Mark 3:16

And Simon he surnamed Peter; and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and them he surnamed Boanerges, which is Sons of Thunder: and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

The twelve apostles are listed four times in the New Testament, as given below. The number twelve corresponds to the twelve tribes of Israel and to the twelve foundations of the eternal city. In this dispensation, the Twelve sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of spiritual Israel (Matthew 19:28). These men, in one sense, are the most important men who ever lived. In their capacity as the God-ordained witnesses of the incarnation and the custodians and deliverers of God's message to mankind, they are fully worthy of the honor God has reserved for them in the inscription of their names upon the foundations of the Eternal City (Revelation 21:14).

MATTHEW (Matthew 10:2-4)

Peter Andrew James John Philip Bartholomew Thomas Matthew James, son of Alphaeus Thaddaeus Simon the Cananean Judas Iscariot

MARK (Mark 3:16-19)

Peter James John Andrew Philip Bartholomew Matthew Thomas James, son of Alphaeus Thaddaeus Simon the Cananean Judas Iscariot

LUKE (Luke 6:14-16)

Peter Andrew James John Philip Bartholomew Matthew Thomas James, son of Alphaeus Simon the Zealot Judas of James Judas Iscariot

ACTS (Acts 1:13)

Peter John James Andrew Philip Thomas Bartholomew Matthew James, son of Alphaeus Simon the Zealot Judas of James

The obvious reconciliation of the slight variations above is found in the fact that Thaddaeus was also called Judas the son of James and that Simon the Cananean was also known as Simon the Zealot. There is no need whatever to imagine, as McMillan suggested, that "the earliest selections were not final" or that it became "necessary to find replacements."[6] If one of the sacred authors had listed James and John as the Boanerges Brothers, it would have been another example of disciples being known by more than one name.

It is interesting that the first, fifth and ninth named apostles were unanimously reported in those exact positions, suggesting that the Twelve marched in groups of four, Peter, Philip, and James the son of Alphaeus being the leaders of these groups. Of course, this is a mere speculation.

For articles on some of the individual apostles, reference is made to the Commentary on John, and for articles concerning Peter's so-called primacy, and the questions regarding the keys of the kingdom, see the Commentary on Matthew, Matthew 16:16-19.