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2 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;
3 Philip, and
Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and
Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the
Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
- Matthew 10:2-4 (KJV)
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Twelve Apostles
Among
the most well-known facts of Jesus’ ministry is that twelve disciples traveled
with and assisted Him as He preached to the crowds and healed the sick. The
title “disciple” is certainly not inappropriate for these men, as the New
Testament applies it to them (Matt. 11:1).
But it was not the fact that the Twelve were disciples that set them apart.
Both the Hebrew and Greek terms translated as “disciple” simply mean “learner.”
Anyone who learns and follows the teaching of Jesus is rightly called a disciple,
so there have been many millions of disciples throughout history.
Today’s
passage indicates what made the Twelve unique, namely, that they were appointed
as “apostles.” As Dr. R.C. Sproul has often said, every
Apostle is a disciple but not every disciple is an Apostle. The Apostolic
office is a unique one that involves more than just learning. In the ancient
world, the same title was used for secular officials commissioned to speak in
the name of the Caesar or another authority. To disobey an apostle sent by the
Caesar was to disobey the Caesar himself. Thus, to disobey one of Christ’s
Apostles when he speaks for His Master is to disobey Jesus Himself. The
Apostles had unique authority, particularly in the exercise of the Apostolic
preaching ministry, for Jesus commissioned them to preach (Mark 3:14). This preaching
comes to us today in the form of the New Testament, so Apostolic authority is
invested in sacred Scripture. Paul tells us as much when he says that the
content he taught by preaching is identical to the content he taught by writing
(2 Thess. 2:15).
The
preaching of the Apostles was an out ow of their being “with him,” for one of
the purposes in Jesus’ calling them was so that they would have fellowship with
Him (Mark 3:14). Moreover, in
calling twelve disciples/Apostles, Jesus made it clear that He was not
continuing Israel unaltered; rather, He was doing something new. Twelve
Apostles recalls the twelve tribes of Israel that were the foundation for the
old covenant community. By calling twelve Apostles, Jesus established a new
covenant community that would stand in continuity with ancient Israel without
repeating its story exactly. This is confirmed in Jesus’ calling the Twelve to
Him on a mountain, for the old covenant community was formally constituted
under Moses at Mount Sinai. On a mountain, Jesus inaugurated a new era and a
new community, ful lling Moses’ work and stepping into His role as mediator of
the new covenant.
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Jesus’ death on the
cross, as described in the New Testament, has become one of the most famous
events. But what happened to the 12 disciples who were his closest followers?
There are many sources, including the New Testament itself, apocryphal texts,
early Christian historians, legends and lore.
2 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;
3 Philip, and
Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and
Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the
Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
- Matthew 10:2-4 (KJV)
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Coram Deo
Many
people try to separate Christ from His Apostles, but that is not possible.
True, only Christ is God incarnate and only Christ atoned for sin; however, the
words of the Apostles carry the same authority as the words Christ spoke while
on earth. The New Testament is the very Word of God and therefore the very Word
of Jesus, because Jesus is God and because the Spirit of God inspired the
Apostles (2 Tim. 3:16–17).
If we reject the words of the Apostles, we reject Christ.
INTERNET SOURCE: https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/twelve-apostles/
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The Hidden Meanings of the Names of the 12
Apostles | ChurchPOP
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