Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-19

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well-to-do. but his sons left all when
they entered the service of Christ. 1t
was, however, probably through this
connection that John had some influence
at the court and was able to get in at
the palace. and be present at the trial of
Jesus. He and his brother were play
! fully called the sons of Thunder by
Jesus. John became bishop of Asia in
his latter years; was banished to the
Isle of Patmos; and here received the
Revelation from Jesus Himself John
] lived to be over 80 and became the great
apostle of love Tradition says that he
also was crucihed
Philip was rather slow it has been
supposed that he was the man who.
when he was called by. Jesus to come
and follow Him, asked that he might
first bury his father. This was an
eastern saying which meant that he
wanted to LOOK after his father in his
old age. He did not mean to reject
Christ's call, but he simply wanted to
postpone it.
Bartholomew is supposed to have
been Nathaniel; Bartholomew being his
surname. He was the only man in the
apostolate who had any education. He
was deeply pious.
Thomas real name was probably
Judas. Thomas is the Hebrew for twin,
as Didymus is the Greek for twin. He
was called the twin to distinguish him
from two others named Judas, who have
already been mentioned. Thomas, or
Judas the twin, was man of uneven
temperament; he was easily depressed;
1t did not take much to give him the
blues. But, with all this, he was in
tensely loyal to Christ. 1t was this
tendency to look on the dark side of
things which made him act as he did
in the matter of returning to Jerusalem
after Lazarus death, and also to be so
hard to convince that Jesus had risen
from the dead. But his loyalty was
none the less for his disposition.
Matthews name was Levi. Matthew
means a gift from God, and this name
was probably given to him after his
conversion. 1t is interesting to know
that Mark and Luke in speaking of
him, do not make any reference to his
former occupation, probably out of con-
sideration for him; but Matthew him
self tells the story of his shame when
he calls himself the tax gatheTer in
order that he might magnify the grace
Of God which had saved him.
James the less, was his brother. Some
think that James was also a tax gath
erer. We know very little about him.
Thaddeus was named Judas and was
the son of one whose name was James.
Just why Mark and Matthew called
him Thaddeus is not known, except
that it was probably his surname
Simon the Cananean, or the zealot
belonged to that society of Jews who
were very much opposed to Roman
domination. They were Jealous for the
restoration to Israel of the temporal
power They did, not always adopt
the most tactful means of accomplish
ing this purpose. The fact that Jesus
should have selected such a one as
member of His most intimate circle or
friends was a very bold move, and was
calculated to make the Roman govern
ment suspicious Of Him, although He
did not do it for that purpose.
The last of the apostles was Judas
the man of Kerioth Judas Escariot.)
He was the only one of the company
of apostles who was not a Galilean,
but came from the town somewhere
near Jerusalem. He was a man or
ability and very wise, or Jesus would
not have selected him treasurer of
the company. 1t is rather hard to un-
derstand why Jesus should have Sc
lected a man of this kind, knowing men |
as He did The only explanation that
is at all satisfactory is that it was a
part of Gods plan; just as Jesus was
delivered up by the Discriminate coun-
sci and foreknowledge of God, so we can
understand why man of this character
was chosen by the determinate coun- |
sci and foreknowiedge of God as a
means in this plan. Judas was cove |
tous; he had expected Jesus to estao-
lish a temporal kingdom, and had fig |
ured out that he would win much by |
it; therefore, he had made sacrifices
during those three years. But seeing |
the trend of events. and being despond- |
ent he determined to make the best
of it, and save what he could out or |
what he supposed was disaster; and |
therefore made the traitors trade with |
the sanhedrim. They were disguised !
with him, even though they were glad |
enough to use him for their purpose |
They showed their disgust by buying |