Matthew 10:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The first is Simon, known as Peter, followed by his brother Andrew. This recognition is significant, as it commends one for his virtue and the other for the nobility of his character. Following them are James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. It is evident that the Evangelist does not assign them ranks. I believe John was not only exalted above the others, but also ranked higher than his own brother.

The term "bread” should be replaced with “father,” aligning better with Jerome's thoughts and consistent with Mark 1:20: “Leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, they followed Him.” Furthermore, Philip is paired with Bartholomew, and Thomas is coupled with Matthew, the tax collector. Other Gospel writers list Matthew before Thomas but omit the term tax collector to avoid elevating the evangelist by mentioning his previous occupation. However, he places himself after Thomas and, as noted earlier, refers to himself as a tax collector, illustrating that where sin increased, grace exceeded even more.

To achieve this, He intentionally withdrew one evening to a quiet mountain to engage in prayer.

What encompassed the Lord's prayer during this time remains uncertain. However, it seems plausible to believe that while establishing the foundation for the Church of the New Covenant, the Divine Intercessor sought the blessing of His Father upon His endeavor, requesting fortitude against the forces of darkness (and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, for I have seen Satan fall from heaven: this Satan seeks to sift you as wheat, and I have prayed for you, Simon). The Son of Man may have petitioned His heavenly Father for strength as He approached the final endeavor ahead: for in the morning, by the Father's will and pleasure, He was to draw close to Himself the one who carried the burden of betrayal—Judas Iscariot. The following morning, He summoned His disciples to the mountain and selected twelve of them to remain with Him, enabling them to testify about what they had witnessed, heard, and touched (Mk. 3:14). These chosen individuals were akin to the leaders of the future twelve tribes of the new Israel (Rev. 21:14).

These twelve disciples were chosen to be the closest companions of Christ throughout His earthly ministry and to continue His mission after His ascension. From this moment, He drew them close, forming a community, a family, with Himself as their head. The names of the apostles, while slightly varied in order, are consistent with those provided by the evangelists. Mark notes that when he mentions James and John, Jesus referred to them as Boanerges, meaning sons of Thunder. This naming may not have occurred at this particular time but could have happened during an event that revealed the fiery nature of these apostles, possibly as referenced in Luke 9:54. Similarly, Mark also remarks that Jesus named Simon as Peter, which took place at a different time (John 1:42). Several apostles mentioned by the Evangelists are already familiar to us through their early encounters with Christ (John 1:37 ff.) and their calls to follow Him (Matthew 4:18 ff. 9:9 ff. and parallels), including Peter and Andrew, James and John, Philip and Nathanael, as well as Bartholomew and Matthew the tax collector. The circumstances surrounding the calling of the other apostles remain unknown.

The Evangelist Matthew does not elaborate on the choosing of the twelve Apostles and mentions them by name only while recounting Jesus sending them out to preach, noting that Matthew, the Apostle, was a tax collector. Conversely, the Evangelist Luke also refers to the selection of the Apostles, aligning with the account of Mark.

There seems to be some inconsistency among the Evangelists in naming certain Apostles, though this is merely apparent, as they seek to differentiate those with shared names. For instance, while Matthew and Mark distinguish Simon Peter from another Simon by calling the latter Simon the Cananite, Luke refers to him as the Zealot. 'Zealot' comes from Greek, and 'Cananite' is its Hebrew equivalent; thus, both terms are clear in meaning. The second Simon was identified as a Zealot, likely due to his prior affiliation with a Jewish political faction advocating for the autonomy and independence of the Jewish nation. The Evangelist Matthew mentions that the Apostle Levi was known as Thaddeus, Mark also refers to him by this nickname, while Luke calls him Judas, son of Jacob. The presence of two Apostles named Judas is evidenced by the Gospel of John: during the Last Supper, after Judas Iscariot's departure, only Jesus and the eleven Apostles remained, and Judas—not Iscariot—asked, 'Lord, why do You intend to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?' (John 14:22). Consequently, Judas, not Iscariot, was referred to as Judas, son of Jacob (Luke), Levi, nicknamed Thaddeus (Matthew), and simply Thaddeus (Mark). The other Judas, Iscariot, was named after his hometown, Kerioth; 'Iscariot' is thought to derive from the combination of two words: 'Ish,' meaning man, and 'Kerioth,' the name of a town. The Apostle Nathanael was universally called Bartholomew, indicating he was the son of Pholomew (bar meaning son).

