An apparatus for manipulating a surgical needle is disclosed, comprising a body portion, a first needle receiving jaw mounted for movement on a distal end of the body portion and having a first needle engaging member, a second needle receiving jaw mounted for movement on the distal end of the body portion and having a second needle engaging member, the second needle engaging member being operatively interconnected to the first needle engaging member for relative reciprocal movement therewith, wherein each of the first and second needle receiving jaws has a recess for receipt of a portion of a surgical needle therein. The first and second needle engaging members are mounted for alternate reciprocal movement into and out of locking engagement with the surgical needle. The apparatus also includes a wheel rotatably mounted within the body portion with a proximal end portion of each of the first and second needle engaging members connected to opposing sides of the wheel such that rotation of the wheel simultaneously retracts one of the needle engaging members and advances the other. Also disclosed is a method of manipulating a surgical needle inside a body cavity using a surgical instrument having a control mechanism, a first jaw and a second jaw, where at least one of the jaws is mounted for movement between a first position adjacent the other jaw and a second position spaced apart from the other jaw.