by Gary L. Evans
67 — Who was the tenth disciple of Jesus in the list of twelve?
Thaddaeus (Matthew 10:1-4; Mark 3:13-19)
Mat 10:1-4 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
Matthew’s list of the Disciples is: (1) Peter, (2) Andrew, (3) James (of Zebedee), (4) John, (5) Philip, (6) Bartholomew (Nathanael), (7) Thomas, (8) Matthew, (9) James (of Alphaeus), (10) Thaddaeus, (11) Simon the Canaanite (Zelotes), and (12) Judas Iscariot.
Mark 3:13-19 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: And Simon he surnamed Peter; And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.
Mark’s list of the Disciples is: (1) Peter, (2) James (of Zebedee), (3) John, (4) Andrew, (5) Philip, (6) Bartholomew (Nathanael), (7) Matthew, (8) Thomas, (9) James (of Alphaeus), (10) Thaddaeus, (11) Simon the Canaanite (Zelotes), and (12) Judas Iscariot.
Note that Mark’s list is in a different order than Matthew’s list.
Judas son of James is the corresponding name in Luke’s gospel (Luke 6:12-16)
Note that there is no “Judas son of James.” And the 10th Disciple is listed as “Simon the Canaanite (Zelotes.)”. So it is likely that what was meant was “Judas brother of James.” But even that is wrong.
Luk 6:12-16 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
Luke’s list of the Disciples is: (1) Peter, (2) Andrew, (3) James, (4) John, (5) Philip, (6) Bartholomew (Nathanael), (7) Matthew, (8) Thomas, (9) James (of Alphaeus), (10) Simon the Canaanite (Zelotes), (11) Judas (brother of James), and (12) Judas Iscariot.
Note that Luke’s list is in a different order than Matthew’s list and Mark’s list.
These differences do not show any contradiction. They are just three lists of the same people in the accounts of three different writers.
68 — Jesus saw a man sit at the tax collector’s office and called him to be his disciple. What was his name?
Matthew (Matthew 9:9)
Mat 9:9-10 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
Smith’s Bible Dictionary states: “Mat’thew. (gift of Jehovah). (A contraction, as is also Matthias, of Mattathias. His original name was Levi, and his name, Matthew, was probably adopted as his new apostolic name as a Jew. His father’s name was Alphaeus. His home was at Capernaum. His business was the collection of dues and customs from persons and goods crossing the Sea of Galilee, or passing along the great Damascus road which ran along the shore between Bethsaida, Julius and Capernaum.
Christ called him from this work to be his disciple. He appears to have been a man of wealth, for he made a great feast in his own house, perhaps in order to introduce his former companions and friends to Jesus. His business would tend to give him a knowledge of human nature, and accurate business habits, and of how to make a way to the hearts of many publicans and sinners not otherwise easily reached.”
Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27)
Mark 2:14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
Smith’s Bible Dictionary states “Le’vi. (joined). Son of Alphaeus, or Matthew; one of the apostles. Mark_2:14; Luk_5:27; Luk_5:29. See Matthew.
Luk 5:27-29 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.
These facts are not contradictions. They are just facts.
69 — Was Jesus crucified on the daytime before the Passover meal or the daytime after?
After (Mark 14:12-17)
Mark 14:12-17 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover? And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us. And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.
The word “evening” is from the Greek “op’-see-os” and means “late; feminine (as noun) afternoon (early eve) or nightfall (later eve).”
Dr. Bullinger states: “the first day. The eating of the Passover took place on the fourteenth of Nisan. See Exo_12:6, Exo_12:8, Exo_12:18. Lev_23:5. Num_9:3; Num_28:16. The fifteenth was the high sabbath, the first day of the feast. See Num_28:17.”
Note that Hebrew days begin at 6:00 pm, sundown, and end at sundown the next night, 6 pm to 6 pm. We are accustom to our days beginning and ending at midnight, which causes confusion for us when we try to understand the Hebrew days of the week and days of the Feasts.
Exo 12:5-6 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
Dr. Bullinger states: “in the evening. Hebrew between the two evenings, or, according to Lightfoot, between the decline of the sun (after noon) and its setting.”
So “the evening” was after 12 pm that day with the decline of the sun to 6 pm, sunset, when they would kill the Passover Lamb.
Dr. Bullinger states: “the first day of unleavened bread. This was the 14th of Nisan; the first day of the Feast, the 15th of Nisan, was the “high day”: the great sabbath, See App-156. Moreover, “the preparation” had not yet been made. See note on Mat_26:17.”
So “the preparation” when they would kill the Passover Lamb and prepare it would be for the next evening meal (the meal between afternoon and sunset). The trial of Jesus would be that night at midnight (the sixth hour from sundown). Then Jesus, The Lamb of God, would be Sacrificed in the morning at 9am (the third hour from sunrise), the time of the morning sacrifice. Jesus would die that afternoon, early evening, at 3:00 pm.
The Disciples still had not comprehended (or had not accepted) The Lord’s simple declarations that the Hypocritical Scribes and Pharisees and Priests were going to kill Him. But that He would resurrect the third day. So this meal the evening before The Passover was The Last Supper of bread and wine that the Disciples would share with The Lord before His crucifixion. The actual Passover Supper would be late the next afternoon (before 6 pm sunset), after Jesus had been buried in the tomb. Sunset, 6 pm, was the end of the 14th day of Nisan and the start of the 15th day of Nisan which was the High Sabbath, which was the First Day of The Feast. After Jesus was crucified, the Disciples were all left in shock!
