OLBGrk;
Ver. 2-4. Mark reckoneth up the same persons, Mark 3:16-19, with some additions, which we shall consider as we come at the persons whom they concern. Apostles signifies persons sent; the term applied to Christ's disciples signifies the persons that were first sent by him to preach the gospel. It was reasonable for the evangelists to set down their names, because the whole Christian church was to be builded upon their doctrine, Ephesians 2:20. The first, Simon, who is called Peter, because the term signifies a rock, and the confession of faith which he made our Saviour declares to be a rock, on which he would build his church, Matthew 16:18. He is not here called the first because he was first called, or first believed, the contrary is plain from 1 Thessalonians 1:41; but when many are named, one must be first named. He was the son of Jonas; Christ gave him the name of Cephas, which is, by interpretation, a stone. He was called Simon Peter to distinguish him from Simon the Canaanite, afterward mentioned. So that it seems the papists are put hard to it for arguments to prove Peter's primacy and superiority over the apostles, and headship over the church, when they are enforced to make use of this, because he is here called the first. Yet such another was brought at the disputation of Berne, 1528, when Alexius Grad, the nuns confessor, would prove Peter's headship because he is called Cephas; and he had read in some dictionary, that Kefav anciently signified a head; as if the evangelist had not interpreted it, 1 Thessalonians 1:41, Peter, or a stone. By the same argument they can from hence prove Peter the first, Galatians 2:9, will prove him the second, for so he is there reckoned, James, Cephas, and John. Andrew his brother; Simon Peter's brother; by John directed to Christ, 1 Thessalonians 1:40; called by Christ together with his brother Peter, Mark 1:16,17. James the son of Zebedee, so called to distinguish him from another of the apostles of the same name, who was the son of Alphaeus. This is he of whose death we read, Acts 12:2; he was slain by Herod. And John his brother, viz. the son of Zebedee: this is he who was called the beloved disciple, who also wrote the Gospel of John, 1 Thessalonians 21:20,24. Philip, and Bartholomew. Philip was of Bethsaida the city of Andrew and Peter, 1 Thessalonians 1:44, found and called by Christ, 1 Thessalonians 1:43. Of the call of Bartholomew we do not read; some think him the same with Nathanael, mentioned 1 Thessalonians 1:45,46, &c. It is some inducement to believe it, that he is here named with Philip, who was the instrument to bring him to Christ, 1 Thessalonians 1:45; but there is nothing of this certain. Thomas, the same who was called Didymus, who was so unbelieving as to Christ's resurrection, 1 Thessalonians 20:24,27; and Matthew the publican, he that wrote this history of the Gospel: we heard before of his call from the receipt of custom; he was also called Levi. James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus. This James is called James the less, Mark 15:40, and so distinguished from James the son of Zebedee. The Lord's brother, Galatians 1:19; that is, as some think, his kinsman, judging him not the son of Alphaeus who was the father of Matthew, but another Alphaeus, the husband of Mary the wife of Cleophas, 1 Thessalonians 19:25. But this appeareth not from Scripture. Instead of Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus, Luke saith, Luke 6:16, Judas the brother of James (he that wrote the Epistle of Jude, as appeareth by Jude). Mark, Mark 3:18, mentions not Lebbaeus at all, which makes some think that the words are transposed, and should be Thaddaeus the son of Lebbaeus; for Thaddai in the Syriac is the same with Judas. Simon the Canaanite; Luke calls him Simon Zelotes, Luke 6:15 Acts 1:13. We must not understand by Canaanite a pagan, (for Christ sent out none but Jews), but one of Cana, which by interpretation is Zelus, from whence it is that Luke calleth him Zelotes. And Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. There are many guesses how Judas had the name of Iscariot, whether from Kerioth, supposed to be his town, or on some other account: the guesses of the best are but uncertainties, nor is it material for us to know. It here distinguishes him from the other Judas. Of his betraying his Master we shall hear afterward. Christ altered the name of Simon, whom he called Peter, Mark 3:16. He added to the names of James and John, calling them Boanerges, that is, The sons of thunder, Mark 3:17. Thaddaeus is called Judas, and by Matthew also Lebbaeus. These were the twelve first apostles, to which were added (after Christ's ascension) Matthias, (instead of Judas Iscariot), Paul, and Barnabas; but these conversed with Christ, and were the first sent out by him. We shall now hear the instruction he gives them.