His Word Today

“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. 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; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.” (Matthew 10:1–4 ESV)

We continue our profile of the Twelve Apostles. Today’s study concludes with the Apostle Judas Iscariot. In Matthew’s text, Judas is identified as the one who betrayed Jesus Christ.  

The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, & Luke) listing of the Twelve who Jesus called ‘to be with him’ (Mark. 3:14), Judas Iscariot always appears last, and usually with some descriptive and infamous brand (e.g. ‘who betrayed him’, Mark. 3:19; Matt. 10:4; Luke. 6:16; cf. John. 18:2, 5).

The name Iscariot is unclear. Perhaps it is referring to Judas’ birthplace, which was shared by his father, Simon (John 6:71; 13:26). Some manuscripts even read “from Kerioth” (John 6:71; 12:4; 13:2, 26 and 14:22). If Iscariot indicates Judas’ hometown, the precise location of Kerioth is unknown. The Old Testament identifies a town in Moab with this name (Jer. 48:24, 41; Amos 2:2), as well as a location called Kerioth-Hezron (Josh 15:25).

Iscariot also can mean dagger. The etymology, or origin, of the word Iscariot goes back to the Semitic word for “dagger,” which was a symbol for assassins. “Judas has been called at times “Judas the Assassin” or “Judas the Dagger-Man.” Though he never used a dagger on Jesus, he did nevertheless stab Him in the back in his betrayal,” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.

“The Apostle John’s first explicit mention of Judas also affirms Jesus’ choice of him as one of the Twelve, and even highlights his allegiance at a time when other disciples are withdrawing. However, John also simultaneously labels him a devil and references his future betrayal (John 6:66, 70–71). The Synoptics repeatedly identify Judas as one of the Twelve even after the betrayal is underway (Matt 26:14, 47; Mark 14:10, 43; Luke 22:3; Acts 1:17). Judas receives no special treatment from the evangelists until the final days of Jesus’ life; as go the Twelve, so, presumably, goes Judas (compare Matt 10:1; 20:17; Mark 4:10; 6:7; 9:35; 10:32; 11:11; Luke 8:1; 9:1–6, 12). Only after Jesus’ death is Judas notably absent from the eleven (Acts 1:13),” explains the Lexham Bible Dictionary.

Why did Jesus select Judas in the first place to be one of His disciples? In this brief treatment of Judas, we are unable to thoroughly answer this question. However, we can set forth the following probabilities.

First, the providence, or purposeful sovereignty of God. This was Peter’s perspective when he preached on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2.

²² “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— ²³ this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. ²⁴ God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.” (Acts 2:22–24 (ESV)

Second, there is also the perspective found in Genesis 50:20 when Joseph, years later, spoke to his ten older brothers about when they sold him into slavery (Gen. 37:12-36). Joseph understood that God used such actions for the greater good.  

^“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20 (ESV)

“The Scriptures tell us that Jesus was delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God. Jesus’ betrayal was not an accident of history. It was not a mistake that took place when somebody was disillusioned and, in his frustration, sought worldly gain for the blood of our Savior. No, this act of treachery was ordained by Almighty God from the foundation of the world,” explains Dr. Sproul.

 “Judas was a devil from the beginning. Judas was an unregenerate, corrupt, treacherous, lying, thieving crook before he ever met Jesus. Yet, God worked through his corruption to bring about the greatest work of salvation in all human history. As was the case with the brothers of Joseph, Judas meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.”  

The LORD uses the decisions of sinful mankind in order to accomplish His ultimate purpose and for it to ultimately bring Him glory (John 16:33; Rom. 8:29; 11:33-36; I Peter 1:1-9). How has God used difficult circumstances in your own life? While they may have been painful, how has He accomplished good because of certain difficult events; and not in spite of them?

Soli deo Gloria!

