wheat,
wolves among the sheep; but there is a day of discovery and separation coming,
where hypocrites shall be unmasked and discarded. Neither the apostleship, nor
the rest of the apostles, were ever the worse for Judas's being one of the
twelve, while his wickedness was concealed and did not break out.[2]
Matthew 10:5 ¶ These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, 10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. 11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. 12 And when ye come into an house, salute it. 13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
The Apostle’s ministry will be first to the people of Israel. They get the first opportunity to receive the kingdom of Heaven and God. This calling was peculiar to them in this time as they revealed the doctrine of God’s kingdom within the hearts of men and women to Israel. They were to start with a person of good reputation in a town and give them a chance to receive the gospel that Jesus had taught them. This person with a good reputation would be a great beginning to spread the good news. John Gill insists that this doesn’t mean a particularly religious person but a lover of hospitality, liberal minded, the kind of person who would welcome weary strangers and take care of them. The Apostles had great power to do things that Jesus had been doing and were told not to even provide for their basic needs. All would be taken care of.
If they were rejected the people of that town in that time would suffer more on the day of judgment than Sodom and Gomorrah because they were given the truth and refused to hear it. This seems to suggest that it is worse for a person if they hear the truth and reject it than if they never heard it at all but are still lost and that there are degrees of punishment in eternity.
The town that received them would receive their blessing and it is implied that they would bear fruit in such a place, open to the gospel. John the Baptist has preached the imminent entry into their world of the Messiah and now the Messiah has sent out His Apostles to proclaim the kingdom. No one has any excuse.
Matthew 10:16 ¶ Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. 24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? 26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
Jesus uses three types of animals here, focusing on the commonly held mythologies of their characters. The Apostles are going out physically helpless in a world that has many in it who would do them harm, as sheep among wolves.
John 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
But they and we, by extension, are to be wise as the proverbial serpent, thought to be clever, plotting, and careful but harmless as doves. We should not be naïve or unaware of the devices of the enemy and so easily taken advantage of but at the same time we should pose no physical threat to others.
They are not to be overawed by rulers and kings but God will give them the words to say when the time comes for them to give a defense of the gospel. See how later Paul himself will be commissioned to preach to kings which he does in the latter part of Acts.
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Verse 21 shows that this preaching among the Jews caused division and many families would turn in on themselves giving up their own loved ones to the authorities for upsetting the established order. But Jesus tells the Apostles to stay steady in their mission until it is finished and they shall be protected. His Crucifixion and Resurrection will take place before every city in Israel being visited.
Jesus refers to how some have likened Him to the Devil as we would see in Mark 3:22 and later here in Matthew, chapter 12. He states that if He has been likened to the Devil how much more so will His servants receive that condemnation. But don’t worry, guys, be faithful and say what I have told you to say. You are in the Father’s hands. Even the most insignificant creature is in God’s hands and Jesus says that these Apostles are worth more than many of them. Even the very hairs of their head are numbered. Their time on earth is set by God, not by those who hate them.
These passages bring up some very important doctrinal points for us to consider. Fear God not man.
Isaiah 8:12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
There are many verses that refer to the importance of fearing God.
Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
Isaiah 33:6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.
It is not just dread but also an overwhelming awe and reverence.
Psalm 33:8 Let all the
earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
And even the death of the most seemingly insignificant creature is in God’s control.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Our days on earth are determined by God.
Job 7:1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
From verses 32 to 39 we see the social disruption and conflict the Apostles faced. They are called to confess Christ before men and women and to face family and society’s rejection for their faith. Their own family was not to be above Christ in their hearts. Theirs was an uphill battle and a very dangerous mission in that world. The world in which they live will hate them because that world, as ours, hates Christ. They must be ready to expect the worst but have faith in God’s protection and blessing on their ministry.
Whosoever receives these Apostles receives the one who sent them.
Even the smallest act of kindness that is done to one of them will be as if it
was done to Christ Himself.
[1]
Ernest L. Martin, “The Seven Hills of Jerusalem,” on Associates for Scriptural
Knowledge, http://askelm.com/prophecy/p000201.htm.
(updated February 1, 2000).
[2] Matthew Henry, Matthew
Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible, Matthew 10:4, https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/matthew/10.html. (accessed
12.27.22).
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