The Apostles were personally commissioned messengers of Jesus, sent with authority to establish the Church, proclaim the Gospel, and demonstrate the power of God. While Jesus originally chose twelve disciples to follow Him, He later commissioned eleven of them as apostles, as Judas Iscariot was sent away.
Additionally, the New Testament identifies other apostles outside of the original eleven, showing that apostleship was not limited to Jesus’ immediate disciples but was a divinely appointed role in the early Church. These men were sent with authority, not just as learners, but as those entrusted with spreading the Kingdom of God.
Understanding the true role of an apostle, their divine commission, and their lasting impact on Christianity gives us a deeper appreciation for their unique role in biblical history and the foundation of the Church.
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Historical Background and Origins
The apostles were chosen, trained, and commissioned by Jesus for a specific mission:
- Disciples First, Then Apostles – The men Jesus originally called were disciples (students), but only eleven were later commissioned as apostles (Luke 6:13, Matthew 28:16-20).
- Judas Was Not an Apostle – Though Judas Iscariot was a disciple, he was never commissioned as an apostle. Instead, he betrayed Jesus and was sent away (John 13:27-30, Acts 1:16-20).
- Apostles Were More Than Just Messengers – They were divinely appointed leaders, empowered by the Holy Spirit to establish the Church (Acts 1:8).
- New Apostles Were Raised Up – Beyond the eleven, other men were later appointed as apostles, including Paul, Barnabas, James (the Lord’s brother), and others.
This distinction is crucial—not every disciple was an apostle, and apostleship carried divine authority beyond simple discipleship. Apostleship was a spiritual gift given to some, but not to all as Paul taught in his letter to the Ephesians, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:11-12).
Geography and Political Influence
The apostles’ ministry spread the Gospel across the known world, reaching:
- Jerusalem and Judea – The first center of Christian activity, where the Church began at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-41).
- Samaria and the Gentile World – Philip and other apostles brought the Gospel beyond Jewish territories (Acts 8:4-25).
- The Roman Empire – Apostles like Paul and Barnabas took the Gospel to Rome, Greece, and Asia Minor (Acts 13-28).
- Beyond the Empire – Early traditions suggest that apostles reached India (Thomas), Ethiopia (Matthew), and Spain (Paul).
The apostles were not confined to one location but were commissioned to take the Gospel worldwide (Matthew 28:19-20).
Religious Beliefs and Practices
The apostles did not create a new religion but proclaimed Jesus as the fulfillment of Jewish prophecy:
Jesus as the Promised Messiah – Apostles taught that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies (Luke 24:44-47).
Baptism as Entry into the Church – They commanded converts to be baptized in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38).
Communion as a New Covenant – They instituted the Lord’s Supper as an ongoing practice (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Signs and Miracles Confirmed Their Authority – Apostles performed healings, exorcisms, and resurrections to validate their divine calling (Acts 5:12-16).
Their God-given authority set them apart from other believers, ensuring that Christianity was rooted in divine truth and power.
The Apostles in the Bible
The word apostle means “one who is sent,” and in the biblical context, it refers to those who were divinely commissioned by Jesus Christ to establish the Church in its earliest days. The office of apostleship did not exist in the Old Testament. It was a uniquely Church Age institution that began with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. With the dispensation of grace inaugurated through Christ’s resurrection and the descent of the Spirit, apostleship emerged as a foundational gift for the building of the body of Christ (Ephesians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
The Commissioning of the Eleven
Following His resurrection, Jesus met with the eleven remaining disciples—those who had walked with Him during His earthly ministry—and commissioned them with a worldwide mission. As recorded in Matthew 28:19–20, Jesus commanded them to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them to obey everything He had taught. He promised His abiding presence as they carried out this work. In Acts 1:8, just before His ascension, He further instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until they were empowered by the Holy Spirit, saying, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
The Replacement of Judas
Because Judas Iscariot had betrayed Jesus and forfeited his share in the apostolic ministry (Acts 1:25), the remaining eleven discerned, through prayer and casting lots, that Matthias should take his place among the Twelve (Acts 1:21–26). This act demonstrated the apostles’ understanding that the number twelve held significance in God’s plan—representing the twelve tribes of Israel—and that the apostolic office was divinely appointed, not self-assumed. Matthias met the qualifications: he had been with Jesus from the beginning and was a witness of His resurrection.
The Empowering at Pentecost
Everything changed on the Day of Pentecost. In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles with visible and audible signs, empowering them to speak in other languages and preach with boldness. Peter’s sermon that day resulted in the conversion of about three thousand souls. From that point on, the apostles demonstrated supernatural boldness, clarity, and authority, accompanied by signs and wonders, confirming their unique role as Christ’s appointed messengers (Hebrews 2:3–4).
Apostleship Extends Beyond the Twelve
While the original twelve (including Matthias) formed the nucleus of apostolic authority, Scripture makes it clear that apostleship was not limited to this group. The office continued as God called others into it—men who had not walked with Jesus during His earthly ministry but who were nonetheless chosen and empowered by Him in the Church Age.
Paul: The Apostle to the Gentiles
Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul, is the most prominent example of a post-resurrection apostle. Although not among the Twelve, Paul was uniquely called by the risen Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:15). In Galatians 1:1, he insists that his apostleship was “not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father.” Paul describes himself as “the apostle to the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13), and his writings comprise nearly half of the New Testament. His ministry was authenticated by signs, miracles, and suffering for Christ’s sake (2 Corinthians 12:12), marking him as a true apostle in every sense.
Barnabas: A Co-Apostle with Paul
Barnabas, whose name means “Son of Encouragement,” was a Levite from Cyprus and one of the earliest believers in Jerusalem (Acts 4:36). He played a vital role in introducing Paul to the apostles and served alongside him during the first missionary journey. In Acts 14:14, both Paul and Barnabas are explicitly called “apostles,” indicating that the office was not confined to the original group. Barnabas’s authority and ministry were recognized by the early Church and confirmed by Scripture.
James, the Lord’s Brother: An Apostle and Church Leader
James, the half-brother of Jesus, was not a believer during the Lord’s earthly ministry (John 7:5), but he became a key leader in the Jerusalem church after the resurrection, likely due to a personal appearance of Christ to him (1 Corinthians 15:7). Though not one of the Twelve, Galatians 1:19 refers to James as an apostle. In Acts 15, during the Jerusalem Council, James offers a decisive judgment about Gentile inclusion in the Church, demonstrating both his leadership and apostolic authority. He is also the author of the Epistle of James.
Silas and Timothy: Apostolic Messengers
In 1 Thessalonians 1:1 and 2:6, Paul refers to both Silas (Silvanus) and Timothy in a way that includes them in apostolic ministry. While some interpret this as referring only to Paul, the grammatical structure and context suggest that Silas and Timothy were recognized as apostles in a broader sense—messengers sent with divine authority to establish and strengthen churches. They accompanied Paul on missionary journeys and played vital roles in nurturing young congregations.
Other Possible Apostles in the Early Church
In addition to those already named, some scholars believe that Andronicus and Junia, mentioned in Romans 16:7, were “outstanding among the apostles,” possibly indicating apostolic recognition. While debate remains about whether they held the office or were simply well-known to the apostles, their prominence in the early Church highlights the breadth of ministry roles in the apostolic age.
The Purpose and Transition of Apostleship
The apostolic office served a foundational role in the Church’s early formation. As Ephesians 2:20 states, the Church was “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” Once the foundation was laid, and the canon of Scripture was completed, the office of apostleship ceased. The gift was never intended to be a perpetually ongoing position. Today, while all believers are sent as ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), the original office of apostle—accompanied by signs, wonders, and divine revelation—has fulfilled its purpose in the Church’s early growth.
Final Thought
The apostles were more than spiritual leaders—they were divinely appointed witnesses of Christ’s resurrection, laying the doctrinal foundation of the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Their legacy continues in the Scriptures they wrote and the Church they helped establish. As Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:11, “And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.” That same gospel still calls us to faith today.
Spiritual Lessons and Application
Apostleship is a divine calling, not a human position – The apostles were chosen and sent by God, not self-appointed.
God raises new leaders when needed – Just as Paul, Barnabas, and James were called after the resurrection, God continues to call leaders today.
The Holy Spirit empowers God’s messengers – Apostles were given miraculous power, showing that spiritual authority comes from God alone.
We are called to continue the apostolic mission – While no new apostles exist today, believers are sent into the world to spread the Gospel (Matthew 28:19-20).
Conclusion: God’s Sovereignty Over His Messengers
The Apostles, unlike disciples, were commissioned with authority to establish the Church, spread the Gospel, and perform miracles. Though Jesus originally chose twelve disciples, He only commissioned eleven as apostles, later adding Paul, Barnabas, James, and others to continue the mission.
As Paul wrote:
“Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father.” (Galatians 1:1)
Their legacy lives on in Scripture, the Church, and the Great Commission, proving that God sovereignly chooses His messengers to accomplish His plan.
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New International Version (NIV)
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