Apostles
Who are Apostles?
The Apostle's met and were chosen by Jesus, anyone that calls themselves an apostle now is a false prophet.
An Apostle gave up everything and followed Jesus, they were a dedicated advocate who leaves their life style and goes out as a missionary witnessing along with and for Jesus.
Qualifications for Apostleship
They have seen the Lord, and are able to testify of Him and of His resurrection from personal knowledge.
They must have been immediately called to be an Apostle by Christ.
It was essential that they should be infallibly inspired, and thus protected against error and mistake in their public teaching, whether by word or by writing.
Another qualification was the power of working miracles.
The Apostles therefore could have had no successors. They are the only authoritative teachers of the Christian doctrines. The office of an Apostle ceased with its first holders. There is, therefore, no one alive today that is an “Apostle,” in the truest biblical sense.
There were actually 14 Apostles.
Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot.
There was Matthias who replaced Judas,
and of course Jesus was an Apostle.
An Apostle was someone called by God to leave everything and go and preach, witness, and heal just as Jesus did, therefore, Jesus was an Apostle.
Hebrews 3;1
[ Jesus Our High Priest ] Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.
The original 12 that Jesus called to follow him spread the word and praying for healing, these are Apostles with a capital "A".
Others back then were apostles like Paul, Timothy, Barabbas, Noah, etc, but with a lower case "a".
No one today should should call themselves an apostle.
The Apostles were Disciples with upper case "D". An Apostle was automatically a Disciple.
There are many disciples (lower case "d"), true dedicated Christians today that live their life serving others in Jesus' name. No one should ever go around calling themselves an apostle or disciple, that is wrong and boastful.
Dictionary - Apostle
one of an authoritative New Testament group sent out to preach the gospel and made up of Christ's 12 original Disciples.
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Matthew 10
Sending Out the Twelve Apostles
1 Jesus called his twelve Disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits so they could cast them out and heal every kind of disease and sickness. 2 Now these are the names of the twelve Apostles; first, Simon[e] (called Peter), and Andrew his brother; James son of Zebedee and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
5 Jesus sent out these twelve, instructing them as follows; “Do not go on a road that leads to Gentile regions and do not enter any Samaritan town. 6 Go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message; ‘The kingdom of heaven is near!’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 9 Do not take gold, silver, or copper in your belts, 10 no bag for the journey, or an extra tunic, or sandals or staff, for the worker deserves his provisions. 11 Whenever you enter a town or village, find out who is worthy there and stay with them until you leave. 12 As you enter the house, greet those within it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your message, shake the dust off your feet as you leave that house or that town. 15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town!
Persecution of Disciples - Apostles
16 “I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents[ai] and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of people, because they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18 And you will be brought before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them and to the Gentiles. 19 Whenever they hand you over for trial, do not worry about how to speak or what to say, for what you should say will be given to you at that time. 20 For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 “Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 22 And you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved! 23 Whenever they persecute you in one town, flee to another! I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 “A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a slave greater than his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much worse will they call the members of his household!
Fear God, Not Man
26 “Do not be afraid of them, for nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing is secret that will not be made known. 27 What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 Even all the hairs on your head are numbered. 31 So do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
32 “Whoever, then, acknowledges me before people, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.
Not Peace, but a Sword
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword! 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.
37 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take up his cross[ and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life because of me will find it.
Rewards
40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. Whoever receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, I tell you the truth, he will never lose his reward.”
Mark 6;30
The Apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught.
Luke 6;13
And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as Apostles.
Luke 9'10
When the Apostles returned, they gave an account to Him of all that they had done. Taking them with Him, He withdrew by Himself to a city called Bethsaida.
Luke 11;49
For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles, and some of them they will kill and some they will persecute.
Luke 17;5
The Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
Luke 22;14
[ The Lord’s Supper ] When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the Apostles with Him.
Acts 1;2
until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the Apostles whom He had chosen.
Acts 1;26
And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven Apostles.
Acts 2;37
[ The Ingathering ] Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”
Acts 2;42
They were continually devoting themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2;43
Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the Apostles.
Acts 4;33
And with great power the Apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.
Acts 4;35
and lay them at the Apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.
Acts 4;36
Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the Apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement),
Acts 4;37
and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the Apostles’ feet.
Acts 5;12
At the hands of the Apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico.
Acts 5;29
But Peter and the Apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
Acts 5;40
They took his advice; and after calling the Apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them.
Acts 6;6
And these they brought before the Apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.
Acts 8;18
Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the Apostles’ hands, he offered them money.
Acts 11;1
[ Peter Reports at Jerusalem ] Now the Apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
Acts 15;2
And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and elders concerning this issue.
Acts 15;22
Then it seemed good to the Apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
Romans 1;1
[ The Gospel Exalted ] Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an Apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.
Romans 1;5
through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake.
1 Corinthians 1;1
[ Appeal to Unity ] Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother.
1 Corinthians 4;9
For, I think, God has exhibited us Apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.
1 Corinthians 9;1
[ Paul’s Use of Liberty ] Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
1 Corinthians 9;2
If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 12;28-29
And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
I29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they?
1 Corinthians 15;9
For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Galatians 1;1
[ Introduction ] Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead).
Galatians 1;19
But I did not see any other of the Apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.
Ephesians 1;1
[ The Blessings of Redemption ] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2;20
having been built on the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone.
Ephesians 3;5
which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit.
Ephesians 4;11
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers.
Colossians 1;1
[ Thankfulness for Spiritual Attainments ] Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother.
1 Thessalonians 2;6
nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as Apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.
1 Timothy 1;1
[ Misleadings in Doctrine and Living ] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope.
1 Timothy 2;7
For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
2 Timothy 1;1
[ Timothy Charged to Guard His Trust ] Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 3;1
[ Jesus Our High Priest ] Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.
2 Peter 1;1
[ Growth in Christian Virtue ] Simon Peter, a bond-servant and Apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3;2
that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your Apostles.
Jude 1;17
[ Keep Yourselves in the Love of God ] But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 2;2
‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false.
Revelation 21;14
And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.