Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 3:18
And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the [son] of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
18. iv. Andrew ] a brother of St Peter (Mat 4:18), and like him a native of Bethsaida, and a former disciple of the Baptist (Joh 1:40). By his means his brother Simon was brought to Jesus (Joh 1:41). In the lists of the Apostles given by St Matthew and St Luke he appears second; but in St Mark and Act 1:13, fourth. We have three notices of him in the Gospels, (i) On the occasion of the feeding of the Five Thousand it is he who points out the little lad with the five barley loaves and the two fishes; (ii) when certain Greeks desired to see Jesus, it was he in conjunction with Philip who introduced them to the Lord (Joh 12:22); (iii) together with Peter, James, and John he inquired privately of our Lord respecting His future coming (Mar 13:3).
( b) Group ii
v. Philip ] He also was a native of Bethsaida and one of the earliest disciples (Joh 1:43). To him first of the whole circle of the Apostles were spoken the solemn words “Follow Me.” It was to him the question was put “to prove him,” “ Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? ” (Joh 6:5-9); together with his friend and fellow townsman, St Andrew, he brought the inquiring Greeks to the Saviour (Joh 12:20-22); it was he who asked “ Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us ” (Joh 14:8).
vi. Bartholomew ] i. e. Bar-Tolmai, the “ Son of Tolmai,” and probably identical with Nathanael = “ gift of God ” For (i) St John twice mentions Nathanael, never Bartholomew (Joh 1:45; Joh 21:2); (ii) the other Evangelists all speak of Bartholomew, never of Nathanael; (iii) Philip first brought Nathanael to Jesus, and Bartholomew is mentioned by each of the Synoptic Evangelists immediately after Philip; (iv) St John couples Philip with Nathanael precisely in the same way that Simon is coupled with his brother Andrew. Respecting him, at least under the name Nathanael, we learn from the Gospels little more than ( a) his birth-place, Cana of Galilee (Joh 21:2); ( b) his simple, guileless character (Joh 1:47); and ( c) that he was one of the seven, to whom our Lord shewed Himself by the lake of Gennesaret after His resurrection (Joh 21:2).
vii. Matthew ] or Levi, whose call has just been described. See above, on Mar 2:14.
viii. Thomas ] or Didymus= a twin (Joh 11:16; Joh 21:2), whose character was marked by a deep attachment to his Master and a readiness even to die with Him (Joh 11:16), but at the same time by a tendency to misgiving and despondency, which made him ever ready to take the darker view of things, and to distrust other evidence than that of sight (Joh 14:5; Joh 20:25).
( c) Group iii
ix. James ] or “James the Less” (see note below, Mar 15:40), the son of Alphus, so called to distinguish him from James, the son of Zebedee, mentioned above. He is probably a distinct person from James the Lord’s brother (Gal 1:19), and author of the Epistle, which bears his name.
x. Thaddus ] i. e. Judas, a brother, or possibly a son of James, bishop of Jerusalem (Act 1:13). He was surnamed Thaddus and Lebbus (Mat 10:3), which some interpret as = “ cordatus or animosus ” = “a man of energy and courage.” He is the author of the Epistle which bears his name. Once only in the Gospels do we find any act or saying of his recorded, viz., in Joh 14:22, “ Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? ”
xi. Simon ] the Cananite, or Cananan (Mat 10:4), in Greek Zelotes (Luk 6:15; Act 1:13). The spelling of the English Version here is misleading. The word does not signify a native of Canaan, or of Cana, but comes from a Chaldee or Syriac word Kanean or Kaneniah, by which the Jewish sect or faction of “the Zealots” was designated. To this sect Simon had probably belonged before his call.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And Andrew,…. The brother of Peter;
and Philip, who was of Bethsaida;
and Bartholomew, whom Dr. Lightfoot thinks is the same with Nathaniel: the name may be the same with , “Bar Talmion”, with the Jews y; [See comments on Mt 10:3].
[See comments on Joh 1:41].
and Matthew, the publican, who was called Levi;
and Thomas, who was called Didymus, from his being a twin;
and James, the son of Alphaeus, to distinguish him from the other James, the son of Zebedee, and who is sometimes called “the less”;
and Thaddaeus, whose name was also Lebbaeus, and likewise Jude, the author of the Epistle that bears that name;
and Simon the Canaanite, or Zelotes; of these men, and their several names, [See comments on Mt 10:2].
