Matthew 10:3

3. Philip Philip was the fifth of the apostles who came from Bethsaida. He was one of the less conspicuous of the twelve. His first acquaintance with the Lord is narrated in the first chapter of John. To him our Lord put the question previous to the miracle of feeding the five thousand, which tested his faith, and proved him not to be very spiritual. The same want of spirituality is manifested by his request at the last supper: “Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.” When certain Greeks desired of him an introduction to Jesus, he hesitated, and consulted Andrew concerning the matter. This indicates that he enjoyed less nearness to Jesus than other apostles. Tradition says that he preached the Gospel in Phrygia. Nor did his early want of spiritual elevation prevent his wearing a martyr’s crown, as he is said to have incurred a martyr’s fate at Hierapolis.

Bartholomew The Hebrew form of this name is Bar-tolmai, or son of Tolma. Bartholomew is supposed to be identical with Nathanael, mentioned in the first chapter of John’s Gospel. The reason for this supposition is that Philip and Bartholomew are mentioned together in the first three Gospels, while no Nathanael is mentioned; whereas in the fourth Gospel Philip and Nathanael are associated, without any mention of Bartholomew. Bartholomew, then, was the “Israelite indeed, in whom there was no guile.” He is not often distinctively mentioned by the evangelists. He is said to have preached the Gospel in India. It is an authentic fact of ecclesiastical history, that a copy of Matthew’s Gospel in Hebrew was found by Pantaenus in India, left there by Bartholomew. It is not known where he died.

Thomas The two names of this apostle, Thomas and Didymus, signify in the Greek and Hebrew languages respectively, twin. Of his origin or family relations there is no authentic account. He is remarkable among the apostles for his rigid demand of sensible evidence of the Lord’s resurrection. Yet his appears not to have been a diseased skepticism. His mind travelled slowly, and required a solid basis of truth. When he felt his foundations firm, his fidelity to his Lord was true, and his courage bold. Thomas is said, traditionally, to have preached the Gospel in Parthia. The Christians of the Syrian Church in India claim him as their founder, and call themselves by his name.

Matthew the publican Of Matthew a full account is prefixed to his Gospel in this volume.

James the son of Alpheus Called by Mark, James the Less. His father Alpheus is also called Cleophas, and his mother was Mary, sister of the virgin mother. James was therefore cousin of the Lord.

Our view is that there were three Jameses, of whom the following parallel sketches will give a correct view.

1 . JAMES, son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of John. 2 . JAMES, (the Less,) son of Alpheus or Cleophas. 3. JAMES, son of Joseph and Mary, and half brother of the Lord Jesus. One of the twelve. Matthew 10:2. One of the twelve. Matthew 10:2. Not one of the twelve nor at first a believer in Jesus. Matthew 10:2-4; John 7:5. One of the three specially honoured disciples. Matthew 17:1; Matthew 26:37. Jude the apostle was his brother, (Luke 6:16,) and this Jude was author of Jude’s epistle. Jude 1:1. Named among the family of Jesus. Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3. Killed with the sword of Herod-Agrippa Acts 12:2. The mother of James was Mary, sister of the blessed mother; so that he was cousin of the Lord. John 19:25; Luke 24:10. Brethren of the Lord appear as believers, yet separate from the twelve. Acts 1:13-14. He had a brother Joses. Matthew 27:56. James, not one of the twelve, has a vision of the risen Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:5; 1 Corinthians 15:7. James, though not of the twelve, postnamed an apostle. Galatians 1:19. Called by Eusebius “the Just.” Resident pastor at Jerusalem. “James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars.” Galatians 2:9. “Paul went in with us unto James: and all the elders were present.” Acts 21:18. Certain came from James to Peter. Galatians 2:12. Present at council. Acts 15:6-29. Author of the Epistle. Martyred at Jerusalem Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus He is called Thaddeus by Mark, and Judas (the Greek form of the name Judah) by Luke. He is the “Judas not Iscariot” mentioned by John, John 14:22. He was probably brother of James the Less, son of Mary, (sister of the virgin mother,)and therefore cousin-german of the Saviour. His name is found in the question of the Nazarenes, “James and Joses and Simon and Judas.” He was probably the Jude who wrote the epistle bearing that name. Little or nothing is known of his subsequent history. But his grandchildren are summoned to appear before the Emperor Domitian, as has been mentioned in our notes on the first chapter of Matthew.