When Jesus first addressed Simon, he referred to him as Peter (John 1:42); it is likely that He reiterated this name. Jesus designated James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee, as 'sons of thunder,' reflecting their fiery natures. This quality was soon evident when they requested Jesus’ permission to call down fire from heaven upon those who rejected Him in a Samaritan village (Luke 9:54).

The Gospels provide little information about them, with only the Gospel of John referencing ‘Judas not Iscariot’ during the Last Supper, where he, along with others, raised a familiar question to the Savior (John 14:22). Simon is primarily known by his nickname, Zealot, which signifies that he was previously associated with the rebellious followers of Judas of Giscalcus.

The Greek names of Philip and Andrew, along with the incident where Philip was approached by Greeks wishing to see the Lord before His crucifixion, hint at a potential link between them and the Hellenistic community; however, aside from their initial calling, little else is recorded about them. The same can be said for Nathanael and Matthew. Thomas, who is also referred to as Didymus, meaning ‘twin,’ offers some fascinating details that reveal him as a man of unique character—sincere and uncomplicated, yet also passionate and generous; willing to sacrifice himself, though wavering in faith. Judas from Carioth, likely the only Jew among the apostles, is typically listed last, indicating that he was seen as less qualified than his peers, ultimately proving this through his notorious betrayal.

Among the apostles, Peter, James, and John were notably elevated to the inner circle of Christ's closest companions. They alone were witnesses to pivotal moments such as the resurrection of Jairus' daughter, the transfiguration, and the poignant prayer in Gethsemane. James is remembered for the singular honor of being the first martyr among the apostles. He and his brother John, despite their backgrounds as fishermen, appeared to have a more favorable socio-economic status than their fellow disciples. Their father Zebedee owned a boat and employed workers, and John’s Gospel mentions his acquaintance with the high priest, likely due to his frequent visits to Jerusalem for the fish trade from the Sea of Galilee.

Young and characterized by a pure heart of faith, John became particularly cherished by the Lord, often referred to as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved.’ However, most notable among this esteemed trio is Peter, whose very essence warranted the title of ‘rock’ (Cephas—Peter) bestowed upon him by Christ, signifying the foundation of His teachings. In Peter, Christ found an incredibly devoted apprentice who was relentless in expressing his love and unwavering commitment to his Master. Even though he denied Christ during the harrowing events of Judas’ betrayal, this moment became the catalyst for Peter’s profound regret, ultimately deepening his love and dedication to the one he acknowledged as Christ, the Son of the Living God.

First among them is Simon, known as Peter. His placement at the forefront of the lists of the Apostles’ names is certainly intentional (Mark 3:16; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13). This prominence is partly due to the fact that he and his brother Andrew were called to be apostles before the others—being the first called (John 1:41)—and also because his characteristics led him to be regarded as "the first among equals" (see Matthew 16:16; Matthew 17:1, 24; Matthew 19:27; Matthew 26:37, 40; Luke 8:45; Luke 9:32; Luke 22:31; and John 21:15; also Acts 1:15, Acts 2:14, Acts 5:3; and Galatians 1:18, Galatians 2:7).

The name Peter signifies a rock, just as his Syrochaldaean name Cephas does (John 1:42; 1 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Corinthians 3:22; 1 Corinthians 15:5; Galatians 2:9). This name undoubtedly symbolizes his future unwavering faith and commitment to proclaiming the Gospel.

