The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 148

Mntt.. x. 2-i.. llfR.rk iii. 16-19. Luke vi. H-16. Acts i, 13. Simon Simon Simon Peter Audr<'W Jnmee Andrew Jamos JRllleB John Jamee John John And1·ew John An,lrcw Philip Philip Philip Philip Bartholomew Bartholomew Bartholomew Thomas Thome.a Matthew Matthew Bartholomew Me.tthew Thomas Thomo.e Matthew James of Alphmue James of Alphieue James of Alphmue Jamee of Alphro111 Lebbmus Tl1arl,lrous Simon Zelotes Simon Zelotee Simon the Ke.nRnite Simon the Knne.nite Judas of Jamee J udo.s of J11mes J udae Ieee.riot Judas Ieee.riot Judas !see.riot He went out into a mountain to pro.y, and with the greo.t first leaders of the faith, oontinued o.ll night in prayer to God. The be.re list of nnmes was enough. The Ver. 13.-And when it was do.y, he oa.lled Church of the first days knew e. hundred unto him his dieoiples: and of them he facts connected with these fo.mous men. ohose twelve. St. Luke frequently alludes The Church of the future needed no details to Jesus spending periods of time in prayer. of private history. These apostles, great He would have the readers of hie Gospel though they were, were only instruments in never lose sight of the perfect humanity of the Master's hand; who.t they did and the Saviour, and, while ever keeping in view suffered we.a, after all, of little moment to the higher objects of hie earthly mission, those who should come after. In the fom still is careful o.lways to present him o.e the be.re skeleton lists, though, certain points Eirnmple of a true life. This is why he are noticeable. (I) Each catalogue falls into mentions so often the pr-ayers of J esns. three divisions containing four names. In This time the Master continued in prayer ea.eh of these divisions the ea.me name e.ll night. It was a momentous task which always stands first, as though some pre- lay before him on the following moming- cedence or authority we.a deputed to thid the choice of a few men, the measureless one over the other three forming the influence of whose life and work we, though division. This, in the absence of any we live eighteen centuries after the choice further notice, must not be pressed, It is, we.a made, and see already how the twelve however, e. very probable inference. The have moved the world, are utterly unable names of these three a.re Peter, Philip, to apprehend. In these solemn hours of Ja.mes. (2) The twelve were thus divided communion with the Eternal, we may in o.11 into three distinct companies, of which the reverence suppose that the Blessed One fir.rt (iliis is clearly borne out by the gospel took coDDBel with Lis Father, presenting, story) stood in tlie closest relation to J eeus. as Godet phre.ees it, one by one to the All- Of the twelve, the first five ea.me from seing, while Ged'e finger pointed out those Betheaida. on the lake, and they all a.p- to whom he was to entrust tlie sal ve.tion of parently-wi th the exception of Jude.a the the world. Whom a.l&o he named apostles. traitor, who ea.me from e. town in Judma.- The literal meaning of this term is •• one were Galilmans. The names a.re all Hebrew who is sent," but in classical Greek it had (Aramaic) with the exception of Philip and a.cq uired e. distinct meaning e.e " envoy or Andrew, which a.re Greek. It was, how- ambassador " of e. sovereigu or of e. state. ever, e.t that time by no means uncommon These favoured men, then, received this as for Jews to possess Greek names, so widely the official designation by which they were did Hellenic influence extend over Egypt, ever to be known. Unknown, unhonoured, Syria, and the Mediterranean-wushed coun- and for the most pa.rt unlee.rued men, they tries of A eia. with all their love and devotion for their Ver. 14.-Simon, (whom he aleo named Master who had called them, little reeked Peter). The Master had already, reading tbe.t morning :m the mountain-side to what e.s he did the future, bestowed upon this thev were called, and of whom they were often erring, but noble and devoted servant. the· chosen envoys I The four lists of the the surname, Cephas, literally, e. "moss of apostles copied above vary very slightly. rock." And Andrew. One of the first be- There was evidently ln the matter of the lievers, and reckoned among the four whose holy twelve an unt:rring tradition o.t the office placed them in closest relation to time whtin Luke wrote these chronicles o.t their Master, and yet for some-to us- llome or Akxan<lria, at Ephesus or e.t unexplained reason, Andrew did not occupy A.ntioch,-e.11 k111ew e,·ery detail connected that positioo of intimacy shared by Pet.or,  on. ,., 1 ---HJ.) TTTE GOSPEL ACCOTIDTNO TO ST. r,urrn.