(These are preaching notes. As a result, they are rough and unpolished. However, they have been provided for more information.)
Verse 3: “Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;”
Just finished discussing Thomas.
“Matthew”: (Mathayos) also called Levi
Both a Hebrew/Chaldee/Aramaic name and a Greek name
Mentioned very little in scripture.
Wrote the Gospel of Matthew
Tradition says he was martyred.
Possibly in Ethiopia.
“James the son of Alphaeus”: (eeako bos)
Mark 2:14 mentions an Alphaeus that is the father of Levi.
Unlikely these are the same man.
“Son of” → To tell the difference between the two men.
His mother accompanied Mary Magdalene to the tomb.
“James the less”
Tradition says he was martyred.
Crucified in Egypt and body was sawed into pieces.
“Lebbaeus”: Also called Thaddaeus and Judas
Referred to as the brother of James in Luke 6:16
Much mystery surrounds him.
John’s Gospel records a Judas that was not Iscariot.
Conclusion drawn that this is the same disciple.
Once again, tradition records his martyrdom.

Verse 4: “Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.”
“Simon the Canaanite” → Canaanite = zealot
Zealot speculation: toward God and maybe zealous in rebellion to Roman Empire
Tradition holds he was martyred.
Maybe crucified.
“Judas Iscariot”: (ee o das)
Judas was in charge of money for the group.
Much mystery surrounds Judas.
Who exactly and what exactly was he?
Satan entered into him before the betrayal.
Prophesied in scripture.
Acts 1:16; Psalm 41:9
Ezekiel 28 → Speaks about the prince of Tyrus
“Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
Not spoken of in the past or future, but the present.
Will betray Jesus and commit suicide.

Verse 5: “These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:”
Key→ “The twelve Jesus sent forth”: clearly, Jesus was speaking specifically to these twelve.
Their commandment, not ours. Christians must properly discern scripture so as to not make fundamental errors.
“Gentiles”--> (ethnos) nations
“Samaritans”--> Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom, Israel
Samaritans were not primarily intermarried Jews.
2 Kings 17:7&8,20-24→ Jews were removed from Samaria, and other people dwelled there.
Verse 23: God removed Israel from the land.
That is why Jesus commanded them not to go to Samaria.
Kingdom message was for Israel, not other nations.

Verse 6: “But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
“Lost sheep”--> Jews who were in unrepentance.
Reminder, sick need a physician. (Mathew 9:12)
Jesus’ ministry was to Israel.

Verse 7: “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Cannot be any clearer than that.
This was the message of the disciples. Not repent and believe Jesus is God’s Son.
Repentance was needed in Israel before they could accept Jesus as their King.

Verse 8: “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”
Why did Jesus perform miracles?
Isaiah 35:4-6 (Prophesy that the Messiah would do so.)
The disciples were given this ability to confirm their proclamation of the Kingdom was true.
Appears this ability did not always remain with them.
2 Timothy 4:20 “Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.”
“Freely ye have received, freely give”
Jesus freely healed and blessed the disciples.
They are to freely heal without expecting anything in return. (Not a time to make a profit.)