Choosing the Twelve

13 When day came, He called His disciples and selected twelve of them, whom He also named (a)apostles (special messengers, personally chosen representatives):(A) 14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and his brother Andrew; and [the brothers] (b)James and John; and Philip, and Bartholomew [also called Nathanael]; 15 and Matthew (Levi, the tax collector) and Thomas; and (c)James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot; 16 Judas [also called Thaddaeus] the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor [to the Lord].

Footnotes:

a. Luke 6:13: In general usage the word “apostle” (Gr apostolos) means “sent one” or “messenger.” In this passage and others in reference to the “twelve,” the word “apostles” is used in a technical sense of the twelve disciples, and later Paul, whom Jesus chose. An apostle was one who had witnessed Christ’s resurrection (Acts 1:21, 22) or (in Paul’s case) had seen the resurrected Christ (1 Cor 9:1, 2). They validated their apostleship by performing “signs and wonders and miracles” (2 Cor 12:12), and were the foundation of the church.
b. Luke 6:14: The sons of Zebedee and Salome. Salome is believed to be a sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
c. Luke 6:15: Also called James the Less or James the Younger. His mother Mary (Gr Maria) is believed to be a sister or sister-in-law of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

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