Reference: Apostle
American
A messenger or envoy. The term is applied to Jesus Christ, who was God's envoy to save the world, Heb 3:1; though, more commonly, the title is given to persons who were envoys commissioned by the Savior himself.
The apostles of Jesus Christ were his chief disciples, whom he invested with authority, filled with his Spirit, entrusted particularly with his doctrines and services, and chose to raise the edifice of his church. They were twelve in number, answering to the twelve tribes. Mt 19:28, and were plain, unlearned men, chosen from the common people. After their calling and charge, Mt 10:5-42, they attended their divine Master, witnessing his works, imbibing his spirit, and gradually learning the facts and doctrines of the gospel. After his resurrection, he sent them into all the world, commissioned to preach, to baptize, to work miracles, etc. See Joh 15:27; 1Co 9:1; 15:8; 2Co 12:12; 1Th 2:13. The names of the twelve are, Simon Peter; Andrew, his brother; James, the son of Zebedee, called also "the greater;" John, his brother; Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew, or Levi; Simon the Canaanite; Lebbeus, surnamed Thaddeus, also called Judas or Jude; James, "the less," the son of Alphaeus; and Judas Iscariot, Mt 10:2-4; Mr 3:16; Lu 6:14. The last betrayed his Master, and then hanged himself, and Matthias was chosen in his place, Ac 1:15-26. In the Acts of the Apostles are recorded the self-sacrificing toils and sufferings of these Christlike men, who did that which was "right in the sight of God" from love to their Lord; and gave themselves wholly to their work, with a zeal, love, and faith Christ delighted to honor-teaching us that apostolic graces alone can secure apostolic successes.
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Now, the twelve apostles' names, are these: - first Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, - and James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew, - Thomas, and Matthew, the tax-collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thadaeus; read more. Simon, the zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also delivered him up. These twelve, Jesus sent forth, charging them, saying: - Into any way to the nations, do not depart, - and, into any city of Samaritans, do not enter; But be going, rather, unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And, as ye go, proclaim, saying, The kingdom of the heavens hath drawn near! Be curing, the sick, raising, the dead, - cleansing, lepers, casting out, demons: freely, ye have, received, freely, give. Ye may procure - neither gold, nor silver, nor copper, for your belts, - neither satchel for journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staff; for, worthy, is the labourer, of his maintenance. And, into whatsoever city or village ye enter, search out who in it is, worthy, and, there, abide, till ye go forth. And, as ye enter the house, salute it; And, if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it, but, if it be not worthy, let your peace, unto you, return. And, whosoever shall neither welcome you, nor hear your words, as ye go forth outside that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet: Verily, I say unto you, - More tolerable, will it be, for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for, that, city! Lo! I, send you forth as sheep amidst wolves; become ye therefore - prudent, as serpents, and simple, as doves. But beware of men; for they will deliver you up into high-councils, and, in their synagogues, will they scourge you, - And, before both governor and kings, shall ye be brought, for my sake - for a witness to them and the nations. And, when they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what ye shall speak, - for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak; For it is not, ye, who are speaking, but, the Spirit of your Father, that is speaking in you. And, brother, will deliver up, brother, unto death, and, father, child, - and, children, will rise up, against parents, and will put them to death. And ye will be hated by all, because of my name, - but, he that endureth throughout, the same, shall be saved. And, when they persecute you in this city, flee into another, - for, verily, I say unto you, in nowise shall ye finish the cities of Israel, till, he Son of Man, come. A, disciple, is not above, the teacher, nor, a servant, above, his lord: Sufficient for the disciple, that he become, as his teacher, and, the servant, as, his lord. If, the master of the house, Beelzebul, they called, how much more, the men of his house! Then do not fear them, - for, nothing hath been covered, which shall not be, uncovered, and, hidden, which shall not be, made known. What I am saying to you in the darkness, tell ye in the light, - and, what whispered into the ear ye are hearing, proclaim ye on the housetops. And be not in fear, by reason of them that are killing the body, - and, the soul, are not able to kill. But fear, rather, him who is able, both soul and body, to destroy in gehenna! Are not, two sparrows, for a farthing, sold? And, one from among them, shall not fall upon the ground, without your Father; But, even the hairs of, your, head, have all been numbered. Then be not in fear - than many sparrows, better are, ye! Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, I also, will confess, him, before my Father who is in the heavens; But, whoever shall deny me before men, I also, will deny, him, before my Father who is in the heavens. Do not think, that I came to thrust peace upon the earth, - I came not to thrust, peace, but, a sword; For I came to set at variance - a man, against, his father, and, a daughter, against, her mother, and, a bride, against, her mother-in-law; And, a man foes, are, they of his own house. He that loveth father or mother above me, is not, worthy, of me, - and, he that loveth son or daughter above me, is not, worthy, of me; And, he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not, worthy, of me. He that hath found his life, shall lose it, - and, he that hath lost his life, for my sake, shall find it. He that giveth welcome unto you, unto me, giveth welcome, and, he that, unto me, giveth welcome, giveth welcome - unto him that sent me forth. He that giveth welcome unto a prophet, in the name of a prophet, the reward of a prophet, shall receive; and, he that giveth welcome unto a righteous man, in the name of a righteous man, the reward of a righteous man, shall receive; - And, whosoever shall give to drink - unto one of these little ones - a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, Verily, I say unto you, in nowise, shall lose his reward!
