References (5)
Philip
and Bartholomew [Bartolomaios, Hebrew name, "son of Talmais". This is probably the same person as Nathanael, who is mentioned together with Philip, see . In that case, he came from Cana, see ],
Thomas [Hebrew word meaning "twin", see ; ]
and Matthew, the tax collector (publican) [the author of this gospel],
James, son of Alphaeus,
and Thaddaeus [Judas, not Iscariot],
Andrew,
Philip [Greek word meaning "one who loves horses"],
Bartholomew [also called Nathanael],
Matthew,
Thomas [Hebrew word meaning "twin," see ; ],
James, son of Alphaeus,
Thaddaeus [Greek word meaning "one who has a warm heart" or "beloved child". He was also called Jude, son of James; he probably changed his name to avoid being associated with Judas Iscariot],
Simon "the Zealot" (fanatic, zealot, nationalist, Selot) [literally "Simon the Canaanite," the Aramaic equivalent of the Greek term "Zealot," both words meaning "the devoted, zealous, fanatical," may also indicate that he was involved in the Jewish resistance movement against the Roman Empire before becoming a disciple of Jesus],
and Judas Iskariot, who became a traitor.
[Three groups emerge when the apostles are listed. Simon, Philip, and James are always mentioned as the first names in each group, see ; ; . Jesus now calls the twelve disciples apostles. Luke is the Gospel writer who most frequently uses this title for the twelve. A disciple is someone who follows and is taught by his teacher and becomes more and more like him, see . An apostle is a disciple who is sent out as an ambassador to represent his master. The twelve were still Jesus' disciples, but now they also became his messengers. The twelve apostles have a special status because they were called by Jesus himself to be eyewitnesses and spread his word, see ; . The general apostolic ministry still exists today as one of the five ministries, see ; .]
[Jesus' response to Philip that the world would not see him, but that they would, see , puzzled the disciples. Now comes the fourth question since Peter began the discussion in . This entire chapter shows how there was open fellowship around Jesus, where the disciples were not afraid to ask questions.]
Judas, not Iscariot [who had left them (), but probably Judas Thaddeus, see ], said to him, "Lord, what has happened that you will show yourself to us but not to the world?"
When they arrived, they went up to the upper room where they used to be (had a habit of gathering):
Peter
and James
and John
and Andrew;
Philip
and Thomas,
Bartholomew [also called Nathanael]
and Matthew;
James, the son of Alphaeus,
and Simon the Zealot
[Zealot literally means "the devoted, zealous, fanatical," and may imply that he was a member of the Jewish resistance movement against the Roman Empire.]
and Judas, the son of James.
[Three groups emerge when the apostles are listed. Peter, Philip, and James are always mentioned as the first names in each group, see ; ; . In the original text, all names except Peter, Philip, Bartholomew, and James are preceded by the Greek kai, the word "and". A linguistic detail for grouping.]
