Unlike the lists in Mark 3:16–19, Luke 6:14–16, in Acts 1:13, Matthew 10:2–4 lists the apostles in pairs, perhaps to match how they were sent out in pairs (see Mark 6:7), for their first work outside Jesus’ direct guidance. Matthew 10:2 is the first time in the New Testament that the twelve disciples are called apostles, meaning those who have been sent out.
The term apostle is used eighty-one times in the New Testament, but only once in Matthew, who otherwise calls them disciples
and the twelve.
In the New Testament the twelve apostles are mentioned by name four times: in Matthew 10:2–4; Mark 3:16–19; Luke 6:14–16; and Acts 1:13. The apostles are here named two-by-two, perhaps as an indication that they were sent out as such (see Mark 6:7). Matthew 10:2 is also the very first time in the New Testament that the twelve disciples are called apostles, which means those who have been sent out.
The name apostle is mentioned eighty-one times in the New Testament, but only once in the entire Gospel of Matthew. Elsewhere he only speaks of the disciples
and the twelve.
1 They are mentioned here in the groups in which they worked, as this was the first time that Jesus allowed the apostles to proceed collectively as an independent group.2
2 Voici les noms des douze apôtres.Le premier, Simon appelé Pierre, et André, son frère; Jacques, fils de Zébédée, et Jean, son frère;