“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. 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; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.” (Matthew 10:1–4 ESV)

We continue our profile of the Twelve Apostles. Today’s study concerns the Apostle Simon, known as the Zealot. Simon is also called the Canaanite, which is the Aramaic word for “zealot.”

There were four primary Jewish people groups within first century Israel distinguished by religious and political ideologies. They included the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Essenes, and the Zealots. It is the Jewish people group known as the Zealots that is the focus for today’s study.  

Jesus’ eleventh apostle, Simon, belonged to the Zealots. (Luke 6:15). The Zealots were political extremists. In other words, they were terrorists against Rome. The Zealots used terrorism to oppose the Roman occupation of Palestine. This was coupled for their zeal for the Mosaic Law.

He is mentioned again in Acts 1:13 as one of the eleven apostles in Jerusalem after Jesus’ ascension. Beyond that, the New Testament says nothing else about Simon.

Simon is an excellent example of an individual who was presumably and actively involved in the political struggles of his day. He, along with others, opposed Rome’s occupation of Israel. Perhaps, he even took up arms against Rome and used violence to accomplish the Zealot’s goals.

“The zealots made up, for the most part, the mass of Jews who retreated to Masada. Under the Roman attack, they were finally driven to throwing themselves off the mountaintop to commit suicide. Some have described the zealots as ancient terrorists, like the Al Qaeda that we deal with even today,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

“It is one of the strange acts of providence that Jesus would select for His inner core of Apostles both a tax collector, who was raising tribute to support the Roman cause, and a zealot to work side-by-side—talk about a miracle of public relations. Jesus got these two men on His team and got them to work together.”

However, as a believer and apostle of Jesus Christ Simon became a member of another kingdom; the kingdom of God. As such, he acquired new weapons and armor to serve an eternal king (Eph. 6:10-20).

2 Corinthians 10:1-6 (ESV) says, “I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away! — ² I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. ³ For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. ⁵ We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, ⁶ being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.”  

I encourage you to keep this in mind as we serve the Lord in politically, culturally, and spiritually turbulent times.  Have a God-honoring day.

Soli deo Gloria!

“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. 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; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.” (Matthew 10:1–4 ESV)

We continue our profile of the Twelve Apostles. Today’s study concerns the Apostle James, the Son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus.  

James is the ninth in the roster of Jesus apostles. He also is found in all four lists of Jesus’ twelve disciples (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). It is possible that James, son of Alphaeus, is also called James the less/younger (Mark 15:40).

In church history, James has often in church history been called “James the Less” to distinguish him from James, son of Zebedee, or James “the Great”. AS noted in our study of Matthew/Levi, James may have been the brother of Levi (or Matthew), who is also called a son of Alphaeus in Mark 2:14.

Thaddaeus is the tenth apostle of Jesus. He also is found in all four lists of Jesus’ twelve disciples (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13). However, Luke refers to him, not only in his Gospel but also in Acts, as Judas, Son of James (not Iscariot). It is also possible that his additional name is Labbaeus.

“Thaddaeus’ is probably derived from Aram. taḏ, meaning the female breast, and suggests warmth of character and almost feminine devotedness. ‘Lebbaeus’ comes from Heb. lēḇ, ‘heart’, and it may therefore be an explanation of the other name. Attempts have been made to derive ‘Thaddaeus’ from ‘Judah’ and ‘Lebbaeus’ from ‘Levi’, explains the New Bible Dictionary.

There is no doubt that Thaddaeus is to be identified with ‘Judas of James.’ The name ‘Judas’ would not have been popular following Judas Iscariot’s betrayal. This may be why the name is not found in Matthew and Mark’s Gospels.

Most believers in Jesus Christ are not well known, like Peter, James and John. We serve in relative obscurity like James the Son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus. That is okay. The Lord knows who are His and He calls us to serve when, how, where and to whom He chooses. Let us all take comfort in the Lord’s purposeful sovereignty.

Soli deo Gloria!

