Matthew 10:2-4

1. Simon, who is called Peter.

a. Personal name meaning, "Rock."

1) Four names are used in the New Testament to refer to Peter:

a) The Hebrew name Simeon (Acts 15:14).

b) The Greek equivalent Simon (nearly fifty times in the Gospels and Acts).

c) Cephas (which also means "rock"), most frequently used by Paul (1 Cor. 1:12; 3:22; 9:5;15:5; Gal. 1:18; 2:9,11,14) and occurring only once outside his writings (John 1:42).

d) Simon is often found in combination with Peter, reminding the reader that Simon was the earlier name and that Peter was a name given later by Jesus.

2) The name Peter dominates the New Testament usage.

b. The Gospels preserve a surprising amount of information about Peter and his family.

1) Simon is the son of Jona or John (Matt. 16:17; John 1:42).

2) He and his brother, Andrew, came from Bethsaida (John 1:44) and were Galilean fishermen (Mark 1:16; Luke 5:2-3; John 21:3), in partnership with the sons of Zebedee, James and John (Luke 5:10).

3) Peter was married (Mark 1:29-31; 1 Cor. 9:5) and maintained a residence in Capernaum (Mark 1:21,29).

4) Before becoming disciples of Jesus, Peter and Andrew had been influenced by the teaching of John the Baptist (John 1:35-42).

c. Peter is credited with being a leader of the twelve disciples whom Jesus called.

1) His name always occurs first in the lists of disciples (Mark 3:16; Luke 6:14; Matt. 10:2).

2) He frequently served as the spokesman for the disciples (compare Mark 8:29) and was usually the one who raised the questions which they all seemed to be asking (Mark 10:28; 11:21; Matt 15:15; 18:21; Luke 12:41).

d. Peter played an influential role in establishing the Jerusalem church.

1) James, the brother of Jesus, assumed the leadership role of the Jewish community.

2) Though Peter was active in the incipient stages of the Gentile mission (Acts 10-11), Paul became the "apostle to the gentiles."

3) Peter probably sacrificed his chances to be the leader of either one of these groups because of his commitment to serve as a bridge in the early church, doing more than any other to hold together the diverse strands of primitive Christianity.

2. Andrew (Peter's brother).

a. A disciple of John the Baptist who became one of Jesus' first disciples and led his brother Simon to Jesus (John 1:40-41).

b. He was a fisherman by trade (Matt. 4:18).

c. In the Bible, he is mentioned for the last time in Acts 1:13.

d. He figures prominently in several early extra-biblical church traditions and it is believed that he was put to death on an x-shaped cross.

3. James the son of Zebedee[zeb'uh-dee].

a. He, with Peter and John, formed Jesus' innermost circle of associates.

- These three were present when Jesus raised Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51), witnessed the transfiguration (Matt. 17:1; Mark 9:2; Luke 9:28), and were summoned by Christ for support during His agony in Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36-37; Mark 14:32-34).

b. James is the only one of Christ's apostles whose martyrdom is recorded in the New Testament.

- King Herod Agrippa I starts his persecution against the church, he puts James to death by the sword (Acts 12:2).

4. John (James the son of Zebedee's brother).

a. Harmonizing Matthew 27:56 with Mark 15:40 suggests that John's mother was Salome [suh-loh'mee].

1) If she was also the sister of Jesus' mother (John 19:25), then John was Jesus' first cousin.

2) This string of associations is so conjectural, though, that we cannot be sure of it.

b. Because James is usually mentioned first when the two brothers are identified, some have also conjectured that John was the younger of the two.

c. The sons of Zebedee were among the first disciples called (Matt. 4:21-22; Mark 1:19-20).

1) They were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee and probably lived in Capernaum.

2) Their father was sufficiently prosperous to have "hired servants" (Mark 1:20), and Luke 5:10 states that James and John were "partners with Simon" Peter.

d. Five books of the New Testament have been attributed to John the Apostle: the Gospel, three Epistles, and Revelation.

e. Church history indicates that John perhaps took up residence in Ephesus.

1) Tertullian says he came to Rome and suffer by being placed in a cauldron of boiling oil, yet he survived by a miracle.