And, Jesus, said unto them - Verily, I say unto you, As for you who followed me in the regeneration, When the Son of Man shall take his seat on his throne of glory, ye also, shall be seated upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
and he appointed the twelve (and imposed a name on Simon - ) Peter,
Simon, whom also he named Peter, and Andrew hie brother; and James and John; and Philip and Bartholomew;
And do, ye also, bear witness, because, from the beginning, ye are, with me,
And, in these days, Peter, standing up in the midst of the brethren, said, - and there was a multitude of names, of one accord, about a hundred and twenty, - Brethren! It was needful for the Scripture to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spake beforehand through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, - who became guide unto them who apprehended Jesus; read more. For that he had come to be reckoned among us and obtained the lot of this ministry. - This man therefore had possessed himself of a field out of the reward of unrighteousness, - and falling headlong burst asunder in the midst, and forth gushed all his bowels; And it became known unto all them who were dwelling in Jerusalem, so that that field was called, in their language, Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood. - For it is written in the book of Psalms: Let his encampment become desolate, and let there be none to dwell therein! And - his overseership, let a different man take! It is needful then that, of the men who companied with us during all the time in which the Lord Jesus came in and went out over us, Beginning from the immersion by John until the day when he was taken up from us, that, a witness of his resurrection along with us, should one of these become. And they appointed two, - Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And, praying, they said - Thou Lord! observer of the hearts of all men! shew forth whom thou hast chosen, - of these two, one; - To take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas went aside, to go his way unto his own place. And they gave lots for them; and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Whence, holy brethren, partners, in a heavenly calling, attentively consider the Apostle and High - priest of our confession - Jesus
Easton
a person sent by another; a messenger; envoy. This word is once used as a descriptive designation of Jesus Christ, the Sent of the Father (Heb 3:1; Joh 20:21). It is, however, generally used as designating the body of disciples to whom he intrusted the organization of his church and the dissemination of his gospel, "the twelve," as they are called (Mt 10:1-5; Mr 3:14; 6:7; Lu 6:13; 9:1). We have four lists of the apostles, one by each of the synoptic evangelists (Mt 10:2-4; Mr 3:16; Lu 6:14), and one in the Acts (Ac 1:13). No two of these lists, however, perfectly coincide.
Our Lord gave them the "keys of the kingdom," and by the gift of his Spirit fitted them to be the founders and governors of his church (Joh 14:16-17,26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15). To them, as representing his church, he gave the commission to "preach the gospel to every creature" (Mt 28:18-20). After his ascension he communicated to them, according to his promise, supernatural gifts to qualify them for the discharge of their duties (Ac 2:4; 1Co 2:16,7,10,13; 2Co 5:20; 1Co 11:2). Judas Iscariot, one of "the twelve," fell by transgression, and Matthias was substituted in his place (Ac 1:21). Saul of Tarsus was afterwards added to their number (Ac 9:3-20; 20:4; 26:15-18; 1Ti 1:12; 2:7; 2Ti 1:11).
