Luke 6:13-16

Jesus selected the Twelve from the larger group of learners who followed Him around (cf. Matthew 10:2-4; Acts 1:13). Only Luke mentioned that Jesus called the Twelve "apostles" (lit. sent ones). Luke used this term six times in this Gospel (Luke 6:13; Luke 9:10; Luke 11:49; Luke 17:5; Luke 22:14; Luke 24:10) and 28 times in Acts. Each of the other Evangelists only used it once. This fact reflects his continuing interest in the mission that Jesus began and continued through these apostles and the whole church (Acts 1:1-2). The fact that Jesus chose 12 apostles now probably suggests continuity in God’s plan of salvation because the 12 apostles in one sense replaced the 12 sons of Israel (Jacob). However, I believe the many points of discontinuity with Israel are just as important and make the equating of Israel and the church impossible (cf. Ephesians 2).

Luke’s list contains the same names as those that Matthew and Mark have given us with some variation in the order. Only Luke mentioned that Judas Iscariot became a traitor.