2) Eusebius says John was banished to Patmos under the persecution of Domitian and then returned to Ephesus under Caesar Nerva.

3) Polycrates notes that he was made an Ephesian bishop and even wore a priestly headdress when officiating.

4) John died and was buried in the city of Ephesus.

a. Personal name meaning, "fond of horses."

b. He was from Bethsaida, and he led his brother Nathanael to Jesus (John 1:43-51).

c. The evidence seems conclusive that the latter part of his life was spent in Phrygia.

- This is supported by Polycrates (bishop of Ephesus in the 2nd century), who states that he died at Hierapolis, by Theodoret.

a. The name Bartholomew means "son of Talmai [tal'mi]," and may have been a patronymic, a name derived from that of the father or a paternal ancestor.

1) It occurs in all four lists of the apostles in the New Testament (Matt. 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16; Acts 1:13); in each of the Gospels it immediately follows the name of Philip.

2) The name does not occur at all in John's Gospel.

3) His name was formerly John, but our Lord changed it because of John the son of Zebedee.

b. In the first chapter of John, the account of Philip's call to discipleship is closely related to the call of a person named Nathanael (John 1: 43-51), and this circumstance has led to the traditional identification of Bartholomew with Nathanael.

1) Nathanael, therefore, must be considered as his real name, while Bartholomew merely expresses his filial relation.

2) If so, he was a native of Cana in Galilee.

3) Some believe that he was the bridegroom at the marriage of Cana.

c. The "Gospel of Bartholomew" is mentioned by Hieronymus (Comm. Proem ad Matth.), and Gelasius gives the tradition that Bartholomew brought the Hebrew gospel of Matthew to India.

1) According to Eusebius (Hist. Eccles.v. 10), when Pantaenus went on a mission to the Indians (toward the close of the second century), he found among them the Gospel of Matthew, written in Hebrew, which had been left there by the Apostle Bartholomew.

- Jerome (De Vir. Illustr. c. 36) gives a similar account, and adds that Pantaenus brought the copy of Matthew's Gospel back to Alexandria with him.

2) The title of "Indians" is applied by ancient writers to so many different nations that it is difficult to determine the scene of Bartholomew's labors.

a) Some are of the opinion that it was a part of Arabia Felix, inhabited by Jews to whom alone a Hebrew gospel could be of any service.

b) Socrates (Hist. Eccles. 1,19) says that it was the India bordering on Ethiopia; and Sophronius reports that Bartholomew preached the Gospel of Christ to the inhabitants of India Felix.

d. This apostle is said to have suffered crucifixion with his head downward at Albanopolis, in Armenia Minor (Assemani, Bibl. Orient. III, 2:20), or, according to the pseudo-Chrysostom (Opp. 8:622, ed. Par. nov.), in Lycaonia; according to Nicephorus. at, Urbanopolis, in Cilicia (see Abdias, in Fabricius, Cod. Apocr. 2:685 sq.; Baronius, ad Martyrol. Romans p. 500 sq.; Perionii Vitae Apostolor. p. 127 sq.).

- The "Martyrdom of Bartholomew" states that he was placed in a sack and cast into the sea.

7. Thomas.

a. Personal name from Hebrew meaning, "a twin."

b. Thomas sought evidence of Jesus' resurrection (John 20:25), but when convinced of the miracle made an historic confession of faith (20:28).

8. Matthew the publican.

a. Personal name meaning "the gift of Yahweh."

b. Matthew was a tax collector Jesus called to be an apostle (Matt. 9:9; 10:3).

1) His office was located on the main highway that ran from Damascus, down the Jordan Valley to Capernaum, then westward to Acre to join the coastal road to Egypt or southward to Jerusalem.

2) His duty was to collect "toll" or "transport" taxes from both local merchants and farmers carrying their goods to market as well as distant caravans passing through Galilee.

3) He was an employee of Herod Antipas.

4) Because Matthew had leased his "toll" collecting privileges by paying the annual fee in advance, he was subjected to the criticism of collecting more than enough, growing wealthy on his "profit." Thus he was hated by his fellow Jews.

c. Matthew is the same person as Levi, a tax collector (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27), and thus the son of Alphaeus.

