It is virtually certain that the people did not arrive at a specific time. They came in as they could. No doubt many came as early as they could, in case the Messiah was already there. The twelve, for their part, were already present—appropriately so, since the Savior had specifically appointed them to stand in his stead. Although they were not the person these people had come to meet, they had the message that the Savior wanted them to have.
Translation: Most of the names in this verse come from Nephite New World milieu or from the brass plates. The exception is Timothy, a name of Greek origin. (See commentary accompanying 3 Nephi 3:2 for a discussion of the presence of Greek names in Nephite society.) While it is plausible that both “Timothy” and “Lachoneus” (3 Ne. 3:2) were Greek names that crossed the ocean, it is perhaps unusual that they were preserved for six hundred years in the New World. Most probably, they were family names, possibly borne by someone who crossed the ocean. Since there was not much leeway for a Lachoneus or Timothy among the Lehites, I suggest that the Mulekites brought and preserved these names.