[See comments on Mt 10:3].
[See comments on Mt 10:4].
y Vajikra Rabba, sect. 6. fol. 151. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Andrew [] . A name of Greek origin though ill use among the Jews, from ajnhr, man, and signifying manly. He was one of the two who came earliest to Christ (Mt 4:18, 20; compare Joh 1:40, 41); and hence is always styled by the Greek fathers prwtoklhtov, first called.
Philip [] . Another Greek name, meaning fond of horses. In ecclesiastical legend he is said to have been a chariot – driver.
Bartholomew. A Hebrew name – Bar Tolmai, son of Tolmai. Almost certainly identical with Nathanael. Philip and Nathanael are associated by John, as are Philip and Bartholomew in the parallel passages of the synoptics. Bartholomew is not mentioned in John’s list of the twelve (xi. 2), but Nathanael is; while the synoptists do not mention Nathanael in their lists, but do mention Bartholomew. Probably he had two names.
Matthew. See on the superscription of Matthew’s Gospel. Thomas. A Hebrew name, meaning twin, and translated by the Greek Didymus (Joh 11:16).
Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus, as in Mt 10:3. He is the Judas of Joh 14:22. Luther calls him der formme Judas (the good Judas). The two surnames, Lebbaeus and Thaddaeus, mean the same thing – beloved child.
Simon the Canaanite. Properly, Cananaean. See on Mt 10:4 : “No name is more striking in the list than that of Simon the Zealot, for to none of the twelve could the contrast be so vivid between their former and their new position. What revolution of thought and heart could be greater than that which had thus changed into a follower of Jesus one of the fierce war – party of the day, which looked on the presence of Rome in the Holy Land as treason against the majesty of Jehovah, a party who were fanatical in their Jewish strictures and exclusiveness?” (Geikie, ” Life and Words of Christ “).
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And Andrew and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew,” (kai Andrean kai Philippon kai Bartholomaion kai Matthaion) “And Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, and Matthew,” were added to make up the twelve, The naming of each appeared to be for historical purposes only, not for preeminence or priority of anyone over any other.
2) “And Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus,” (kai Thoman kai lakobon ton tou Alphaiou) “And Thomas and James who was the son of Alphaeus,” were added to make up the twelve.
3) “And Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,” (kai Thaddaion kai Simona ton Kananaion) “And Thaddaeus and Simon who was the Canaanite,” were added to the twelve. This Simon may have been of Cana of Galilee, where Jesus performed His first miracle, Joh 2:1; Joh 2:11.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(18) Simon the Canaanite.Better, Cananite, or, following many MSS., Cananan, i.e., the Aramaic equivalent of Zelotes. (See Note on Mat. 10:2-4)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholemew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot who also betrayed him.’
Andrew was the brother of Peter (Joh 1:40). That they are not put together in the list demonstrates that this was not Mark’s method (contrast Matthew). Thus James the son of Alphaeus (is this the James the Little of Mar 14:40?) may have been brother to Levi the son of Alphaeus (Mar 2:14), the latter being identified as Matthew by comparison with Mat 9:9. Alternately they may both have had different fathers, both being named Alphaeus, a not uncommon name. Bartholomew may be ‘son of Ptolemy’ or ‘Talmai’ and by his association here with Philip may be Nathanael. But Nathanael may not have been one of the Twelve (although Joh 21:2 probably suggests that he was. It partly depends on what John meant by ‘disciple’). Luke has Judas, the son of James (‘Judas, not Iscariot’ – Joh 14:22), instead of Thaddaeus, (which Matthew possibly, but by no means certainly for many manuscripts have Thaddaeus, has as Lebbaeus. One may have been a new name and one a nickname).
‘The Cananaean derives from a word meaning ‘zealous’ and may be an alternative for Zealot, compare Luk 6:15 – ‘Simon the Zealous one’. Judas the Betrayer is common to all. His name ‘Iscariot’ may mean ‘man of Kerioth’, but not certainly. The anger felt against Judas comes out in that when mentioning him they all describe him as ‘the Betrayer’ or equivalent (Mat 10:4; Mat 26:25; Mat 27:3; Luk 6:16; Joh 6:71; Joh 12:4; Joh 18:2; Joh 18:5).