1) James the son of Alphaeus is also listed among the Apostles (Mark 3:18; Matt. 10:3; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13).

2) This indicates that both Matthew and his (half) brother were in close association with Jesus.

d. Later legendary accounts tell of Matthew's travel to Ethiopia where he became associated with Candace, identified with the eunuch of Acts 8:27.

- The legends tell us of Matthew's martydom in that country.

e. His reputation as a soulwinner must have been well known because he is called, by tradition, Matthew the Evangelist.

9. James the son of Alphaeus[al-fee'uhs].

a. He is not distinguished by name in any occasion reported in the Gospels or Acts.

b. He may be "James the younger," whose mother, Mary, was among the women at Jesus' crucifixion and tomb (Matt. 27:56; Mark 15:40; 16:1; Luke 24:10).

- In John 19:25, this Mary is called the wife of Cleophas, perhaps to be identified with Alphaeus.

10. Lebbaeus [li-bee'uhs], whose surname was Thaddaeus [thad'ee-uhs].

a. He is called the brother of James (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13).

b. His only recorded words are found in John 14:22.

c. Nothing is known of his career, nor what happened to him at the end of his life.

11. Simon the Canaanite.

a. A Greek personal name meaning, "flat-nosed."

- Used in New Testament as Greek alternative for Hebrew, "Simeon."

b. According to the "Gospel of the Ebionites" or" Gospel of the Twelve Apostles" (of the 2nd century and mentioned by Origen) Simon received his call to the apostleship along with Andrew and Peter, the sons of Zebedee, Thaddaeus and Judas Iscariot at the Sea of Tiberias.

c. Although Simon, like the majority of the apostles, was probably a Galilean, the designation "Cananaean" is regarded as of political rather than of geographical significance.

1) The Zealots were a faction, headed by Judas of Galilee, who "in the days of the enrollment" (compare Acts 5:37; Lk 2:1,2) bitterly opposed the threatened increase of taxation at the census of Quirinius, and would have hastened by the sword the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy.

2) The Zealots were not a religious sect, but rather a fanatical nationalists who advocated violence as a means of liberation from Rome.

12. Judas Iscariot.

a. All of the Gospels place him at the end of the list of disciples because of his role as betrayer.

b. Iscariot is an Aramaic word which means "man of Kerioth", a town near Hebron.

- He was the only disciple from Judea.

c. He acted as treasurer for the disciples but was known as a miser and a thief (John 12:5-6).

d. He was present at the Last Supper, during which Jesus predicted his betrayal (Luke 22:21; Matt. 26:20-21).

1) The price of the betrayal was 30 pieces of silver, which Judas returned to Jewish leaders; then he went out and hanged himself.

2) He died in sorrow but without repentance.

3) The money, which could not be returned to the treasury because it was blood money, was used to buy a potter's field in Judas' name (Matt. 27:3-10; compare Acts 1:18-19).

Mark 3:16-19

1. Simon Peter.

2. James the son of Zebedee (the son's of thunder).

3. John (the brother of James the son of Zebedee - the son's of thunder).

4. Andrew.

5. Philip.

6. Bartholomew.

7. Matthew.

8. Thomas.

9. James the son of Alphaeus.

10. Thaddaeus.

11. Simon the Canaanite.

12. Judas Iscariot.
 

Luke 6:14-16

1. Simon Peter.

2. Andrew (Peter's brother).

3. James.

4. John.

5. Philip.

6. Bartholomew.

7. Matthew.

8. Thomas.

9. James the son of Alphaeus.

10. Simon called Zelotes.

11. Judas the brother of James (i.e., Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus).

12. Judas Iscariot.
 

I. The use of the word Apostle in the New Testament.
1. Greek, APOSTOLOS (ap-os'-tol-os: this word occurs 81 times in 79 verses throughout the New Testament).

a. A delegate, an ambassador of the Gospel.

b. Officially a commissioner of Christ (with miraculous powers).

c. An apostle, a messenger, he that is sent.

a. The first group is what we normally think of as the office of Apostle as those who where chosen by Jesus (Matt.4:18-22; 10:2-4; Mark 1:16-20; 3:14-19; Luke 5:2-11; 6:13-16; John 1:40-42; Acts 1:13, 26).

