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Biblical commentary on the New Testament - The Christian ...

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396 Mat<strong>the</strong>w X. 2.<br />

rangemcnt—for instance, Mat<strong>the</strong>\^ and Luke place togctlier <strong>the</strong><br />

apostles who were bro<strong>the</strong>rs, in c<strong>on</strong>sequence of which Andrew stands<br />

before James and John ; <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand, in Mark, and in <strong>the</strong><br />

Acts of <strong>the</strong> Apostles, <strong>the</strong> three principal apostles are placed fore-<br />

most, Peter being at <strong>the</strong> head. Am<strong>on</strong>g those who were nearly equal<br />

in importance, as Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, and Mat<strong>the</strong>w<br />

arbitrary transpositi<strong>on</strong>s take place. But <strong>the</strong> noti<strong>on</strong>, that some of<br />

<strong>the</strong> apostles were of greater importance than o<strong>the</strong>rs, is irresistibly<br />

forced up<strong>on</strong> us by <strong>the</strong> evangelical history—Peter, James, and John,<br />

especially, appear pre-eminent am<strong>on</strong>g <strong>the</strong> twelve. On several impor-<br />

tant occasi<strong>on</strong>s, Jesus took <strong>the</strong>se al<strong>on</strong>e into his intimate compani<strong>on</strong>- ,<br />

ship. (Besides Mark v. 37, Luke viii. 51, comp, also Matth, xvii. 1<br />

[Mark ix. 2 ; Luke ix. 28]; Matth. xxvi. 37 [Mark xiv. 33], and<br />

John xxi. 19, 20, where Peter and John <strong>on</strong>ly were taken.) <strong>The</strong><br />

disci]3les thus surrounded <strong>the</strong> Lord in gradually expanding circles.<br />

Nearest to him stood <strong>the</strong> three, <strong>the</strong>n followed <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r nine, <strong>the</strong>n<br />

<strong>the</strong> seventy, and last of all <strong>the</strong> multitude of his o<strong>the</strong>r disciples.<br />

Yet, undeniable as was <strong>the</strong> difference am<strong>on</strong>g <strong>the</strong> disciples of Christ,<br />

this does not imply any special secret doctrine for those who stood<br />

nearer to him. <strong>The</strong> mystery of Christ, <strong>the</strong> highest and simplest<br />

truth, was to be preached from <strong>the</strong> house-tops. Some, however,<br />

apprehended this mystery itself far more profoundly than <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs,<br />

and were hence better fitted to move in immediate proximity to<br />

<strong>the</strong> Lord. As regards <strong>the</strong> apostles individually, Peter is put at <strong>the</strong><br />

head by all <strong>the</strong> Evangelists ; Mat<strong>the</strong>w calls him first, which cer-<br />

tainly is not accidental. (For particulars, comp. <strong>the</strong> remarks <strong>on</strong><br />

Matth. xvi. 18.) C<strong>on</strong>cerning <strong>the</strong> cognomen Ile-po^, Peter, comp.<br />

<strong>the</strong> remarks <strong>on</strong> John i. 42.—Andrew stands much in <strong>the</strong> background<br />

throughout <strong>the</strong> gospel history. QKvdpmq = rijnnjK, which<br />

may be derived from i::;.) James <strong>the</strong> s<strong>on</strong> of Zebedee, appears <strong>on</strong>ly<br />

in c<strong>on</strong>nexi<strong>on</strong> with <strong>the</strong> two coryphaei of <strong>the</strong> apostles, viz. John<br />

and Peter.* According to Acts xii. 2, he died early <strong>the</strong> death of a<br />

martyr. (C<strong>on</strong>cerning Philip, comp. <strong>the</strong> remarks <strong>on</strong> John i. 45 ; he<br />

also was from Bethsaida. Bartholomew (•'^iVri -12 = s<strong>on</strong> of Ptolemy)<br />

seems according to John i. 46, to be identical with Nathaniel of<br />

Cana. (John xxi. 2.) <strong>The</strong> evangelical history is silent regarding <strong>the</strong><br />

latter ; Philip is introduced speaking, in John xiv, 9.—Thomas,<br />

eufidg, 6'Ni^, ^idvi.iog. Comp. c<strong>on</strong>cerning him, <strong>the</strong> remarks <strong>on</strong> John<br />

XX. 24.—Mat<strong>the</strong>w^ MarOalog, with <strong>the</strong> additi<strong>on</strong> 6 reXuvrjg, <strong>the</strong> publi-<br />

can; this additi<strong>on</strong> points to Mat<strong>the</strong>w, <strong>the</strong> author of <strong>the</strong> gospel, inasmuch<br />

as it is wanting in all o<strong>the</strong>r lists of <strong>the</strong> apostles, and an<br />

additi<strong>on</strong> of this kind is made to no o<strong>the</strong>r name.f It was <strong>on</strong>ly <strong>the</strong><br />

* On <strong>the</strong> cognomen Boavepyef, given to John and James (Mark iii, 17), comp. <strong>the</strong><br />

remarks <strong>on</strong> Luke ix. 54.<br />

f De Weite (in his comment, <strong>on</strong> this passage) calls this remark unimportant ; but is<br />

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