Matthew 10:2-4

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these.

Of the twelve apostles there are four lists, found in Matthew 10:2; Mark 3:16; Luke 6:14, and Acts 1:13.

They differ in the following particulars: Luke, in the book of Acts, does not insert the name of Judas Iscariot, who was then dead; both in his Gospel and in Acts he entitles the Simon who here and in Mark is called the Canaanite, Simon Zelotes; Matthew gives as the tenth disciple, Lebbeus; Mark calls him Thaddeus; Luke and Acts, Judas of James, i. e., either son or brother of James; and Mark says that James and John were surnamed by Christ, Boanerges, i. e., the sons of thunder. In other respects the four lists are identical, except that the names are given in. slightly different order by the different writers. They all agree, however, in putting Simon Peter first and Judas Iscariot last; and all agree in arranging them in groups of four, Simon Peter being first of the group, Philip the second, James the son of Alpheus of the third. There are three pairs of brothers among them: Andrew and Peter, James and John, James the Less and Judas or Thaddeus. James and John. believe to have been own cousins of our Lord. With the exception of Judas Iscariot, all were Galileans; several of them were by trade fishermen,. laborious and profitable calling; they were all laymen, that is, there was neither priest nor scribe among them. They have generally been regarded as illiterate men (Acts 4:13); but by this must be understood, not that they were specially ignorant, but that they were not versed in the rabbinical literature, the scholastic theology of their age. Philip and Peter both appear to have been acquainted with the Greek. This is indicated by the application of the Greeks to Philip (John 12:20-21), and by the fact that the Epistles of Peter were written in Greek. Matthew was. ready and methodical writer; John evidently was. man of culture, as his writings show, and his social position was such as gave him ready access to the high priest's palace during the trial of Jesus (John 18:16); and there are unmistakable indications that several of the Twelve possessed wealth or wealthy connections, for the father of James and John had hired servants, Peter apparently lived in his own house, and Matthew had the means to give. large party to many friends (Mark 1:20; Luke 4:38; Luke 5:29).-- Abbott.