Christ's charge to his apostles. After a night spent in prayer, Jesus called his twelve disciples and constituted them into an apostolic college. With his commission he gave them his charge. Notice— I. THE PERSONS COMMISSIONED AND CHARGED . 1 . They were twelve in number. 2 . Their names are given in order. II. THE CHARGE . 1 . As to the apostles preaching. (a) Not to the Gentiles. (b) Not to the Samaritans. (c) They were to limit their... read more
Now the names of the twelve apostles - The account of their being called is more fully given in Mark 3:13-18, and Luke 6:12-19. Each of those evangelists has recorded the circumstances of their appointment. They agree in saying it was done on a mountain; and, according to Luke, it was done before the sermon on the mount was delivered, perhaps on the same mountain, near Capernaum. Luke adds that the night previous had been spent “in prayer” to God. See the notes at Luke 6:12.Simon, who is called... read more
Matthew 10:2-4. The first, Simon The first who was called to a constant attendance on Christ: although Andrew had seen him before Simon, John 1:41. James the son of Zebedee The fisherman, and John his brother The beloved disciple; who were also called at the same time with the two former, as they were fishing at the sea of Galilee, Mark 1:19. The word Ιακωβος , which we translate James, is the same name with that of the patriarch; but immemorial custom has appropriated, in our... read more
36. Jesus chooses the twelve apostles (Matthew 9:35-10:4; Mark 3:7-19; Luke 6:12-19)The more Jesus’ work grew, the more people came seeking him; and the more deeply saddened he became as he saw the confused and helpless spiritual condition of the Jewish people. There were plenty of opportunities for worthwhile work but there were few workers, and Jesus asked his followers to pray that God would supply the right workers to meet the need (Matthew 9:35-38; Mark 3:7-12).So urgent was the need that... read more
apostles = those sent forth. See note on Mark 3:14 . Zebedee. See note on Matthew 4:21 . read more
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; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.There are four listings of the Twelve in the New Testament, always occurring in groups of four, with positions 1,5, and 9 always listing Peter, Philip, and James the son of... read more
Matthew 10:2. Now the names, &c.— In the catalogue of the apostles, Simon and Andrew, the sons of Jonah, are named first; not because they were greater in dignity than their brethren of the apostolical college, but because they had become Christ's disciples before them. With respect to Andrew, this is plain from John 1:40-41.; and as for Peter, he may have been the second disciple, not withstanding it was another person who accompanied Andrew when he first conversed with Jesus. That person... read more
2. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these—The other Evangelists enumerate the twelve in immediate connection with their appointment (Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:13-16). But our Evangelist, not intending to record the appointment, but only the Mission of the Twelve, gives their names here. And as in the Acts ( :-) we have a list of the Eleven who met daily in the upper room with the other disciples after their Master's ascension until the day of Pentecost, we have four catalogues in all for... read more
2. Jesus’ commissioning of 12 disciples 10:1-4 (cf. Mark 6:7; Luke 9:1-2) read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 10:2-4
Representative Christian characters. No doubt the number twelve was chosen by our Lord because twelve had been the number of the tribes of Israel. Very possibly a critical estimate of those two sets of twelve would bring to view this very interesting fact—the heads of the twelve tribes represent the different types of ordinary humanity, they classify human character; and the twelve apostles represent the different types of Christianized humanity, or of human character as influenced by... read more