Craig my friend, please look at the verse again. It says "Lord". God is Lord...Jesus is called Lord...The Father is called Lord...again, we need to remember that God is Lord.

We have no doubt God chose the apostles. That is as far as we can go in this scripture regarding that.

There is no implication Jesus Himself did it, nor does it imply that God the Father chose them without Jesus because we cannot determine such things since the Father and Son are One in all things. Could the Father or Son make a decision the other would not agree on?

We need to tread lightly to make absolutes from something lacking absolute proof.

Please notice that the Father gave Jesus, while in the flesh, the apostles in the first place. Why would or could He not do it again?

John 17
6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.