Jesus' Ministry in Galilee

The Choosing of the Twelve

Matthew

10:1

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.

gave them authority

The Lord invests the apostles with the authority to perform miracles with a purpose. Miracles are the way God attests to the words of a messenger.

In John 9, the man born blind whom Jesus granted sight understands well that the miracle must mean Jesus has God's approval and endorsement.

John 9:30-33
The man answered, "Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."

When the apostles later meet strong resistance to the gospel, God provides support--for His word--by means of miracles.

Acts 14:1-3
Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

We rely on the testimony of the apostles because God showed they were His by means of the miracles accomplished among the people.

Hebrews 2:3-4
[Salvation] was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Finally, Jesus not only grants miracles to be done, but He also places them into proper perspective.

Luke 10:17-20
The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

10:2

The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

10:3

Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;

10:4

Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Mark

3:13

And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him.

3:14

And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach

whom he also named apostles

Twelve are more than mere disciples, being named in addition apostles.

The term "apostle" means something like a representative delegate. See the Appendix, "'Apostle' Defined", for more details on the definition of this important term in the New Testament.

3:15

and have authority to cast out demons.

3:16

He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter);

3:17

James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder);

3:18

Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot,

3:19

and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Luke

6:12

In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.

6:13

And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:

6:14

Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew,

6:15

and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,

6:16

and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.