46 Bible Verses about Apostles, Function In Early Church

"It is necessary then that, of the men who have been associated with us during the whole time in which the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, from his baptism by John down to the day on which he was taken up from us, one should join us a witness to his resurrection."

This Jesus God has raised up, of this we are all witnesses.

"The Pioneer of Life you put to death. But God has raised him from the dead, and we are witnesses of that fact.

And the apostles continued with great power to give their witness concerning the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

"For many days he was seen by those that came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, and are now his witnesses to the people.

Now to you who are presbyters I make this appeal; for I am myself a presbyter, and was a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory about to be revealed.

Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained an equally precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

From Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for a gospel of God,

Let any man look upon us as servants of Christ, and stewards of the secret truths of God.

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as though I were beside myself), such, far, more, am I; in labors more abundant, in imprisonments also more abundant, in floggings beyond measure, in deaths often.

Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, and to the elders and deacons.

To Titus, my true son in a common faith, from Paul, a slave of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and to the knowledge of the truth which goes with piety;

For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he now lives through the power of God. I also am weak, sharing in his weakness, but I shall live with him by the power of God.

Just now I am going to Jerusalem to serve the saints.

It is not myself that I proclaim, but Christ Jesus as Master, and myself that I proclaim, and myself your slave for Jesus' sake.

Other churches I spoiled, and took their wages to do you service.

Now to you who are presbyters I make this appeal; for I am myself a presbyter, and was a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory about to be revealed. Be shepherds to your flock of God; take charge of them willingly, and not through compulsion; not for filthy lucre, but with a willing mind; not by way of lording it over your heritage, but by becoming examples to the flock.

You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone.

And God has appointed those in the church to be first of all apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers. then workers of miracles, healers, helpers, administrators, users of various kinds of "tongues."

and when they recognized the grace which had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, then thought to be pillars, gave to Barnabas and to me the right hand of fellowship. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the Jews.

From Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for a gospel of God, which through his prophets he promised beforetime, in holy writings; this gospel is concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of David's posterity in respect of his bodily nature,read more.
but was by his resurrection from the dead instated as Son of God, with power, in respect of his spirit of holiness. It is through him, even Jesus Christ our Lord, that I received grace and apostleship to promote obedience to the faith among all the Gentiles, for his name's sake;

But they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the message by the miracles which followed.

through the might of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit. So that beginning at Jerusalem and its environs, I have proclaimed without reserve the gospel of Christ, even as far as Illyricum. My ambition has been, however, to preach the gospel where Christ's name was not already known, so that I might not build upon another man's foundation.

For Christ did not think I baptized any one else. For Christ did not send me forth to baptize, but to proclaim the gospel; and that not in philosophic words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made an empty thing.

But when God who had set me apart from my very birth, and had called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach his gospel among the Gentiles, without consulting a human being,

and they stedfastly continued in the teaching of the apostles, and in the fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers.

But when he is come, that Spirit of Truth, he will guide you into the whole truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but all that he hears he will speak, and will make known to you that which is to come. He will glorify me; for he will take of what is mine and will make known to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; that is why I said that he will take of what is mine and make it known to you.

but not for a single day did they desist from teaching and preaching in the Temple, and in private houses, the Gospel of Jesus, the Messiah.

Then the Twelve called the general body of the disciples together, and said to them. "It is not fitting for us to leave off preaching the Word of God, and minister at tables.

You have heard how by direct revelation the secret truth was made known to me, as I have already briefly written you. By reading what I have written, you can judge of my insight into that secret truth of Christ which was not disclosed to the sons of men in former generations, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets,read more.
namely, that in Christ Jesus the Gentiles form one body with us the Jews, and are coheirs and copartners in the promise, through the gospel.

So, brothers, stand fast, and hold fast the teachings which you have been taught by me, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

Of the gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher; and that is the reason I am now undergoing these sufferings.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? Even if I am not an apostle to others, to you at least I am; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Just ministers through whom you have believed, and each doing the work that the Lord gave him. I planted, Apollos watered, but God made the seed grow.

Then the Twelve called the general body of the disciples together, and said to them. "It is not fitting for us to leave off preaching the Word of God, and minister at tables. "So, brothers, find from among your own number seven men of good reputation who are full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them over this business. "But we will give ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word."read more.
This plan commended itself to the whole body, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch. These men they presented to the apostles who, when they had prayed, laid their hands upon them.

Of the gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher; and that is the reason I am now undergoing these sufferings. But I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have fully believed, and I am thoroughly persuaded that he is able to keep what I have given him until the Day.

and they apprehended the apostles, and threw them into the public prison.

But it seems to me that God has exhibited us apostles, last of all, like men doomed to death; for we are made a spectacle to the whole world, both to men and to angels.

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as though I were beside myself), such, far, more, am I; in labors more abundant, in imprisonments also more abundant, in floggings beyond measure, in deaths often. Five times at the hands of the Jews, I have received one short of forty lashes. Three times I have been scourged by the Romans; once I have been stoned; three times have I been shipwrecked; a night and a day have I been adrift in the open sea.read more.
My journeys have been many; in perils of rivers, in perils of bandits; in perils from my countrymen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness; in perils on the sea, in perils among false brothers; in toil and weariness, often in sleepless watching, in hunger and thirst, often without anything to eat; in cold and in nakedness. Not to mention other things, there is the crowding pressure of each day upon me, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, but I burn with indignation?

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them.

When he had said this he breathed upon them and said:

"yet you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you are to be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the very ends of the earth."

and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

By reading what I have written, you can judge of my insight into that secret truth of Christ which was not disclosed to the sons of men in former generations, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets,

The apostle at Jerusalem, when they heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, sent to them Peter and John. Who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit, For he had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.read more.
Then the apostles laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Spirit. But when Simon perceived that, by the laying on of the apostles' hands, the Spirit was given, he offered them money saying,

and after Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak with tongues, and to prophesy.