Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 10:2

"Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother;" — Matthew 10:2 (ASV)

For the first and only time in Matthew, the Twelve are called “apostles” (GK 693). “Apostle,” as used in NT documents, has narrower and wider meanings. It can mean merely “messenger” , refer to Jesus (“the apostle and high priest whom we confess,”Hebrews 3:1), or denote a group of “missionaries”—i.e., a group larger than the Twelve and Paul (Romans 16:7; 2 Corinthians 8:23). Nevertheless, the usual meaning is a narrow one, referring to special authoritative representatives chosen by Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:1–5; 15:7; Galatians 1:17, 19; et al.). Paul usually used the term to refer to the Twelve plus himself (by special dispensation, 1 Corinthians 15:8–10). For discussion of the twelve men mentioned here, see comment on Mk 3:16–19.