This map shows the approximate boundaries of the promised land, Canaan, which was divided among the descendants of Jacob (whose name was later changed to 'Israel' by Yahweh). Here we can see the tribal territories that surround the Sea of Galilee: Napthali, Manasseh to the east, the northern bit of Gad, Issachar and Zebulun to the west. This area referred to as Galilee is quite a bit north of the territory of Judah. None of the Apostles were 'Jews' meaning residents of Judah. The men who were called by Yahshua to follow him were from this region called Galilee. In Matthew Chapter 4 we read of Yahshua telling them instead of fishing the Sea of Galilee he would make them fishers of men - men caught up to Life unlike fish which are caught and die.
Prior to his ministry Yahshua was immersed by John his cousin son of Zachariah and Elizabeth who were Levites*. It was then that he became fully filled with the Set Apart Spirit of his Father. Afterwards, he spent 40 days
in the wilderness being tempted by Satan the Accuser. Thereafter, Messengers (angels) tended to him. Later he heard that
his cousin John had been arrested which is when he went to Galilee. He left Nazareth and
stayed in Capernaum on the northwest side of the Sea of Galilee. In his outings he called those who were to become his Apostles: the Shlichim (Sent Ones; Emissaries) who would be taught during the following three years by Master Yahshua, being made ready to go out and proclaim
the Kingdom to come, after receiving the Set Apart Spirit of Yahweh (Acts Chapter 2).
Acts 2:7 .... These, all of them who are speaking, are Galileans.
In conducting this study on the Apostles I have come across the different names relating to the same man which gave me a bit of a struggle in connecting who's who. I use the Aramaic English New Testament at home which includes Hebrew names for the twelve. Then I use Bible Hub online to check the various 'Bible' versions for the common names used in our times. In various versions of Scriptures, which ignore the Hebrew origins, you will find not only Greek names but sainthood given where is does not belong. With that said, where information seems to be lacking it is because not much was available per The Written Word.
*The mother of Yahshua, Maryam, was a cousin to Elizabeth. They were of the tribe of Levi.
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It is recorded that Peter and his brother Andrew were the first ones Yahshua called out to follow him. They are sons of Jonah and from Bethsaida. They had knowledge of Scriptures (Torah, the prophets and the writings) having been taught by John son of Zachariah a Levite priest, and aware of the prophecies, they immediately recognized who Yahshua was. Without hesitation they dropped their nets and went after him. Later, Yahshua saw two other brothers, James and John, who were in a boat with their father Zebedee fixing their nets when he called to them. They, being followers of John, were also aware of the prophecies and dropped what they were doing to follow Yahshua. Thus began Yahshua's ministry in all of Galilee. He preached the Hope of the Kingdom and healed every disease and sickness among the people. His fame became know in all Syria. A great many began to follow him, those from Galilee and from the Ten Cites and from Jerusalem and from Judah across the Jordan.
The Ten Cities were in the eastern frontier of
the Roman Empire (aka The Decapolis) in the first centuries BC
and AD. They formed a group because of their language, culture,
location, and political status each functioned as a city-state dependent on Rome.
The Sea of Galilee was famous for its fishing industry. The town of Magdala had a
reputation for the best dried fish in the area. Mary of Magdala came
from a family in the fish business which is where her wealth came from.
Four of the apostles had been brought up as fishermen on the Sea of
Galilee: Peter and his brother Andrew; James and his brother John sons
of Zebedee, whom Yahshua called the Sons of Thunder.
Yahshua had many disciples and gained crowds of followers. In Luke Chapter 6 we read he went out to a mountain to pray and spent the night in divine communication with his Father. When day broke he called his disciples together and from them he chose those he called his Shlichim - Sent Ones - aka the Apostles.
Peter; Andrew; James; John; Philip; Nathaniel son of Tulmay (aka Bartholomew); Levi (aka Matthew); Thomas; James son of Alphaeus; Simon the Canaanite; Judas son of James (aka Thaddeus) and Judas Iscariot.
Peter and his brother Andrew were fishermen from Bethsaida on the northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee which puts it in the territory of Naphtali very near the Manasseh border. Capernaum is where Yahshua was staying, which is in the territory of Naphtali, but his outings took him various places in the area.
James and his brother John were sons of Zebedee and they were all in the fishing business. It seems Yahshua found them not long after calling to Peter and Andrew to follow him.
Philip was also from Bethsaida and when he came upon Bartholomew he was excited to share the news:
".... he whom Moses wrote about in Torah and the prophets, we have found him! He is Yahshua, the son of Joseph of Nazareth!"
Bartholomew doubted anything good could come from Nazareth, but after
meeting Yahshua he knew for certain that he was the one written about.
Levi
(aka Matti; Matthew, the son of Khalpai/Alphaeus, Mark 2:14) and was sitting
at the house of customs when Yahshua called to him. He, too, simply left
everything to follow him. Matthew ended up making a great feast for Yahshua at his house and there was a large crowd of publicans and others
reclining with them. This irritated the scribes and Pharisees so much
that they asked Yahshua why he was eating and drinking with tax
collectors and sinners. He told them that he did not come to call the
righteous, but to call the sinners to repentance.
The “taxman” was called a “publicanus” meaning “public revenue.”
Publicans bid at the Roman Senate open auctions for the right to collect
taxes for a certain city or area under Rome’s rule. The publican’s bid
was commensurate with what was thought to be the possible income from
that place. If he bid on Jerusalem, the income would be high and his bid
was high. If he bid on the small fishing village of Portofino, the
incoming revenue would be small and his bid would be small. He made his
money by making sure the expected revenue exceeded his bid. He paid the
government the bid and pocketed the rest.