“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. 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; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.” (Matthew 10:1–4 ESV)

We continue our profile of the Twelve Apostles. Today’s study concerns the Apostle Matthew.

Matthew means “gift of the Lord.” It was the alternative name of Levi, the tax collector (Matt. 9:9-13), who left everything to follow Christ (Luke 5:27–32). Matthew was one of the 12 apostles (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). In his own list of the Twelve, he explicitly called himself a “tax collector” (Matt. 10:1-3). Nowhere else in Scripture is the name Matthew associated with “tax-collector.” The other Gospels always use his tribal name, Levi, when speaking of his life prior to his conversion.

Matthew would have engaged in taxing fishermen like Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John. This would have created some obvious tension among the disciples when Jesus called Matthew to follow Him. Past conflicts prior to conversion yield to present reconciliation following conversion.

All three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) place the call of Matthew after the healing of the paralytic and Jesus’ pronouncement of his right to forgive sins (Matt. 9:1–8), and prior to the dinner for “tax collectors and sinners” (vv 10–13). This identifies Matthew as one of the sinners (v 13) to whom Jesus offers forgiveness.

“Matthew’s response to Jesus was obedient, decisive, and sacrificial (Lk 5:28). Both Mark (2:14) and Luke (5:27) call the tax collector “Levi” in place of “Matthew” (cf. Mt 9:9). A personal name (Matthew) would be a more natural choice than a tribal name (Levi), for identifying oneself. Mark and Luke locate the dinner “at his [Levi’s] house” (Mk 2:15; Lk 5:29), but Matthew “in the house” (Mt 9:10)—words one might use of his own home,” explains the Baker Bible Encyclopedia.

Matthew names the Twelve when Jesus sends them with the message of the kingdom (Matt. 10:1–8). Perhaps Jesus gave Levi the name Matthew as a sign of apostleship. If Matthew is a Christian name, this would help to explain why Levi occurs only in accounts of his call (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27, 29), and Matthew everywhere else.

An interesting fact is that all three Synoptic Gospels mention “James son of Alphaeus” among the Twelve Apostles. Mark 2:14 identifies Matthew as “Levi son of Alphaeus.” it is possible that James and Levi (Matthew) were brothers. This would have meant even greater conflict, and subsequent reconciliation, not only between two Jews but also two brothers. Such is the power of the Gospel to change people’s lives.

“The “scribe” of Matthew 13:52 is, no doubt, Matthew himself, who as a tax collector had been a secular scribe. Jesus likens him to a person “bringing forth treasures new and old”—the old being those acquired as a tax collector (such as gifts for accuracy and organization), the new being Jesus’ teachings “about the kingdom of heaven.” As a man doubly equipped, Matthew is now ready for further scribal activity—the writing of the book that bears his name,” states the Baker Bible Encyclopedia.

Matthew was among the disciples gathered to await the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:13). The New Testament records nothing of his activity after this.

Soli deo Gloria!

“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. 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; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.” (Matthew 10:1–4 ESV)

We continue our profile of the Twelve Apostles. Today’s study concerns the Apostle Thomas. He is in all four lists of the 12 apostles (Matt. 10:2–4; Mark 3:16–19; Luke 6:14–16; Acts 1:13).  He is my namesake.

The name Thomas is a transliteration of an Aramaic word meaning “twin.” Among the First Century Greek Christians, they often used the name Didymus (didumos, “twin”). This name appears three times in the Gospel of John (11:16; 20:24; 21:2).

Aside from Thomas appearing in each Synoptic Gospel list of apostles (see above), Matthew, Mark and Luke make no further mention of him. However, the Apostle John does.

“Thomas’ appearance in the fourth Gospel is interesting, however, since John does not even provide an exhaustive list of apostles. Here Thomas expresses the despair of the final approach to Jerusalem (11:1-7, 16) and presses Jesus to explain his words of departure in the upper room (14:1-5). In the Gospel’s closing scenes is the familiar episode in which Thomas doubts the Lord’s resurrection (20:24) and then is given compelling proof (vv 26–28). Thomas even appears in the Johannine epilogue (21:2) with Peter fishing in Galilee,” explains the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible.

