{He appointed twelve} (epoi(8873)en d(9364)eka). This was a second
selection out of those invited to the hills and after the night
of prayer and after day came ( Lu 6:13 ). Why he chose twelve we
are not told, probably because there were twelve tribes in
Israel. It was a good round number at any rate. They were to be
princes in the new Israel (cf.  Mt 19:28  Lu 22:30  Re
21:14,15 ). Luke ( Lu 6:13-16 ) also gives the list of the twelve
at this point while Matthew ( Mt 10:1-4 ) postpones giving the
names till they are sent out in Galilee. There is a fourth list
in  Ac 1:13 . See discussion of the names of the apostles on 烘t
10:1-4| and pp. 271-3 of my _Harmony of the Gospels for Students
of the Life of Christ_. The three groups of four begin alike
(Simon, Philip, James). There are some difficulties. {Whom he
also named apostles} (hous kai apostolous (936e)omasen). Margin of
Revised Version, the text of Westcott and Hort after Aleph, B, C,
etc. Genuine in  Lu 6:13  and probably so here. The meaning is
that Jesus himself gave the name apostle or missionary
(apostell(935c), to send) to this group of twelve. The word is
applied in the New Testament to others besides as delegates or
messengers of churches ( 2Co 8:23  Php 2:25 ), and messenger
( Joh 13:16 ). It is applied also to Paul on a par with the
twelve ( Ga 1:1,11f. , etc.) and also to Barnabas ( Ac 14:14 ),
and perhaps also to Timothy and Silas ( 1Ti 2:6f. ). Two purposes
of Jesus are mentioned by Mark in the choice of these twelve,
{that they might be with him} (hina (9373)in met' autou), {and that
he might send them forth} (kai hina apostell(8869) autous). They
were not ready to be sent forth till they had been with Jesus for
some time. This is one of the chief tasks of Christ to train this
group of men. See Bruce's _The Training of the Twelve_. The very
word apostolos is from apostell(935c). There were two purposes in
sending them forth expressed by two infinitives, one to preach
(k(8872)ussein, from k(8872)ux, herald), the other to have power to
cast out demons (echein exousian ekballein ta daimonia). This
double ministry of preaching and healing was to mark their work.
The two things are, however, different, and one does not
necessarily involve the other.