Luke has given some account of Peter, John, and the two Jameses (Ac 12:2,17; 15:13; 21:18), but beyond this we know nothing from authentic history of the rest of the original twelve. After the martyrdom of James the Greater (Ac 12:2), James the Less usually resided at Jerusalem, while Paul, "the apostle of the uncircumcision," usually travelled as a missionary among the Gentiles (Ga 2:8). It was characteristic of the apostles and necessary (1) that they should have seen the Lord, and been able to testify of him and of his resurrection from personal knowledge (Joh 15:27; Ac 1:21-22; 1Co 9:1; Ac 22:14-15). (2.) They must have been immediately called to that office by Christ (Lu 6:13; Ga 1:1). (3.) It was essential that they should be infallibly inspired, and thus secured against all error and mistake in their public teaching, whether by word or by writing (Joh 14:26; 16:13; 1Th 2:13).
(4.) Another qualification was the power of working miracles (Mr 16:20; Ac 2:43; 1Co 12:8-11). 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.
In 2Co 8:23 and Php 2:25 the word "messenger" is the rendering of the same Greek word, elsewhere rendered "apostle."
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And, calling near his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over impure spirits, - so as to be casting them out, and curing every disease and every infirmity. Now, the twelve apostles' names, are these: - first Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, - and James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother;
Now, the twelve apostles' names, are these: - first Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, - and James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew, - Thomas, and Matthew, the tax-collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thadaeus;
Philip, and Bartholomew, - Thomas, and Matthew, the tax-collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thadaeus; Simon, the zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also delivered him up.
Simon, the zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also delivered him up. These twelve, Jesus sent forth, charging them, saying: - Into any way to the nations, do not depart, - and, into any city of Samaritans, do not enter;
And Jesus, coming near, spake unto them, saying - All authority, in heaven and on earth, hath been given unto me; Go ye, therefore, and disciple all the nations, Immersing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, - read more. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I myself have commanded you, And lo! I, am, with you, all the days, until the conclusion of the age.
and he appointed a twelve, whom also he named, Apostles, - that they might be with him, and that he might be sending them forth to make proclamation,
and he appointed the twelve (and imposed a name on Simon - ) Peter,
And he calleth near the twelve, and began to be sending them forth two and two, - and was giving them authority over the impure spirits:
OTHERWISE.
And, when it became day, he called his disciples, and chose from them, twelve, whom also he named, Apostles, -
And, when it became day, he called his disciples, and chose from them, twelve, whom also he named, Apostles, - Simon, whom also he named Peter, and Andrew hie brother; and James and John; and Philip and Bartholomew;
And, calling together the twelve, he gave them power and authority over all the demons, and to be curing, diseases;
And, I, will request the Father, and, Another Advocate, will he give unto you, that he may be with you age-abidingly, The Spirit of truth, - which, the world, cannot receive, because it beholdeth it not, nor getteth to know it. But, ye, are getting to know it; because, with you, it abideth, and, in you, it is.
But, the Advocate, The Holy Spirit, which the Father will send in my name, He, will teach you all things, and will put you in mind, of all things which, I, told you.
But, the Advocate, The Holy Spirit, which the Father will send in my name, He, will teach you all things, and will put you in mind, of all things which, I, told you.
Whensoever the Advocate shall come, Whom, I, will send unto you from the Father, The Spirit of truth, which, from the Father, cometh forth, He, will bear witness concerning me; And do, ye also, bear witness, because, from the beginning, ye are, with me,
And do, ye also, bear witness, because, from the beginning, ye are, with me,
But, I, the truth, am telling you - It is profitable for you, that, I, depart; for, if I should not depart, The Advocate, would in nowise come unto you, but, if I go, I will send him unto you. And, having come, He, will reprove the world - Concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment: read more. Concerning sin, indeed, because they are not believing on me; But, concerning righteousness, because, unto the Father, I go my way, and, no longer, do ye behold me; And, concerning judgment, because, the ruler of this world, hath been judged. Yet many things, have I, unto you, to be saying, - but ye cannot bear them, just now; Howbeit, as soon as, he, hath come - The Spirit of truth, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak from himself, but, whatsoever he heareth, he will speak, and, the coming things, will he announce unto you.