“The most famous episode involving Thomas (from which he gets the name “Doubting Thomas”) occurred when he did not believe the other disciples’ report that Jesus had risen from the dead (John 20:24–29). He replied, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe” (John 20:25 ESV). Eight days later, Jesus appeared to Thomas and said, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe” (John 20:27 ESV). Thomas answered, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28 ESV),” states the Lexham Bible Dictionary.

My Lord and my God! With this acknowledgment, Thomas declared his firm belief in the resurrection and the deity of Jesus Christ the Messiah and Son of God (Titus 2:13).

“This is the greatest confession a person can make. Thomas’s confession functions as the fitting capstone of John’s purpose in writing (see John 20:30–31),” declares Dr. John MacArthur.

Soli deo Gloria!

“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. 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; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.” (Matthew 10:1–4 ESV)

We continue our profile of the Twelve Apostles. Today’s study concerns the Apostle Bartholomew. He is in all four lists of the 12 apostles (Matt. 10:2–4; Mark 3:16–19; Luke 6:14–16; Acts 1:13), but is not mentioned anywhere else in the New Testament.

Bartholomew’s name means “son of Tolmai.” It may well be that he was also called Nathaniel. In the lists found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke (the Synoptic Gospels), Bartholomew is named immediately after Philip. This suggests that the Nathanael Philip brought to Jesus (John 1:45–50)—who seems to be linked with some of the disciples (John 21:2)—was Bartholomew.

⁴³ “The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” ⁴⁴ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” ⁴⁶ Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” (John 1:43–46 (ESV)

“When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, He made this strange announcement: “Behold, an Israelite in whom there is no guile.” The gospels do not tell us a lot about Nathaniel, but Jesus’ pronouncement at that point is profound. What a description of a person’s character: “Behold, an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” He was a guileless person. Wouldn’t you love to have that on your tombstone: “This was a person without any deception, dishonesty, or manipulation. He was utterly guileless,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

What was Bartholomew’s (Nathaniel’s) response to Jesus? Bartholomew confessed Jesus as the Messiah.

⁴⁹ Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” ⁵⁰ Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” ⁵¹ And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:49–51 (ESV)

“Nathaniel was so impressed by Jesus’ display of supernatural knowledge that he immediately exclaimed, “You’re the Son of God; You’re the King of Israel!” It wasn’t just Peter who made a great confession of faith among the disciples and Apostles. The first time we heard: “You’re the Son of God” was from Philip. Then Nathaniel also proclaimed, “You are the Son of God and the King of Israel,” states Dr. Sproul.

True faith in the God of the Scriptures begins with a confession of Jesus Christ alone as Savior and Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

Soli deo Gloria!  

“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. 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; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.” (Matthew 10:1–4 ESV)

We continue our profile of the Twelve Apostles. Today’s study concerns the Apostle Phillip. The first mention of Phillip is in the Gospel of John.

⁴³ “The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” ⁴⁴ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” ⁴⁶ Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” (John 1:43–46 (ESV)

“Philip, in bearing witness to Jesus, made his confession of faith in his conviction that Jesus was the One who had been prophesied through the Old Testament Law and the Prophets, that He was the Messiah,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

The next mention of Phillip was when Jesus fed the 5,000 (John 6:1-14). Phillip calculated the cost of feeding such a multitude (John 6:7). He appeared to not only be a practical man but also a financially insightful man.

“Some people, I believe, have unfairly and unjustly dismissed Philip as just another calculating person because he should’ve realized that Jesus had the power to feed every one of those five thousand people without having to buy an enormous amount of food. That’s tremendously unfair since it was a statement made in passing and certainly is not characteristic of Philip and his whole life,” states Dr. Sproul.

