The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 158

Vcrs. 13--16.-77ul designation of the twelve. Our Lord appears to have formally dC'signated the twelve, on this occa~i"n, to be his apostles. He had called them singly berore; now be appoints them to their post in a more formal manner, This act of his suggests to us some thoughts upon- L TREIB LIKENESS TO O!l"E A:::-'OTilEB, and the consequent bond of union between one another. '!'hie consisted in : 1. A common nationality, with all that meant to an intensely patriotic people. 2. A common faith, including a common hope that a new prophet would arise and accomplish all that was looked for from the expected Messiah. 3. Similar circumstances, education and social position; not the snme, indeed, but of the same class. 4. A common attachment to Jesus Christ; in the case of most of them a trust and an affection that were to deepen every day, in the case of one of them e. faith that was to slacken and to depart. IL TREIB DIVERGENCES FROM ONE ANOTHER. 1. In the habits of mind and life formed by differeot occupations. 2. In mental constitution and moral disposition. How different Peter from John, and both from 'I'bomas, and all three from James, etc. I 3. In reputation. Of some of them we know notbiDg but their names; we do not know where they laboured or what was the kind or measure of their service. Tradition bas been busy with their names, but bi.story telts us nothing. Of others we have a con- siderable knowledge, a □ d their reputation is great indeed and will be ever growing, 4. In their earner: one ending in shame and gloom ; the others in honour and in glory. IIL TREIB FUNCTIONS. Tbe~e, according to Mark (iii. 14, 15), were threefold. 1. Being with Christ, and witnessing bis life; thus qualifying themselves to attest bis purity, his power, bis love. 2. Preaching the gospel; making known to tl.eir countrymen that the Promised One for whom they bad so long been looking had come at last, and had come with the most gracious words on hie lips that man bad ever spoken. 3. Verifying the truth by acts of beneficent power-they were to exercise "power to heal." And it is in no small or meac sense that our Lord summons us all to do these same tbin~e. (I) To be with him; sitting at bis feet and learning of him bis heavecly truth; following him along his course, and becoming filled with a deep sense of his stainless purity and surpassing love; kneeling at hie cross, and receiving all the beoefit and blessing of bis great 8alvation. (2) Declaring to others all that Wt: have thus learned of ChriRt, 011r Lord and Saviour; making known to the sad, the snffering, the sinful, what a Friend and Refuge they will find in him, (3) Verifylll!; the truth of our attcHtations by comfurti11g stricken hearts, by enlightening darkened en. v1. 1-40.) TlIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE.