The apostles played a crucial role in the ministry of Christ and in the establishment of the early churches. God set in the church “first apostles”
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
This word (found only in the new Testament) occurs in one form or another 83 times from Matthew through Revelation. The word apostle means sent one and it refers to those sent out by Jesus Christ for the special work to which He called them.
But who is called an apostle in the New Testament? Is it a word that was often used in a common way and that can be used of God’s servants today? Here are the facts. There were at least nineteen men who were called apostles in the New Testament. The nineteen are as follows:
1. The original Twelve
A. Simon (who is called Peter)
B. Peter’s brother Andrew;
C. James son of Zebedee,
D. James’s brother John;
E. Philip
F. Bartholomew
G. Thomas
H. Matthew the tax collector;
I. James son of Alphaeus,
J. Thaddaeus;
K. Simon the Zealot
L. Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.”
2. Matthias, the replacement for Judas
3. Paul, as the least of the apostles
(1Corinthians 15:9For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
4. Andronicus and Junia
(Romans 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
5. Barnabas, in one place with Paul
their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
6. James, the Lord’s brother
brother.
7. Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our profession
consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
There were, as you can see, men besides the Twelve who were called apostles. However, it may not be as common as some think.
Andronicus and Junia were probably not called apostles in
Romans 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
This is the only verse where these two men are mentioned. They are said to be Paul’s kinsmen and fellowprisoners and were “of note among the apostles.” Does this mean, as some say, that they were noteworthy apostles? Someone could be “of note” among the apostles without being an apostle. It could mean that the apostles had noted them as significant servants of the Lord. Also, if they were apostles of note, they were some of the more important apostles. But this is the only verse of the Bible where these two men are ever mentioned. Certainly, they are not being called apostles here.
That still leaves seventeen apostles. Of these, Matthias was chosen to replace the fallen Judas.
None of the other apostles fell in this way and there is no record of any others being replaced at death. If death required the apostle to be replaced, we should have seen a replacement chosen for James after his death in
Acts 12:2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
But no such record exists. The Twelve were never continued as any form of ruling body.
Paul is clearly an apostle, but he is an exception to the rule for apostles. He declares himself “the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle”
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
And, whereas the Twelve were called specifically to minister to the Jews, Paul identifies himself as “the apostle to the Gentiles”
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Notice, he is not an apostle to the Gentiles but the apostle to the Gentiles—showing him to be the only apostle chosen specifically for the Gentiles. Paul had the same calling and authority in reaching the Gentiles as the Twelve had in reaching the Jews
But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; [8] (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
That still leaves:
1.Barnabas,
2. James the brother of Jesus,
3. Jesus Himself.
These men were not of the Twelve or a special apostle to the Gentiles like Paul. Therefore, it is possible to look on apostleship as a work and not just an office. But the biblical usage of the word in this way is very rare—not the common thing some would make us to believe.
Jesus is, of course, in a class by Himself.
But Barnabas and James had a very high position of authority in the New Testament church.
James probably wrote the book of James and Barnabas introduced Paul to the twelve apostles.
These men were not apostles simply because they were sent by God.
They had authority with God in the early church and worked on a level field with the other apostles. The title of apostle is not being used in some watered-down, generic sense. These men did the works of an apostle and had the authority of the apostles.
Not Apostles and Apostles:
Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
Paul asked, “Are all apostles?”
If we can call missionaries apostles because apostle means sent one and missionaries are sent ones, then practically every servant of God is an apostle. But to use the word in this weakened form minimizes what God did with the apostles of the New Testament.
It causes a confusion of understanding. And, despite what some are claiming, the Bible does not use the word in such a common way.
It will not even work to make a distinction big Apostle and little apostle. If someone is an apostle, they must have the New Testament authority and power of an apostle. The office of apostle carried great weight and those who use this title are in effect, if not in actuality, claiming this authority. We need to be careful about using such a title even when we mean well in doing so.
A Unique Calling:
The apostles were unique in several regards. In order to understand the singular position they held in the early church, we need to consider their special calling, their special qualifications, and their special confirmation from God.
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
This tells us that Jesus prayed all night and then called unto him his disciples and “of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles.” These men were already disciples. There were other disciples who were never called to be apostles. But these twelve were given a special office as representatives of the Master. Their position was exalted to the point that they will to sit on the thrones of the twelve tribes of Israel in the time of the kingdom
And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Paul was also given a very special, though separate, calling. He often reminded those to whom he ministered that he was “called to be an apostle”
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
This was not a basic calling to preach but a calling to represent God on earth in a special way.
They spoke the word of God and confirmed those words
We must be careful not to minimize their power and authority by giving the title to men who were not meant to have it.
Special Qualifications:
The qualifications of the apostles are given in Acts 1:21-22
Acts 1:21-23 (ESV)
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”
23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.
Paul was given an exemption on the first requirements but greatly emphasized his having been an eyewitness of the resurrected Christ –
“And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time”
But Paul admitted to being the least of the apostles in qualifications
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
What does this say about those who claim to be apostles without any of the qualifications or signs of an apostle?
Special Confirmation: What established the claims of apostleship in the eyes of the people? Paul warned of many “false apostles”
2 Corinthians 11:13-14 (ESV)
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
How could someone tell the false apostle from the true apostle? Paul helps us again. He spent a lot of time in 2Corinthians confirming his apostleship and then sums it up in
2 Corinthians 12:11-13 (ESV)
11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.
12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
13 For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
A genuine apostle had the signs of an apostle so that the people would know who they were. These signs included wonders and mighty deeds. Paul did many “mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God”
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
In other words, he performed many miracles that confirmed his calling. They could therefore rest assured that he was indeed the apostle to the Gentiles. The other apostles also performed miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 5:12 (ESV)
12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.
Acts 5:16 (ESV)
16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
1 Corinthians 15:6-10 (ESV)
6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.
Revelation 21:14 (ESV)
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
