WORD FOCUS Sometimes in Scripture the Twelve are called “disciples”—mathetes in the Greek text (Matthew 10:1; 11:1; 20:17; Luke 9:1). The word means “learners”, “students.” That is what they were during those months they spent under the direct and personal tutelage of the Lord. He had multitudes of disciples, but these twelve were specifically called and chosen to a unique apostolic office. Therefore they are also designated “apostles”—apostoloi in the Greek. The word simply means “messengers,”