The next mention of Phillip was when the disciples celebrated their final Passover Meal with Jesus, hours before His arrest, trial and crucifixion (John 13-17). Phillip asked Jesus to show the disciples God the Father (John 14:8). Jesus responded that whoever had seen the Son, Jesus, had seen the God the Father (John 14:9-11).

“If there was ever a time when Jesus seemed to be exasperated with one of His Apostles or disciples, it was this occasion. He said to Philip: “How long have I been with you, and you still don’t know Me? Don’t you understand, Philip, that he who has seen Me has seen the Father?” What a powerful statement Jesus made regarding the significance of His incarnation: “He who has seen me has seen the Father,” continues Dr. Sproul.

One of evidences the Bible is Word of God is that it accurately portrays followers of Jesus as they really were; including their faults. Phillip was a flawed individual, but he was a forgiven individual and a useful individual for the kingdom of God. May we be the same.

Soli deo Gloria!  

“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. 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; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.” (Matthew 10:1–4 ESV)

We continue our profile of the Twelve Apostles. Today’s study concerns the Apostle John, the Son of Zebedee and the brother of the Apostle James. John was a member of Jesus’ inner circle of disciples; along with Peter and James. The Holy Spirit used John to write five books of the New Testament (The Gospel of John; I, 2, 3 John, and The Book of Revelation).

John appears in each of the lists of disciples in the New Testament (Matt 10:2–4; Mark 3:16–19; Luke 6:13–16; Acts 1:13). As part of Jesus’ inner circle (along with Peter and James) he was present at several important occasions during Jesus’ earthly ministry. These include:

•    The Raising of Jairus’ Daughter (Mark 5:37).

•    The Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-2; Mark 9:2).

•    The Garden of Gethsemane (Matt 26:37).

“John may have been younger than his brother James, since he is usually mentioned after James. Together with their father, John and James were fishermen when Jesus called them. According to Mark, Jesus gave the two brothers the Aramaic surname Boanerges, translated as “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17). The name may be linked to their fiery temperaments (Mark 9:38–41; Luke 9:51–56),” explains one commentator.

The Apostle John rarely speaks in the Gospels. During the only time when he is alone with Jesus, he says: “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us” (Mark 9:38; Luke 9:49). Jesus then corrects John and explains that the use of His name is not restricted to the disciples.

John is traditionally identified as the “beloved disciple” in the Gospel of John. Both are in Jesus’ closest circle and are companions of Peter. John is never explicitly named in the Gospel of John. He is indirectly mentioned in John 21:2, which says that “the sons of Zebedee” were together with Peter and some of the other disciples at the Lake of Tiberias (i.e., the Sea of Galilee). However, one unnamed disciple is presented as closest to Jesus:

•    He leans on Jesus’ chest at the Last Supper (John 13:23)

•    He acts as an intermediary between Peter and Jesus (John 13:24–25)

•    He is entrusted with the care of Jesus’ mother (John 19:26–27)

•    He reaches the empty tomb before any other disciple (John 20:4)

•    He is the first to believe in the resurrection (John 20:8)

•    He recognizes the risen Lord and identifies Him for Peter (John 21:7)

Presumably John is called “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (e.g., in John 21:20). This beloved disciple is Peter’s companion. He is sometimes called “the other disciple” (John 18:15; 20:2). Other suggestions for the identity of the beloved disciple include Lazarus, Thomas, John Mark, or Matthias.

“John experienced exile under the emperor Domitian to the island of Patmos, where he received that heavenly vision that he recorded, as Jesus instructed him, which comes to us now as the book of the Revelation of Saint John (Rev. 1:9). In the book of Revelation, we have the marvelous vision of Christ’s triumph over all His enemies and the triumph of His people, who will participate in Christ’s triumph. We have the Apostle John to thank for that magnificent vision, as well as his great gospel,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

Soli deo Gloria!