Matthew 10:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, in an effort to avoid the Pharisees’ persecution for a time, the Lord sought to establish a deeper connection with a few of His disciples. To accomplish this, He intentionally withdrew one evening to a quiet mountain to engage in prayer.

What might have been the content of the Lord’s prayer during this time? It is reasonable to consider that as the Divine Advocate laid the groundwork for the Church of the New Covenant, He sought His Father’s blessing on this endeavor, requesting fortitude in the face of the forces of evil, “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” “I have seen Satan fall from heaven,” and “Satan has desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you, Simon.” It is likely that the Son of Man implored His heavenly Father for strength for the challenging task ahead, as He was to soon bring Judas Iscariot close to Him, fulfilling the Father's will and good pleasure, thereby always keeping the grim reality of betrayal in His awareness.

The following morning, after summoning His disciples to the mountain, He appointed twelve of them to be with Him continuously and to serve as witnesses to what they had seen, heard, and felt. These men were to serve as leaders of the new twelve tribes of the renewed Israel.

These twelve disciples were summoned to be Christ's closest associates throughout His earthly ministry and to carry on His work following His ascension to heaven. Thus, from this point onward, He drew them near to Himself, establishing a shared community and familial bond, with Himself as the guiding leader. The apostles' names are consistent with those recorded by the evangelists, with only minor variations in their order. In Mark's account, while mentioning James and John, it is noted that Jesus referred to them as "Boanerges," meaning sons of Thunder. It is possible that this designation for the sons of Zebedee occurred not at this moment but during an event that showcased their passionate spirit (perhaps related to Luke 9:54). Similarly, regarding Simon, Mark notes that Jesus named him Peter, although this happened at a different time (John 1:42). Some of the apostles listed by the evangelists are already recognized from their accounts of approaching Christ (John 1:37 ff.) and being called to follow Him (Matthew 4:18 ff., 9:9 ff., and parallels), such as Peter and Andrew, James and John, Philip and Nathanael or Bartholomew, and Matthew the tax collector. The details surrounding the calling of the other apostles remain unknown.

The Gospel writer Matthew does not detail the selection of the twelve Apostles, mentioning their names only in the context of sending them out to preach; he also refers to himself as Matthew the tax collector. The Evangelist Luke chronicles the calling of the Apostles in alignment with the account given by Mark. While there may appear to be inconsistencies in the names of certain Apostles among the Gospel writers, these discrepancies can be clarified by noting the Evangelists’ efforts to differentiate between those with the same names. For instance, Matthew and Mark refer to the second Simon as Simon the Cananite, while Luke describes him as Simon the Zealot; both "Cananite" and "Zealot" derive from the Greek and Hebrew terms for the same concept, indicating the same individual. The second Simon possibly received the title Zealot because he was part of a Jewish faction that championed the autonomy and independence of their people before his calling by Jesus. Regarding the Apostle Levi, Matthew notes that he was known as Thaddeus, a name also used by Mark, while Luke refers to him as Judas son of James. The presence of two Apostles named Judas is evidenced by the Gospel of John, which recounts that during the Last Supper, after Judas Iscariot departed, Jesus remained with the eleven, including Judas—who was not Iscariot—who asked, "Lord, why are You going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?" (John 14:22). Therefore, this Judas, distinct from the betrayer, is referred to by Luke as Judas son of James, by Matthew as Levi nicknamed Thaddeus, and by Mark simply as Thaddeus. The name Iscariot attributed to Judas denotes his origin from Kerioth, with "Iscariot" interpreted as a combination of the Hebrew words for man and the town's name. Nathanael, acknowledged by all three Evangelists as Bartholomew, which means son of Pholomew, was also specially designated by Jesus. When Jesus first called Simon, He bestowed upon him the name Peter (John 1:42), which He likely reiterated. Jesus also named James and John, the sons of Zebedee, as the sons of thunder, symbolizing their vigorous and passionate temperaments. These traits were soon revealed when they sought Jesus' permission to call down fire from heaven upon those who rejected Him in a Samaritan village (Luke 9:54).

The Gospels provide little insight into their identities, and only in the account of the Last Supper does the Evangelist John mention ‘Judas not Iscariot’, who, along with others, posed a notable question to the Savior (John 14:22). Simon is recognized solely by his title of Zealot. The terms ‘Zealot’ and “Cananite” carry the same implication, indicating that he was once part of the tumultuous and fervent followers of Judas of Giscalcus. The Greek names of Philip and Andrew, alongside the fact that Philip was approached by Greeks wishing to see the Savior before His earthly ministry concluded, suggests a possible link between them and the Hellenists; however, aside from their initial calling, there is scant information regarding them, as is the case with Nathanael and Matthew. Thomas, also known as Didymus, meaning ‘twin’, is merely a Greek rendering of his Hebrew name and presents an intriguing character, described as straightforward and pure-hearted, yet fervent and noble; ready to sacrifice but cautious in his faith. Judas from Carioth, likely the sole Jew among the Apostles, is typically listed last, seemingly indicating his lesser qualifications for the solemn role of an apostle, a deficiency he later exemplified through his grievous betrayal. Among the entire assembly of apostles, Peter, James, and John were bestowed the greatest privilege of belonging to the inner circle of Christ's chosen companions. They alone witnessed significant events, including the resurrection of Jairus' daughter, the transfiguration, and Christ's anguished prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. Little else is known about James except that he was honored as the first martyr among the apostles. Though he and his brother John were fishermen, they presumably enjoyed better material conditions than their peers. Their father, Zebedee, not only owned a boat but also employed hired hands; John notes in his Gospel that he was recognized by the high priest, likely due to his frequent presence in Jerusalem engaged in selling fish from the Sea of Galilee. John, still quite young, enjoyed the special favor of his Divine Teacher for the purity of his believing heart; he is often referred to as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’. However, the most distinguished among this select trio was Peter, whose very essence warranted the designation of rock (Cephas - Peter), the foundation on which Christ’s revelation of God was established. In Peter, Christ had a deeply devoted disciple, unwavering in his dedication to proclaim his love and profound loyalty. Even his denial of Christ in the pivotal moment of Judas' betrayal served merely as a catalyst for his profound regret, ultimately deepening his love and devotion for the One he had first affirmed to be the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.

Judas Iscariot is identified as a man from Kariot, a location situated within the tribe of Judah (Num. 15:25). He appears to be the only apostle not hailing from Galilee. The evangelist speaks of Judas not simply as an adversary but as a chronicler, refraining from labeling him as a "profane and lawless man." Instead, he refers to him by his city of origin, Iscariot, and does not shy away from stating that he was the one who betrayed the Lord. This demonstrates that the evangelists were committed to honesty, even when recounting events that might be viewed unfavorably.

Ultimately, he betrayed his Lord and, filled with remorse, took his own life (Matt. 26:47; 27:5; Mk. 14:43; Lk. 22:47; Jn. 18:2, 3). Jesus, who foresaw all future events (Jn. 18:4), included the traitor among the apostles and permitted him to be part of the blessed community to fulfill Divine Providence regarding humanity's redemption (Acts 1:16). Peter and Andrew, along with James and John, the sons of Zebedee, as well as James, the son of Alphaeus, and Matthew, shared familial ties. From the moment of their calling to apostleship, the entire group of twelve was united, as echoed in the words of a hymn, in a new bond of love for their Master and among one another, governed by a shared conviction, aspiration, and mission — to proclaim the gracious Kingdom of God on earth.