141.  THE TWELVE APOSTLES.



There are four lists of the names of the Twelve Apostles :  three in the Gospels and one in the Acts.  In each list the order of the names varies, but with this remarkable agreement that they are always given in three groups, the first of each group being the same (Peter, Philip, and James the son of Alphaeus), while the other three, thought they vary in order within the group, are never given in a different group.

They may be presented thus :--

 

 
Matt.
10:2-4.
Mark
3:16-19.
 
Luke
6:14-16.
Acts
1:13, 26.
1.
 
 
PETER
 
 
2.
and Andrew; 
and James
 
and Andrew,
and James,
3.
James,
and John; 
 
James
and John,
4.
and John; 
and Andrew
 
and John,
and Andrew,
5.
 
 
PHILIP
 
 
6.
and Bartholomew (*1); 
and Bartholomew (*1), 
 
and Bartholomew (*1),
and Thomas,
7.
Thomas, 
and Matthew,
 
Matthew
Bartholomew (*1),
8.
and Matthew; 
and Thomas,
 
and Thomas,
and Matthew,
9.
 
 
JAMES
(son of Alphaeus)
 
 
10.
and Lebbaeus (*2);
and Thaddaeus (*2),
 
and Simon (*3)
(Zelotes),
and Simon (*3)
(Zelotes),
11.
Simon (*3) (Can.),
and Simon (*3) (Can.),
 
and Judas (*2) 
(of James),
and Judas (*2)
(of James).
12.
and Judas Iscariot.
and Judas Iscariot.
 
and Judas Iscariot.
[Matthias (v. 26)].



Further detailed particulars may be given as follows :--

  1. Simon (Matt. 10:2.  Mark 3:16.  Luke 6:14.  John 1:42).  Peter (Acts 1:13), so surnamed (Matt. 10:2) by Christ (Mark 3:16.  Luke 6:14), who also called him Cephas (John 1:42).  He was the son of Jona (*4) (John 1:42) and a native of Bethsaida (*4) (John 1:44).

  2. Andrew (Matt. 10:2.  Mark 3:18.  Luke 6:14.  Acts 1:13) of Bethsaida (*4) (John 1:44), and Peter's brother (Matt. 10:2.  Luke 6:14).

  3. James (Matt. 10:2.  Mark 3:17.  Luke 6:14.  Acts 1:13), the son of Zebedee (*4) (Matt. 10:2.  Mark 3:17), surnamed by Christ, with John, Boanerges (*4) (Mark 3:17).

  4. John (Matt. 10:2.  Mark 3:17.  Luke 6:14.  Acts 1:13), the brother of James (Matt. 10:2.  Mark 3:17) surnamed by Christ, with James, Boanerges (*4) (Mark 3:17).

  5. Philip (Matt. 10:3.  Mark 3:18.  Luke 6:14.  Acts 1:13), of Bethsaida (*4) (John 1:44).

  6. Bartholomew (*4) (Matt. 10:3.  Mark 3:18.  Luke 6:14.  Acts 1:13).

  7. Thomas (*4) (Matt. 10:3.  Mark 3:18.  Luke 6:15.  Acts 1:13), called Didymus (John 11:16; 21:2).
  8. Matthew (*4) (Matt. 10:3.  Mark 3:18.  Luke 6:15.  Acts 1:13)  the Publican (Matt. 10:3.  Luke 5:27); called also Levi (Mark 2:14.  Luke 5:27), the son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14).

  9. James (Matt. 10:3.  Mark 3:18.  Luke 6:15.  Acts 1:13), the son of Alphaeus (*4) (Matt. 10:3.  Mark 3:18.  Luke 6:15.  Acts 1:13).

  10. Lebbaeus (Matt. 10:3), whose surname (Matt. 10:3) was Thaddaeus (*4) (Matt. 10:3.  Mark 3:18); called also Judas, brother of James (Luke 6:16.  Acts 1:13); and "Judas (not Iscariot)" (John 14:22).

  11. Simon (Matt. 10:4.  Mark 3:18.  Luke 6:15  Acts 1:13), the Canaanite (Matt. 10:4.  Mark 3:18); called Zelotes (Luke 6:15.  Acts 1:13).

  12. Judas (Matt. 10:4.  Mark 3:19.  Luke 6:16)  Iscariot (Matt. 10:4.  Mark 3:19.  Luke 6:16), the traitor (Luke 6:16) who betrayed Him (Matt. 10:4.  Mark 3:19.  John 6:71; 12:4; 13:2), the son of Simon (John 6:71; 12:4; 13:2, 26).



(*1)  A patronymic for NATHANAEL (John 1:44-46), where he is joined with Philip, and in John 21:2 with Thomas.

(*2)  JUDAS the brother of James, to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot.  He was called Lebbaeus or Thaddaeus, which words have a similar meaning, the latter being Aramaic.  See Ap. 94. III. 3.

(*3)  SIMON, the Canaanite or Cananean.  Not meaning a Gentile, but an Aramaic word meaning the same as Zelotes.

(*4)  These are Aramaic words.  See Ap. 94. III. 3.




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