Bible Strands
Matthew 10:2
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to His twelve disciples immediately after granting them authority to heal and cast out spirits. He pauses to formally identify them by name before commissioning them for their mission.
The words — The Greek τὰ ὀνόματα (ta onomata) literally means "the names," introducing a formal roster. The demonstrative ταῦτα (tauta) translates as "these," pointing directly to the specific individuals Jesus is naming.
The thread — The same individuals appear in the calling narratives of Matthew 4:18 and Matthew 4:21, and the group is later noted in Acts 1:13.
Why it lands — The text states that Jesus personally selects and names those He empowers for ministry. It asks the reader to acknowledge that apostolic authority originates from His specific commission, not human appointment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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;
Cross-references
- Matthew 4:21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them,
- Acts 1:13 When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
- Matthew 4:18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
- Luke 5:10 and so were his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee. “Do not be afraid,” Jesus said to Simon. “From now on you will catch men.”
- John 6:8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him,
- John 12:22 Philip relayed this appeal to Andrew, and both of them went and told Jesus.
- Luke 11:49 Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’
- John 21:2 Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
- Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
- Matthew 17:1 After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.