Matthew 10:3

17. And James th son of Zebedee, and John, the brother of James: and he gave them the names of Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder. 18. And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James (son) of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Canaanite, 19. And Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. 12. And it happened in those days, he went out into a mountain to pray, and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. 13. And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose twelve from among them, whom he also called Apostles: 14. Simon, whom he also called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15. Matthew and Thomas, James (son) of Alpheus, and Simon, who is called Zelotes, 16. And Judas (brother) of James, and Judas Iscariot, who also was the traitor. 17. And going down with them, he stood in a plain, and a multitude of his disciples, and a very great multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon.

It is an excellent thing, when brethren by nature are brethren by grace, and those two bonds strengthen each other. (3.) Peter is named first, because he was first called; or because he was the most forward among them, and upon all occasions made himself the mouth of the rest, and because he was to be the apostle of the circumcision; but that gave him no power over the rest of the apostles, nor is there the least mark of any supremacy that was given to him, or ever claimed by him, in this sacred college. (4.) Matthew, the penman of this gospel, is here joined with Thomas (v. 3), but in two things there is a variation from the accounts of Mark and Luke, Mark iii. 18; Luke vi. 15. There, Matthew is put first; in that order it appears he was ordained before Thomas; but here, in his own catalogue, Thomas is put first. Note, It well becomes the disciples of Christ in honour to prefer one another. There, he is only called Matthew, here Matthew the publican, the toll-gatherer or collector of the customs, who was called from that infamous employment to be an apostle. Note, It is good for those who are advanced to honour with Christ, to look unto the rock whence they were hewn; often to remember what they were before Christ called them, that thereby they may be kept humble, and divine grace may be the more glorified.

1. The ark; 2. The holy spirit of prophecy; 3. The Urim and Thummim; 4. The sacred fire; and 1. That double names were frequent among the Jews; and sometimes the person was called by one, sometimes by the other. Compare 1 Samuel 9:1, with 1 Chronicles 8:33, where it appears that the father of Kish had two names, Abiel and Ner. So Matthew is called Levi; compare Matthew 9:9, with Mark 2:14. So Peter was also called Simon, and Lebbeus was called Thaddeus. Matthew 10:2, Matthew 10:3.

10,3. Luke 0,5. 16. Acts 1, 13.) In none of these four catalogues is the name of Levi found, but in one of them (Matt. 10, 3), a publican is mentioned by the name of Matthew, the veiy name which an old and uniform tradition has connected with that gospel as its author. The combination of these statements, which some German writers in their ignorance of practical and public jurisj)rudcncc, represent as contradictory, no judge or jury in America or England would hesitate or scruple to regard as proving that the JNLatthew of one gospel and the Levi of the other two are one and the same person. The same diversity exists in relation to the hypothesis or theory, b}^ which the dillerence of name may be accounted for. While one class treats it as a mere harmonical device without intrinsic probability, the other thinks it altogether natural and in accordance with analogy, that this man, like so many persons in the sacred history, Paul. Peter, Mark, itc, had a double name, one of which superseded the other after his conveision. In this case it was natural that JNIatthew himself should use the name by which he had so long been known as an apostle, yet without concealing his original employment, and that Mark and Luke should use the name by which he had been known before, when they relate his conversion, but in enumerating the apostles sliould exchange it for his apostolic title

Philip, though he seems to have been called in Judea, was a Galilean and a townsman of Andrew and Peter (.John 1, 44. 45.) He was himself the introducer of Nathanacl. upon whom our Lord pronounced so high a commendation (John 1, 48), but who never afterwards appears by that name until after the resurrection, when we find him in company with four, and probably with six of the Apostles (John 21, 2.) This has led to the not improbable conclusion that Nathanael was the person called Bartholomew^ in all the lists of the Apostles, and in three of them placed next to Philip (compare Matt. 10, 3. Luke 0, 14), while the fourth only introduces Thomas between them (Acts 1, 13.) Nathanael was a resident of Cana in Galilee, the scene of Christ's first miracle (John 2, 1. 4, 40. 21, 2.) Matthew^ whose previous vocation is recorded in 2, 14. (Luke 5, 27), where he is called Levi; but he calls himself Matthew, in describing that event, and in his list of the A})ostlcs (10, 3) adds the jnihlican^ omitted by the others. Thoiiuis was also called Uidymus, the two names being Aramaic and Greek synonyms, both

Hence called Maththaios ho telones,Matthew 10:3. He inserts his previous employment to intimate the power of divine grace in his conversion. Matthew 10:3, compared with Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15. But in the list in Acts 1:13 he is associated with Bartholomew, and Thomas with Philip. Clement of Alexandria represents him as a strict Jewish Christian who abstained from the use of flesh. This would make him one of the weak brethren whom Paul (Romans 14:1sqq.) charitably judges. But there is nothing in the first Gospel to justify this tradition. The priority and relative superiority of Matthew are maintained not only by Augustin and the catholic tradition, but also by moderately liberal critics from Griesbach to Bleek, and even by the radical critics of the Tübingen school (Baur, Strauss, Schwegler, Zeller, Hilgenfeld, Davidson), and especially by Keim.. So Luke 5:29. Mark 2:15 ("many publicans and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples") and Matthew 9:10 ("many publicans and sinners") agree; but Matthew modestly omits his own name in connection with that feast. Some commentators understand "the house" to be the house of Jesus, but Jesus had no house and gave no dinner parties. Luke says expressly that it was the house of Levi. Carr, Com., p. 6. Luke 5:28; Mark 2:14; Matthew 9:9.

"Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; first, Simon, who is called Peter." [1355] Because there was also another Simon, the Canaanite; and there was Judas Iscariot, and Judas the brother of James; and James the son of Alphaeus, and James the son of Zebedee. Now Mark doth also put them according to their dignity; for after the two leaders, He then numbers Andrew; but our evangelist not so, but without distinction; or rather He sets before himself even Thomas who came far short of him. But let us look at the list of them from the beginning. "First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother." Even this is no small praise. For the one he named from his virtue, the other from his high kindred, which was in conformity to his disposition. Then, "James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother." Seest thou how He arranges them not according to their dignity. For to me John seems to be greater, not only than the others, but even than his brother. After this, when he had said, "Philip, and Bartholomew," he added, "Thomas, and Matthew the Publican." [1356] But Luke not so, but in the opposite order, and he puts him before Thomas.

After this, when he had said, "Philip, and Bartholomew," he added, "Thomas, and Matthew the Publican." [1356] But Luke not so, but in the opposite order, and he puts him before Thomas. Next, "James the son of Alphaeus." For there was, as I have already said, the son of Zebedee also. Then after having mentioned "Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus," and "Simon" Zelotes, whom he calls also "the Canaanite," he comes to the traitor. And not as a sort of enemy or foe, but as one writing a history, so hath he described him. He saith not, "the unholy, the all unholy one," but hath named him from his city, "Judas Iscariot." Because there was also another Judas, "Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus," who, Luke saith, was the brother of James, saying, "Judas the brother of James." Therefore to distinguish him from this man, it saith, "Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him." And he is not ashamed to say, "who also betrayed Him." So far were they from ever disguising aught even of those things that seem to be matters of reproach. And first of all, and leader of the choir, is the "unlearned, the ignorant man." [1361] But let us see whither, and to whom, He sends them. "These twelve," it is said, "Jesus sent forth." [1362] What manner of men were these? The fishermen, the publicans: for indeed four were fishermen and two publicans, Matthew and James, and one was even a traitor. And what saith He to them? He presently charges them, saying,

But let us look at the list of them from the beginning. "First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother." Even this is no small praise. For the one he named from his virtue, the other from his high kindred, which was in conformity to his disposition. Then, "James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother." Seest thou how He arranges them not according to their dignity. For to me John seems to be greater, not only than the others, but even than his brother. After this, when he had said, "Philip, and Bartholomew," he added, "Thomas, and Matthew the Publican." [1356] But Luke not so, but in the opposite order, and he puts him before Thomas. Next, "James the son of Alphaeus." For there was, as I have already said, the son of Zebedee also. Then after having mentioned "Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus," and "Simon" Zelotes, whom he calls also "the Canaanite," he comes to the traitor. And not as a sort of enemy or foe, but as one writing a history, so hath he described him. He saith not, "the unholy, the all unholy one," but hath named him from his city, "Judas Iscariot." Because there was also another Judas, "Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus," who, Luke saith, was the brother of James, saying, "Judas the brother of James." Therefore to distinguish him from this man, it saith, "Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him." And he is not ashamed to say, "who also betrayed Him." So far were they from ever disguising aught even of those things that seem to be matters of reproach. And first of all, and leader of the choir, is the "unlearned, the ignorant man." [1361] But let us see whither, and to whom, He sends them. "These twelve," it is said, "Jesus sent forth." [1362] What manner of men were these? The fishermen, the publicans: for indeed four were fishermen and two publicans, Matthew and James, and one was even a traitor. And what saith He to them? He presently charges them, saying,

But let us look at the list of them from the beginning. First J Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother. Even this is no small praise. For the one he named from his virtue, the other from his high kindred, which was in conformity to his disposition. Then, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, Seest thou how He arranges them not according to their dignity. For to me John seems to be greater, not only than the others, but even than his brother. T. 8. After this, when he had said, Philip, and Bartholomew, he added, Thomas, and Matthew the Publican. But Luke not so, but in the opposite order, and he puts him before Thomas. Next, James the son of Alphmus. For there was as I have already said, the son of Zebedee also. Then after having mentioned Lebbteus, whose surname was ThaddiBus, and Simon Zelotes, whom be calls also the Canaaniie, he comes Why they might not go among the Samaritans. 467 to the traitor. And not as a sort of enemy or foe, but as one Matt. writing a history, so hath he described him. He saith not, * ' ^^ the unholy, the all unholy one,*' but hath named him from his city, Judas Iscariot, Because there was also another Judas, LebbauSj whose surname was ThaddceuSj who, Luke saith, was the brother of James, saying, Judas the brother of James '. Therefore to distinguish him from this man, it * L"^® saith, /ti€{a Iscariot^ who also betrayed Him. And he isY!4. * not ashamed to say, who also betrayed Him. So far were they from ever disguising aught even of those things that seem to be matters of reproach. And first of all, and leader of the choir', is the vnleamedyi m^. the ignorant man '. f*^'- But let us see whither, and to whom. He sends them. 4, is. These twelve^ it is said, Jesus sent forth. What manner of men were these? The Fishermen, the Publicans: for indeed four were fishermen and two publicans, Matthew and James, and one was even a traitor. And what saith He to them? He presently charges them, saying,