At dawn, Jesus summoned His disciples to the mountain and selected twelve of them, as the church hymn expresses, as "human beginnings," so they could serve as His closest witnesses to His deeds and teachings, later sharing with the world all they had witnessed and touched (1 John 1:1). He designated them as apostles, messengers empowered to preach the Gospel and affirm their message through miraculous signs, healing the sick and casting out demons. The blessed Theophylact notes, “Twelve disciples are chosen according to the number of the twelve tribes of Israel,” serving as leaders of the future tribes of the new Israel (Rev. 21:12, 14). From that point, the apostles accompanied the Lord in His travels (Lk. 8:1), witnessed His miracles, participated in His dialogues with the multitudes (Mt. 5:1; 23:1), and engaged in discussions with Him (Mt. 13:10; 15:15; 17:10; 18:1; Lk. 8:9; 9:12; 12:41; 17:5; Jn. 9:2). Their close proximity to the Divine Master gradually opened their understanding of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God (Matt. 16:21; Lk. 17:5), and this enlightenment eventually culminated in the full revelation of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 16:12, 13).

In the enumeration of the twelve apostles provided by the evangelists Matthew (10:2-4), Mark (3:16-19), and Luke (6:14-16; Acts 1:13), only Peter, Philip, James the son of Alphaeus, and Judas Iscariot appear in identical positions; the placement of the others is not fixed, suggesting an equality in authority among them, with Peter being the foremost among equals. The evangelists Matthew and Luke organize the names of the apostles in pairs, likely because the Lord sent them out two by two to spread the Gospel (Mk. 6:7). Peter and Andrew, brothers and sons of Jonah, hailed from Bethsaida, a fishing village by Lake Gennesaret (John 1:41, 42, 44). Andrew was initially a follower of John the Baptist, and at his prompting, he came to Jesus, bringing his brother Simon, to whom the Lord assigned the name Cephas (Syrochaldean) or Peter (Greek), meaning "rock" (1:42). Before their calling by the Lord (Matt. 4:19; Mk. 1:16), both brothers were engaged in fishing and resided in Capernaum, where Peter owned a house (Matt. 8:14; Lk. 4:38). It is explicitly noted that Peter was married (1 Cor. 9:5; Lk. 4:38), yet he undoubtedly had to forsake his profession, home, and wife to follow the Lord consistently. Among Jesus' most trusted disciples (Mt. 17:1; 26:37; Mk. 5:37), Peter, as described by St. John Chrysostom, acted as "the mouth," representing all the apostles in speech (Mt. 19:27; Lk. 12:41) and addressing queries collectively (Mt. 16:16; Mk. 8:29). His name frequently appears throughout the Gospel accounts, and following the Lord’s ascension, he became a prominent proclaimer of Christ’s teachings, particularly to the Jewish people (Galatians 2:7). Two epistles in the New Testament bear his name.

The Apostle Andrew, honored by the Church as the First-Called, does not feature as prominently in the Gospel accounts as his brother, though certain phrases suggest he possessed a unique audacity in the presence of the Master (Mk. 13:3; Jn. 6:3; 6:6; 6:8; 12:22). James and John, the sons of Zebedee and Salome (Mt. 4:21; 27:56; Mk. 10:35; 15:40; 16:1), were also fishermen prior to their calling (Matt. 4:21; Mk. 1:19; Lk. 5:10). John was a disciple of the Forerunner before coming to Jesus, likely receiving initial instruction about the Messiah from him (John 1:35). As apostles, the sons of Zebedee were given the title Boanerges, meaning "sons of thunder,” reflecting the fervor and strength of their preaching (Lk. 9:54), and they, along with Peter, formed Jesus’ closest circle of disciples (Mt. 17:1; 26:37; Mk. 5:37). Within this selected trio, John was especially noted for his love for the Lord, referring to himself in his Gospel as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (13:23; 19:26; 21:7, 20). His devotion was evident, as he remained with Jesus even during His arrest (John 18:15) and received the Blessed Virgin Mother into his home following the Lord’s crucifixion (19:27). He later preached in Ephesus and authored the Gospel, three epistles, and the Book of Revelation within the New Testament.