Therefore Jesus certainly was crucified BEFORE THE PASSOVER MEAL. He WAS our Passover Lamb without blemish.
Before. Before the feast of the Passover (John 13:1)
Joh 13:1-4 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
Dr. Bullinger States: “before. Greek. pro. App-104. The preparation day, the 14th day of Nisan, our Tuesday sunset to Wednesday sunset, the day of the Crucifixion. See App-156,”
Judas went out at night (John 13:30)
Joh 13:27-30 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
Dr. Bullinger states: “night: i.e. about the third hour of the night, 9pm, Tuesday night. See App-165.”
The other disciples thought he was going out to buy supplies to prepare for the Passover meal (John 13:29).
Joh 13:29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
Dr. Smith States: “The “bag” which Judas carried was probably a small box or chest. Joh_12:6; Joh_13:29.”
When Jesus was arrested, the Jews did not enter Pilate’s judgment hall because they wanted to stay clean to eat the Passover (John 18:28).
Joh 18:28-29 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?
Those Bloodthirsty Hypocrites who were planning to bear false witness against Jesus to have Him crucified explained to Pilate that they were far too righteous than to enter the “hall of judgment” because this was a Holy Day. So Pilate had to come out in order to ask them what all this was about?
When the judgment was pronounced against Jesus, it was about the sixth hour on the day of Preparation for the Passover (John 19:14)
Joh 19:13-15 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
Dr. Bullinger states: “the sixth hour: i.e. midnight. The hours in all the Gospels are according to Hebrew reckoning: i.e. from sunset to sunset. See App-156. Some have thought that the events from Joh_13:1 could not be crowded into so brief a space, but the Jews were in deadly earnest to get all finished before the Passover, and in such a case events move quickly.”
And Jesus would be beaten and humiliated all night long, and then would be crucified at the third hour after sunrise, or 9 am.
70 — Did Jesus pray to The Father to prevent the crucifixion?
Yes. (Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42)
Mat 26:36-39 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
The word “cup” is from the Greek “pot-ay’-ree-on” which means “a drinking vessel; by extension the contents thereof, that is, a cupful (draught); figuratively a lot or fate.”
Jesus was NOT asking His Father to not allow His crucifixion. Jesus was praying for the people of this world.
Rev 14:9-11 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Mat 26:40-42 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Jesus prayed for us again.
Rev 16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
Mat 26:43-46 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
Jesus prayed for us a third time.
Psa 79:5-6 How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
Mark 14:32-36 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
This is the HOUR that our Lord prayed would pass from Him (the world).
Rev 17:11-13 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
This is The Son of Perdition at the end of the world, not Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. This will be That Old Serpent, Satan, The Devil when he and his angels are cast out of Heaven to this earth. The ten kings of the beast system will reign with The Antichrist “One Hour,” which is a set period of time that we learn in Revelation is about five months, the time of the locusts. Remember, this is THAT HOUR that Jesus did not want all of the people of the world to have to suffer. This is The First Tribulation.
Rev 16:18-19 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
Mark 14:39-40 And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.
Jesus prayed for the people of this world again.
Hos 5:8-10 Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin. Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be. The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.
No. (John 12:27)
Joh 12:27-33 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.
71 — In the gospels which say that Jesus prayed to avoid the cross, how many times did ‘he move away from his disciples to pray?
NONE OF THE GOSPELS SAY THAT JESUS PRAYED TO AVOID THE CROSS. I have explained that where He prayed for the “cup” to be taken from Him, the meaning was His requirement in God’s Plan to pour out THE CUP OF WRATH on all of God’s Children (except The Elect). Bearing False Witness against The Word of God to claim that Jesus prayed to not have to be crucified is Blasphemy against The Word of God. And God has said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay.” The Lord’s Vengeance is in The Cup of Wrath to be poured out upon all transgressors, including those who Blaspheme.
Three (Matthew 26:36-46 and Mark 14:32-42)
Mat 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
One
Mat 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Two
Mat 26:44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
Three
Mark 14:35-36 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
One
Mark 14:39 And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.
Two
Mark describes our Lord Praying twice for The Cup to be removed.
One. No opening is left for another two times. (Luke 22:39-46)
Luk 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
One
Luk 22:43-44 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
One or Two or Three more times…?
Jesus loved all of us, especially those who believe. And He took upon Himself the sins of the whole world while He prayed for all of God’s Children in this world that He could spare them the suffering of The Cup of Wrath.
Joh 15:12-13 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
72 — Matthew and Mark agree that Jesus went away and prayed three times. What were the words of the second prayer?
Mark does not give the words but he says that the words were the same as the first prayer (Mark 14:39)
Mark 14:39 And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.
The word “words” is from the Greek “log’-os” and means “something said (including the thought); by implication a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension a computation; specifically (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (that is, Christ)”
So we could understand this verse better by translating it to “And again he went away, and prayed, and expressed the same thoughts as before.
Matthew gives us the words, and we can see that they are not the same as in the first (Matthew 26:42)
Mat 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
This was the first prayer.
Mat 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
This was the second prayer.
Our Lord’s prayers were from His Heart, not vain repetition, just as He taught us.
Mat 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
The differences in our Lord’s prayers and in the Gospel accounts do not show any contradiction, just different accounts from different witnesses.
73 — What did the centurion say when Jesus dies?
“Certainly this man was innocent” (Luke 23:47)
Luk 23:46-47 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
Obviously, Luke does not document the centurion saying “this man was innocent.”
“Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39)
Mark 15:37-39 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
Matthew also describes the same statement as Mark.
Mat 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.