Matthew 10:2 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 10:2 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;”

The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother. The twelve are named — the naming in pairs reflects their calling in pairs (4:18–22; 9:9; and the remaining pairs from other accounts). Apostles — the word means sent ones — is the title that corresponds to the commissioning: they are named here not merely as disciples (learners) but as apostles (those sent with authority). Simon is called Peter — the nickname Jesus gave him (John 1:42) — and Andrew his brother; James and John, the sons of Zebedee. The first four are the fishermen of 4:18–22.

Church Fathers on Matthew 10:2

From the healing of Peter’s wife’s mother to this place there has been a continued succession of miracles; and they were done before the Sermon upon the Mount, as we know for certain from Matthew’s call, which is placed among them; for he was one of the twelve chosen to the Apostleship upon the mount. He here returns to the order of events, taking it up again at the healing of the centurion’s servant; saying, 'And calling to him his twelve disciples.'
Gloss (Glossa Ordinaria) · medieval compilation · ord.

The Evangelist had related above that the Lord exhorted His disciples to pray the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into His vineyard; and He now seems to be fulfilling what He had exhorted them to. For the number twelve is a perfect number, being made up of the number six, which has perfection because it is formed of its own parts, one, two, three, multiplied into one another; and the number six when doubled amounts to twelve.
Remigius · 9th century

For the number twelve, which is made up of three into four, denotes that through the four quarters of the world they were to preach the faith of the holy Trinity.
Bede · 8th century

Read all 28 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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