1) The qualifications for this type of Apostle in found in Acts 1:21-26 (based upon these qualifications, we could not have this type of Apostleship today).

a) First requirement: they must have accompanied the apostles all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among them—beginning with the baptism of John, until the day that He was taken up (Acts 1:21-22a).

(1) He would have to have witnessed the Lord’s entire earthly ministry, from its inception at His baptism to its culmination at the ascension.

(2) It should be noted that Paul did not meet that qualification.

b) Second requirement: The second requirement was that the one selected be a witness with the other eleven of His resurrection (Acts 1:22b).

(1) They must have seen the resurrected Christ, since the resurrection was a central theme of apostolic preaching (Acts 2:24, 32; 3:15; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30, 33, 34, 37).

(2) All the apostles were to be personal eyewitnesses of the risen Lord.

2) They are promised a special place in God's kingdom, they will rule over the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt.19:28), and their names are placed upon the wall of the New Jerusalem (Rev.21:14).

a) The apostolate saw fit to replace the vacancy left by Judas, but later when the Apostle James died (Acts12:2) no record was given of a successor being appointed.

b) Evidently it was necessary to replace Judas’ position because he had vacated his place of promise, referred to in Matthew 19:28.

b. The other type of Apostle has numerous examples of in the New Testament (the same Greek word was used for the following people):

1) Jesus (Heb.3:1), Paul (Acts 9:1-9; he was called to be the Apostle to the Gentiles, to preach the Word of God, and to establish Churches), Barnabus (Acts 13:3; 14:4, 14: he was sent out as a missionary), Silas [si'luhs] or Silvanus [sil-vay'nuhs], and Timothy (1 Thess.1:1; 2:6: they where missionaries with Paul), Andronicus [an-dron'uh-kuhs] and Junias [joo'nee-uhs] (Rom.16:7), Two Unnamed brethren (2 Cor.8:18-23: they helped in the collection and delivery of the love offering), and Epaphroditus [i-paf'ruh-di'tuhs] (Phil.2:25: was sent to minister to Paul).

2) These passages show the gift of "Apostle" as the concept of being given a special project to do.

a) It might be to minister to someone, to collect and to carry money, to establish Churches, to preach the gospel, to provide salvation, or some other task.

b) Today, probably the closest thing that we have to this is missionaries.

c. It is sometimes said by those who recognize that there were other apostles besides the Twelve (i.e., those who held the office of Apostle) and Paul, that the latter (to whom some, on the ground of 1 Cor 15:7; Gal 1:19, would add James the Lord's brother) were the apostles par excellence, while the other apostles mentioned in the New Testament were apostles in some inferior sense (i.e., not in the office of Apostle, but would be what we would consider missionaries today).

1) During the Lord's ministry, the brothers of Jesus (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3; 1 Cor. 9:5) were not believers (John 7:3-5; compare Matt. 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21).

- After the resurrection and ascension, the brothers are said to have been with the twelve and the other believers in Jerusalem (Acts 1:14).

2) Paul specifically mentioned a resurrection appearance by Jesus to James (1 Cor. 15:7).

. A Bible Handbook To The Acts Of The Apostles, Mal Couch, General Editor, 1999, Kregel Publications.

. Bible Knowledge Commentary, New Testament, by John Walvoord & Roy Zuck, .1983, Victor Books.

. Cyclopedia Of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, by John McClintock & James Strong,
   2000, Ages Software.

. Holman Bible Dictionary for Windows, v.1.0g, 1994, Parsons Techology.

. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, James Orr, General Editor, 1939, by Wm. B. Eerdmans
   Publishing Co.

. MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Acts 1-12, by John MacArthur, 1994, Moody Press.

. Pronunciation breakdown for proper names and geographical locations are based upon "Harper's Bible
  Pronunciation Guide," by William O. Walker, Jr., General Editor, Harper & Row Publishers, San
   Francisco CA., 1989.