Thomas, whose name in Hebrew is 'Tooma' and means 'Thyme', was later nicknamed 'the Twin'. He is also known as 'Doubting Thomas' because he wanted to see the resurrected Son of God for himself instead of taking others word for it. When he did witness his resurrected friend and teacher Yahshua said to him: "Now that you have seen me you have believed. Blessed are those who do not see me and believe." (John 20:29)
James son of Alphaeus (Matthew 10). Although James and Matthew's fathers' names are the same, the boys are never referred to as 'brothers' as Peter and Andrew sons of Jonah or James and John sons of Zebedee are, so it is safe to say they are not related.
Simon (the Canaanite - Matthew 10). 'Canaan' means subdue or humble. It can also mean a merchant who carries a heavy load, and is brought low by it. In other places he is called Simon the Zealot. A zealot is devoted to a cause, which this Simon was.
Judas son of James (aka Yehuda Luke 6:16) aka Levi who is called Taddi (aka Thaddeus, Matthew 10:3). I just don't have any more information to share about this Apostle at this time.
Judas Iscariot, the treasurer. Money ended up being his downfall. The temptation of 30 pieces of silver caused him to betray Yahshua, which he regretted so badly that he committed suicide. (Afterwards he was replaced by Matthias, Acts 1:26)
Acts 2:7 .... These, all of them who are speaking, are Galileans.
→ ↔↕↔ ←
Some
time after Judas (Yehuda) committed suicide the remaining eleven
Apostles prayed asking Yah to reveal one of two men, Joseph Bar Shaba
and Matthias who was named Yostos, as to who was to replace Judas. These two men had been disciples
with the rest of them from the beginning, when Yahshua was immersed by
John until his resurrection.
Acts
1:24 ~~ You Master Yahweh know that which is in the hearts of all.
Reveal one, the one that You have chosen from these, the two of them,
that he might receive a portion of the ministry and the office of
emissary from which Yehuda departed, that he might take his place.
They cast lots and Matthias was chosen.
In
Mark 6 verses 1 and 2 Yahshua has
been teaching the assembly. Many were amazed at his knowledge and
wisdom and miracles. In verse 3 they ask: "
Is this not the carpenter,
the son of Maryam and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and
Simon? and aren't even his sisters here with us?"
His
half-brothers are not to be confused with the Apostles: neither one of
the James - one the son of Zebedee, the other the son of Alphaeus; Judas son of James
nor Simon. Joseph and Mary had children together some time after Yahshua was born.
In Acts Chapter 12 we read that James, brother of John, was killed by King Herod who was also known as Agrippa. When he saw that this pleased the Yehudeans he sent word out to capture Peter. It was during the days of Unleavened Bread when Peter was kept in prison and a Messenger sent by Yah freed Peter from being chained in prison and led him to safety. The next morning there was quite an uproar among the soldiers who had been guarding Peter.
We have read in the book of
Matthew that Messiah said the 12 Apostles will be given positions at his
return so they may judge. Here we get a peek at our Messiah's government taking shape. Matthew 19:28 ~ Truly I say to you, that you who have come to follow me in this world,
when the Son of man sits new upon the throne of his glory, you will also
sit upon twelve seats and you will judge the twelve tribes of
Israel."
Acts 1
•Petros (Peter whom Yahshua named The Rock and has nothing to do with a church).
•Yochanan (John, Peter's brother)
•Ya'akov (James)
•Andraus (Andrew, James' brother who Yahshua called Sons of Thunder)
•Peleepos (Philip)
•Tooma (Thomas)
•Mattai (Matthew)
•Bar-Tulmay (Bartholmew)
•Ya'akov Bar-Khalpai (James son of Alphaeus)
•Shimon the zealot (Simon the Canaanite)
•Yehud Bar-Ya'akov (Judas son of James)
•Matya (Matthias) replaces Judas Iscariot
Later on Saul (Paul) joins the twelve, three years after his meeting with Yahshua on the road to Damascus.
There are many lessons for us to learn from what is written in Scriptures including the struggles and challenges the Apostles faced. We deal with similar scenarios as we continue along Yah's Path of Righteousness. For example, in Luke 22 we read that Peter denied knowing Yahshua three different
times after the arrest of Yahshua while being taken to the house of the
high priest. Yahshua even told this to Peter beforehand and he couldn't believe he would do such a thing. But it happened.
Regardless of the shortcomings the Apostles may have had, even after three years of being taught by the Son of God, once they were filled with the Set Apart Spirit of Yahweh (at Shavuot aka Pentecost) they became truly empowered as emissaries of Yahshua and teachers of The Word. Just as Yahshua was immersed by John and the Spirit of Yahweh came to him, so did he give this same Spirit to his Apostles.
In Acts Chapter 2 we read, "From that day onward they (the Apostles) were all steadfast in their teaching and were in fellowship in prayer and breaking of bread. Signs and mighty deeds were performed by the Apostles in Jerusalem. And all those who had believed shared everything they owned with one another. Those who had a possession would sell it and divide evenly to each according to their needs. Every day they were steadfast in the temple as one soul. While they received food and rejoiced in the simplicity of their hearts, they were praising Yahweh and finding favor with the people."
It is this same Spirit we receive when made ready through the study of His Word, reading Scriptures. It is the Comforter, this Spirit of Truth, that teaches us if we allow it. It is this same Spirit by which we are born again.
Keep the Apostles in mind whenever you feel you're not worthy or that you have fallen short. Our Father may know what is in our hearts but He tests us, and it is up to us to show him our intentions are true.
