Mark 3:18

“And Andrew, etc..] 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 wymlt rb, “Bar Talmion”, with the Jews f47 ; (See Gill on “<401003>Matthew 10:3”). (See Gill on “<430141>John 1:41”). ˆ 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,…”

“For an account of the appointment of the apostles, see the notes at Matthew 10:1-4. And calleth unto him whom he would - Those whom he chose; whom he was about to appoint to the apostleship. See the notes at John 15:16. Mark 3:14 He ordained twelve - The word rendered “ordained” here does not express our notion of ordination to the ministry. It means, literally, “he made” - that is, he “appointed” twelve to be with him. Twelve - The reason why “twelve” were chosen was, probably, that such a number would be deemed competent witnesses of what they saw; that they could not be easily charged with being excited by sympathy, or being deluded, as a multitude might; and that, being destined to go…”

“3:18 Philip is fifth on all four lists of the twelve disciples (Matt 10:1-4; Luke 6:12-16; Acts 1:13); James the son of Alphaeus (not the son of Zebedee and brother of John) is always ninth. Bartholomew might be Nathanael (John 1:43-51), and Matthew is probably Levi, the tax collector (Mark 2:14; Matt 9:9). Although Thomas is referred to as “the twin” (John 11:16; 20:24; 21:2), nothing else is said in the New Testament about this. Thaddaeus (Matt 10:3) is missing from Luke’s list; he might be Judas, the son of James (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13). That a government official (Matthew) and an anti-government activist (Simon . . . the zealot) were among the twelve apostles testifies to Jesus’ ability…”

“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; Co1 9:5, Co1 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, Jde 1:1 Simon: Mat 10:4; Luk 6:15; Act 1:13, Simon Zelotes Canaanite: Κανανιτης \[Strong's G2581\], so called, not from being a native of Canaan, Χανααν \[Strong's G5477\], which would have been Χαναναος, but from the Hebrew…”