05/16/2022 – Day 075 – Mark 3 – 4 / 1 of 2: “Who were the 12 disciples?”
https://www.truechristianmagazine.org/who-were-jesus-12-original-disciples/
I selected the top link after sampling a few alternatives. But I am going to supplement it , using Halley’s Bible Handbook. I will quote verbatim, putting my own interjections within parentheses as follows: (J: ……). Let’s get started:
J:
https://www.gotquestions.org/Thaddeus-in-the-Bible.html
See link above: Matthew 10: 2-4 and Mark 3: 16-19 lists Thaddaeus as one of the twelve, whereas Luke 6: 12-19 and Acts 1:13 lists Simon Zealot. What’s up. As noted in the link, Judas was most likely formal “birth certificate”, Thaddeus is most likely an “endearing” family nickname.
So here are the 12:
Simon (later “Peter” – Greek or “Cephas” : the “Rock” as newly named by Jesus) / Andrew / James (son of Zebedee) / John (son of Zebedee) / Philip / Bartholemew / Thomas / Matthew / James (son of Alphaeus, called “The Little”, probably due to his stature )/ Judas son of James or Thaddeus as noted above / Simon Zealot / Judas Iscariot (The betrayer).
My favorite character as portrayed in “The Chosen” series was Matthew , the tax collector. Typical of tax collector, Matthew was a Publican, or upper class but not ruling class. Other Jews considered tax collectors as inherently deplorable. I have read that even religious Jews when it came to tax collection, “lies” were ok. A trivial aside: Simon the “Zealot” and Matthew “the Publican” would have been natural and vehement enemies.
Ok – now Halley’s Bible Handbook, excerpts, pages 465 through 466, Matthew 3: 13-19 – The Twelve Chosen :
Peter: “Peter had a wife (Matthew 8:14; Mark 1:30; Luke 4:38). She went about with him in his work as an Apostle (1 Corinthians 9:5). He was a native of Behsaida (John 1:44). Had a home in Capernaum (Mark 1:29). Either he had two homes, or had moved from Bethsaida to Capernaum.
The name which Jesus gave him, “Rock”” was indicative of his real character, which Jesus well understood; strength of conviction (J: thrice denial aside); courage, boldnss, …, and once ‘dissimulated’ at Antioch. He was absolutely fearless under persecution. He laid the foundations of the Judean Church, and led it onward with such momentum that the rulers stood aghast. (See further under Introduction to 1 Peter)
John. (See Introductory Note to John.)
Mattthew. (See Introductory Note to Matthew)
James. Older brother of John. Jesus named the two, “Boanerges,” Sons of Thunder. Doesn’t it indicate that possibly Jesus had a playful sense of humor? Not much is known of James. He was the first of the Twelve to die; killed by Herod , A.D. 44. Traditions are that most of the Twelve died as martyrs. (J: All but John, who spent much of his later life exiled to the island of Patmos. The irony is that after Jesus told Peter that in his last days he would be taken to where he didn’t want to go (tradition – crucified on a cross upside down because he didn’t feel worthy enough to be crucified right side up, as His Lord was), he asked Jesus what about him, pointing to John. Jesus reply was more or less: “What is that to you? Concern yourself with your mission!”)
Two families were partners in the fishing business: brothers James and John, with Zebedee their father; and brothers Simon and Andrew. They had hired servants. it must have been a fairly large business. All four became apostles. Three of them, the inner circle friends of Jesus. (J: See the transfiguration in the garden as one example, taking James, John, and Peter with him to pray) The Twelve as a whole must have been men of the very highest grade, for Jesus knew men. These three, What magnificent men they must have been!
Andrew of Bethsaida. He and John were Jesus’ first converts. He brought his brother Peter to Christ. Traditions says he preached in Asia Minor , Greece and Scythia (Russia).
Phillip. Of Bethsaida. Fellow-townsman of Peter and Andrew. Brought Nathaniel to Christ. Matter-of-fact turn of mind. According to tradition, he preached in Phrygia, and in Hierapolis.
Bartholomew. Thought to be the surname of Nathaniel, who was of Cana Perhaps it was through him that Jesus came to the wedding feast. Tradition: he preached in Parthia.
Thomas. A twin. Cautious, thoughtful, skeptical, gloomy. (J: my take, he got a bad rap with: “doubting Thomas”) The tradtitions make him labor in Syria, Parthia, Persia and India. (does Halley suggest with “Make him labor” that these were even tougher calls / assignments?)
James. Son of Alphaes. Called “The Little,” probably because of his stature. Tradition : he preached in Palestine and Egypt.
Thaddaeus. Thought to be same as Judas son of James: also called Lebbaeus. Tradition: he was sent to Abgarus, king of Edessa; and to Syria, Arabia and Mesopotamia.
Simon. The Zealot (Greek), or Cananaean (Aramaic). Nothing is known of him. The Zealots were an intensely nationalistic sect, the direct opposite of the Publicans. Jesus chose a Zealot and a Publican, from bitterly rival factions.
Judas Iscariot. The betrayer. Of Kerioth, a town of Judah. The only non-Galilean apostle. Avaricious dishonest. Expected rich reward when his Master was seated on the throne of David. Disappointed when he was his worldly dream fade. After his hideous crime, hanged himslef, fell from the scaffold, and burst asunder. (J: I have read speculation he was perhaps a zealot and thusly: turned Jesus in to call his hand so he would “wake” up and fulfill his role as “conquering earthly king”, as opposed to “God, the suffering servant”.)”
(J: On a final note: Matthias replaced what would have been Judas as the 12th apostle. Matthias is short for Mattathias, or “gift of Yahweh” – see link below)
https://www.gotquestions.org/Matthias-in-the-Bible.html
Soli Deo Gloria!