Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 6:14

"Simon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip and Bartholomew," — Luke 6:14 (ASV)

The “disciples” (v.13; GK 3412) up to this time were a group of followers interested in attaching themselves to Jesus the teacher. From among this group, Jesus chose the Twelve. Luke alone tells us in this context that Jesus gave them the designation “apostles.” That Luke does this accords with his regard for apostolic authority (see comment on Mt 10:12).

Jesus probably chose twelve apostles to correspond with the number of tribes of Israel, thereby indicating that a new people of God was coming into existence (see comment on Mk 3:13; on the names of the Twelve, see comments on Mk 3:16–19).