It is especially interesting that Mark, who has described the calling of Levi (Mar 2:14) almost certainly gives him another name here, probably Matthew. This suggests that his name list was so firmly set in the tradition that he did not want to alter it.
So the twelve are named and clearly intended to be written into the hearts of the hearers and readers. These are to be seen as the foundation of what is to come.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
Ver. 18. And Bartholomew ] See Trapp on “ Mat 10:3 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mar 3:18 . . One wonders why Mk. did not here say: Levi, to whom He gave the name Matthew. Or did this disciple get his new name independently of Jesus? This list of names shows the importance of the act of selecting the Twelve. He gives the names, says Victor Ant., that you may not err as to the designations, lest any one should call himself an apostle ( ).
Mar 3:19-21 . The friends of Jesus think Him out of His senses ; peculiar to Mk. One of his realisms which Mt. and Lk. pass over in silence.
Mar 3:19 b. , and He cometh home (“nach Haus,” Weizs.) to house-life as distinct from hill-life ( , Mar 3:13 ). The formal manner in which this is stated suggests a sojourn on the hill of appreciable length, say, for some days. How occupied there? Probably in giving a course of instruction to the disciple-circle; say, that reproduced in the “Sermon on the Mount” = the “Teaching on the Hill,” vide introductory notes on Mat 5 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Andrew. A name of Greek origin = manly. Thefirst called. See Mat 4:18, Mat 4:20. Joh 1:45-5 Joh 1:1).
Bartholomew. One (Aramaic. App-94.) of two names, the other being Nathanael (Joh 1:45-51). John connects Philip with Nathaniel; in the other Gospels, with Bartholomew. Bartholomew is not mentioned in Joh 21:2, Nathanael is. The other Gospels mention Bartholomew but not Nathanael.
Matthew. Aramaic. App-94.
Thomas. Aramaic. App-94. In Greek = Didymos (Joh 11:16).
Thaddeeus (or Lebbaeus as in Mat 10:3). He is the Judas of Joh 14:22, both words having the same meaning = beloved child. Aramaic. App-94.
Canaanite = Canaan. an or Zealot = one who regarded the presence of the Romans as treason against Jehovah,
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Andrew: Joh 1:40, Joh 6:8, Joh 12:21, Joh 12:22, Act 1:13
Philip: Joh 1:43-45, Joh 6:5-7, Joh 14:8, Joh 14:9
Bartholomew: Mat 10:3, Luk 6:14, Act 1:13
Matthew: Mar 2:14, Mat 9:9, Luk 5:27-29, Levi, Luk 6:15
Thomas: Joh 11:16, Joh 20:24-29, Joh 21:2, Act 1:13
James: Mar 6:3, Mat 10:3, Mat 13:55, Luk 6:15, Act 15:13, Act 21:18, 1Co 9:5, 1Co 15:7, Gal 1:19, Gal 2:9, Jam 1:1
Alphaeus: Mar 2:14
Thaddaeus: Mat 10:3, Luk 6:16, Joh 14:22, Act 1:13, Judas the brother of James, Jud 1:1
Simon: Mat 10:4, Luk 6:15, Act 1:13, Simon Zelotes
Canaanite: [Strong’s G2581], so called, not from being a native of Canaan, [Strong’s G5477], which would have been , but from the Hebrew Kana, to be zealous, whence he is called in Greek [Strong’s G2208], Zelotes, or the Zealot, from [Strong’s G2206], to be zealous.
Reciprocal: Mat 10:2 – Andrew Mar 1:16 – Simon Joh 1:44 – Philip
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Mar 3:18. Matthew arranges the Twelve by pairs; Mark does not. In other respects the lists of Matthew and Mark correspond most closely.
Cananaean, or, Zealot; see Mat 10:4; Luk 6:15; Act 1:13.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 18
James the son of Alpheus. His father’s name is given to distinguish him from the other James, the son of Zebedee. In theological writings, the former is generally called James the greater, and the latter James the less. James the less is supposed to have written the Epistle called by his name.–Simon the Canaanite. He is called by Luke 6:15, Simon Zelotes. He is thus particularly designated to distinguish him from Simon Peter.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
3:18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the [son] of Alphaeus, and {l} Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
(l) Whom Luke also calls Judas: and to make a distinction the other Judas is called Iscariot.