But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus
The person here spoken of, is described by his Hebrew name
Thomas, and his Greek one Didymus, which both signify a twin; and
perhaps he was one. It was common with the Jews to have two
names, a Jewish and a Gentile one; by the one they went in the
land of Israel, and by the other when without the land
F17; nay, they often went by one name
in Judea, and by another in Galilee F18; where Thomas might go
by the name of Didymus with the Greeks, that might live with the
Jews in some of those parts: he is also said to be "one of the
twelve" apostles, which was their number at first, though Judas
now was gone off from them, and therefore are sometimes only
called the "eleven"; but this having been their complement, it is
still retained; but what is observed of him to his disadvantage
and discredit is, that he
was not with them when Jesus came:
Beza's ancient copy reads, "he was not there with them"; and so
read the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions; he either had not
returned to the rest after their scattering one from another upon
the apprehending of Christ; or did not choose to assemble with
the rest, for fear of the Jews; or was taken up with some
business and affair of life; however, he was not with the rest of
the disciples, when they were assembled together, and Jesus
appeared among them: as it is of good consequence to attend the
assemblies of Christ's disciples and followers, so it is of bad
consequence to neglect or forsake them: it is frequently to good
purpose that persons attend them; here God comes and blesses his
people, Jesus grants his presence, the graces of the Spirit are
increased, and drawn forth into exercise; souls that have lost
sight of Christ find him, disconsolate ones are comforted, weak
ones strengthened, and hungry ones fed: on the other hand, not to
attend is of bad consequence; neglect of assembling together
exposes to many snares and temptations; brings on a spiritual
leanness; leads to an indifference and lukewarmness: issues in a
low degree of grace, and a non-exercise of it, and in a loss of
Christ's presence.