The Choosing of the Twelve
This past Sunday, we studied Luke 6:12-16, where we read about Jesus choosing His twelve apostles — a world class team of misfits — but one that history records “turned the world upside down” with the Gospel.
We discussed:
HOW Jesus made the choice.
Jesus made this choice by seeking God in prayer.
WHO Jesus chose.
Jesus chose twelve ordinary men who were disciples first.
WHY Jesus chose them.
Jesus chose ordinary men of faith to show that the Gospel is the wisdom and power of God, not man.
The sermon ended by meditating on the profound humility of being chosen by the Lord.
You can watch or listen to the sermon here.
The sermon considered the Twelve as a team, but didn’t allow time to consider each Apostle, individually. So, here is a brief sketch of the Twelve that might lead you into further study and reading.
Simon, whom he named Peter
Peter always listed first, likely because he was the leader among the apostles. He was their spokesman, often for good, sometimes for bad.
It’s interesting to think the one whom Jesus nicknamed “the rock“ was so inconsistent.
On one hand, Peter was the FIRST to step out of the boat showing great boldness of faith and the FIRST to make the Great Confession “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.”
On the other hand, Peter was the one who DENIED Jesus 3 times.
BUT the resurrection of Jesus changed everything for Peter. He preached the Gospel with passion, led early church, and wrote 3 books of NT (2 Letters and Mark likely recorded Peter’s Testimony for his Gospel).
Church History tells us he was imprisoned by Rome, tortured, and executed by crucifixion. Because he felt unworthy to be executed in the same manner as Jesus, he was crucified upside down.
Andrew his brother
Andrew was originally a follower of John the Baptist. He was the one who John famously introduced to Jesus by pointing and saying: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
One could argue that Andrew is the first disciple who was called — because Andrew immediately went and got his older brother Simon and introduced him to Jesus.
Church history tells us that he was martyred by crucifixion on a cross in the shape of an X. We are told that he said “My whole life has been for the Cross.”
James and John
James and John — almost always mentioned together.
These brothers were fisherman … and quite the dynamic duo.
They earned the nicknamed “The Sons of Thunder” > for example when they asked Jesus if they could call down fire on an undeserving village in Samaria.
They were also part Jesus’ INNER CIRCLE: Peter, James, and John had the privilege of being part of few exclusive occasions like being invited by Jesus to go with him to the Mount of Transfiguration and into the Garden of Gethsemane.
James became the first of the Apostles to die as a martyr by Herod Agrippa in Acts 12.
John ended up writing five books of the New Testament — and became known as “The Apostle of Love” because of the emphasis of his writing.
Church history tells us John lived a long life. He was the only one of the faithful apostles to not die as a martyr, though he was exiled to the aisle of Patmos.
Philip
Philip seemed to be a vibrant witness for Jesus. In John 1 he told Nathaniel “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth!”
It’s important to not confuse Philip the Apostle with Philip, the Deacon and evangelist in Acts 8 who met the Ethiopian unique and baptized him.
Church tradition tells us that Philip the Apostle was instrumental in taking the gospel all the way to ancient France.
He was doubly martyred in Turkey >> stoned, then finished by crucifixion.
Bartholomew
Bartholomew is also known as Nathaniel, the one whom Jesus described as “An Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit.”
He was the one who famously said “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” But he quickly changed his tune when Jesus demonstrated supernatural knowledge about him — Nathanael confessed “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
Church history tells us that he was part of the Apostolic Team that established the church in ancient Turkey and Iran >> which is where he was brutally martyred by being skinned alive and then beheaded.
Matthew
Matthew is Levi the Tax Collector we met in Luke CH5.
Matthew became quite the evangelist for Jesus,
First, hosting a dinner party to introduce all his tax collector buddies to Jesus
Then writing one of the four gospels.
Finally, taking the gospel to Ethiopia and establishing the church there.
According to tradition, it was there Matthew was beheaded as a martyr for Jesus.
Thomas
Thomas, nicknamed “the twin” is infamously known as a doubter and skeptic.
And while that is comforting to skeptics and doubters like myself, I agree with RC Sproul that “it’s unfair to simply dismiss Thomas as a skeptic.”
Thomas was also a man of conviction … After the Resurrection, Jesus showed Thomas his hands and side, Thomas said with resolve: “My Lord and my God.”
Church History tells us Thomas later became a missionary to India, and suffered martyrdom by being killed with a spear
James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James
These three men are often called the Unknown Disciples.
James, the son of Alpheus, also known as James the less >> some think less because he was younger than the other James, others think because he was shorter.
We know VERY LITTLE about James, and much more about his MOM.
RC Sproul pointed out that she was one of the Marys at the foot of the cross, one of the Marys who got up before dawn to anoint the body of Jesus, one of the Marys to whom the angels announced the resurrection.
I don’t know who influenced whom, but here’s a mother and son both following Jesus. Moms, may that be an encouragement to you. Sons, you too.
Simon who was called the Zealot
Likely belonged to a Jewish political movement (the Zealots) who sought to overthrow the Roman government.
If you’ve ever watched “The Chosen,” they capture well the potentially difficult relationship that Simon the Zealot would have likely had with Matthew the Tax Collector. When you think about those sorts of things, we can see gospel-reconciliation within the Apostolic Cohort
Judas the son of James
Judas is also known as Thaddeus and Jude — but NOT the author of the epistle, that was Jesus‘ half-brother.
Other than one question he asked Jesus, we know nothing about him.
Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Always listed last and always described as the one who betrayed Jesus.
We learned a couple of important lessons from Judas.
Following doesn’t guarantee Faith.
Remorse doesn’t mean Repentance.
>> But that’s an article or sermon for another time.
RC Sproul says “Judas was a devil from the beginning. Judas was an unregenerate, corrupt, treacherous, lying, thieving crooked before he ever met Jesus. God worked through his corruption to bring about the great work of salvation in all human history. What Judas meant for evil, God used for good.
Think about the fact that Jesus would have been well aware that Judas will betray him (John 6:64). Yet, He chose him as an apostle according to His Father’s Will.
And by including “who became a traitor” LUKE is ALERTING his readers to the betrayal and suffering that looms in the future.