Howbeit, as soon as, he, hath come - The Spirit of truth, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak from himself, but, whatsoever he heareth, he will speak, and, the coming things, will he announce unto you. He, shall glorify me; for, of mine, shall he receive, and announce unto you. read more. All things, whatsoever the Father hath, are, my own; therefore, said I - Of mine, shall he receive, and announce unto you.
Jesus, therefore, said unto them, again, - Peace be unto you! Just as, my Father, sent me forth, I, also, send you.
And, when they had entered, into the upper-story went they up, where remained behind - both Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the zealot, and Judas the son of James.
It is needful then that, of the men who companied with us during all the time in which the Lord Jesus came in and went out over us,
It is needful then that, of the men who companied with us during all the time in which the Lord Jesus came in and went out over us, Beginning from the immersion by John until the day when he was taken up from us, that, a witness of his resurrection along with us, should one of these become.
And they were all filled with Holy Spirit, and began to be speaking with other kinds of tongues just as the Spirit was giving unto them to be sounding forth.
And there came on every soul, fear, and, many wonders and signs, through means of the apostles, were coming to pass.
But, as he was journeying, it came to pass that he was drawing near unto Damascus, and, suddenly, there flashed around him a light out of heaven; And, falling unto the earth, he heard a voice saying unto him - Saul! Saul! why, me, art thou persecuting? read more. And he said - Who art thou, Lord? And, he, said - I, am Jesus, whom, thou, art persecuting! But rise up, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. But, the men who were accompanying him, stood speechless, - hearing, indeed, the voice, but beholding no one. And Saul arose from the earth, and, his eyes being opened, he could see nothing; and, taking him by the hand, they led him into Damascus, - And he was three days without seeing, and did neither eat nor drink. Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus, by name Ananias; and, the Lord, said unto him in a vision - Ananias! And, he, said - Lo! I, am here , Lord! And the Lord said unto him - Rise! go into the street which is called Straight, and seek, in the house of Judas, one Saul, by name, of Tarsus. For lo! he is praying, - And hath seen a man in a vision, Ananias by name, coming in and laying on him his hands, to the intent he should see. And Ananias, answered - Lord! I have heard from many concerning this man, how many evil things unto thy saints he hath done in Jerusalem; And, here, he hath authority from the High-priests to bind all them that call upon thy name. But the Lord said unto him - Be going thy way; for, a choice vessel unto me, is this man, to bear my name before both thenations and kings, and the sons of Israel; For, I, will let him understand how many things he must needs, for my name, suffer. And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and, laying upon him his hands, said - Saul, brother! The Lord, hath sent me, - Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way by which thou wast coming, - that thou mayest recover sight, and be filled with Holy Spirit. And, straightway, there fell from him - from his eyes, - as it were scales; he recovered sight also, and, arising, was immersed: And, receiving food, gained strength. And he came to be with the disciples who were in Damascus certain days; And, straightway, in the synagogues, he began proclaiming Jesus, that, This, is the Son of God.
And slew James the brother of John with a sword;
And slew James the brother of John with a sword;
But, making a sign to them with his hand to hold their peace, he related to them how, the Lord, had brought, him, forth out of the prison; and he said - Carry tidings unto James and the brethren, as to these things. And, going out, he went his way unto some other place.
And, after they held their peace, James answered, saying - Brethren! hearken unto me.
Now there were accompanying him, Sopater, son of Pyrrhus a Beroean; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe and Timothy; and, of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
And, on the next day, Paul went in with us unto James, and, all the elders, were present.
And he said - The God of our fathers, hath chosen thee to get to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, - and to hear a voice out of his mouth. Because thou shalt be a witness to him unto all men, of the things which thou hast seen and heard.
And, I, said - Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said - I, am Jesus, whom, thou, art persecuting! But rise and stand upon thy feet; for, to this end, have I appeared unto thee, - To appoint thee an attendant and a witness, both of the things as to which thou hast seen me, and of those as to which I will appear unto thee: read more. Rescuing thee from among the people, and from among the nations, unto whom, I, am sending thee - To open their eyes; that they turn from darkness unto light, and the authority of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins, and an inheritance among them who have been made holy by the faith respecting me.
Whether as regardeth Titus, he is a partner of mine, and, towards you, a fellow-worker. or our brethren, apostles of assemblies, and Christ's glory.
Paul, an apostle, - not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father who raised him from among the dead,
For, he that energised in Peter, into an apostleship to the circumcision, energised also in me, for the nations, -
Needful, nevertheless have I accounted it - Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, but your apostle and public minister to my need, to send unto you;
Rooted, and being built up, in him, and making yourselves sure in your faith, even as ye have been taught, - surpassing therein with thanksgiving.
And ye are, in him, filled full, - Who, is the head of all principality and authority,
And, as for you - who were, dead, by your offences and by the uncircumcision of your flesh, he hath brought you to life together with him, - having in favour forgiven us all our offences,
Let no one, therefore, be judging, you, - in eating and in drinking, or in respect of feast, or new moon, or sabbath, -
Whose mouths must needs be stopped, men who are upsetting whole houses, teaching the things which ought not to be taught - for the sake of base gain. Said one from among them, a prophet, of their own! - Cretans! always false, mischievous wild-beasts, idle gluttons:
In all things, shewing, thyself, an ensample of noble works, - in thine instruction, uncorruptness, gravity,
Whence, holy brethren, partners, in a heavenly calling, attentively consider the Apostle and High - priest of our confession - Jesus
Fausets
("one sent forth".) The official name of the twelve whom Jesus sent forth to preach, and who also were with Him throughout His earthly ministry. Peter states the qualifications before the election of Judas' successor (Ac 1:21), namely, that he should have companied with the followers of Jesus "all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among them, beginning from the baptism of John unto the day that He was taken up, to be a witness with the others of His resurrection." So the Lord, "Ye are they that have continued with Me in My temptations" (Lu 22:28). The Holy Spirit was specially promised to bring all things to their remembrance whatever Jesus had said, to guide them into all truth, and to enable them to testify of Jesus with power to all lands (Joh 14:26; 15:26-27; 16:13-14). They were some of them fishermen, one a tax collector, and most of them unlearned.
Though called before, they did not permanently follow Him until their call as apostles. All were on a level (Mt 20:20-27; Mr 9:34-36). Yet three stood in especial nearness to Him, Peter, James, and John; they alone witnessed the raising of Jairus' daughter, the transfiguration, and the agony in Gethsemane. An order grounded on moral considerations is traceable in the enumeration of the rest: Judas, the traitor, in all the lists stands last. The disciples surrounded Jesus in wider and still wider expanding circles: nearest Him Peter, James, and. John; then the other nine; then the Seventy; then the disciples in general. But the "mystery" was revealed to all alike (Mt 10:27). Four catalogues are extant: Matthew's (Matthew 10), Mark's (Mr 3:16), Luke's (Lu 6:14) in the Gospel, and Luke's in Ac 1:13.
In all four the apostles are grouped in three classes, four in each. Philip heads the second division, i.e. is fifth; James the son of Alpheus heads the third, i.e. is ninth. Andrew follows Peter on the ground of brotherhood in Matthew and Luke; in Mark and Acts James and John, on the ground of greater nearness to Jesus, precede Andrew. In the second division Matthew modestly puts himself after Thomas; Mark and Luke give him his rightful place before Thomas. Thomas, after his doubts were removed (Joh 20:28), having attained distinguished faith, is promoted above Bartholomew (or Nathanael) and Matthew in Acts. In Matt, hew and Mark Thaddaeus (or Lebbaeus) precedes Simon Zelotes (Hebrew "Canaanite," i.e. one of the sect the Zealots). But in Luke and Acts Simon Zelotes precedes Jude (Thaddaeus) the brother of James. John gives no catalogue, but writing later takes it for granted (Re 21:14,19-20).
In the first division stand Peter and John, New Testament writers, in the second Matthew, in the third James and Jude. The Zealot stood once the last except the traitor, but subsequently became raised; bigotry is not always the best preparation for subsequent high standing in faith. Jesus sent them in pairs: a good plan for securing brotherly sympathy and cooperation. Their early mission in Jesus' lifetime, to preach repentance and perform miracles in Jesus' name, was restricted to Israel, to prepare the way for the subsequent gospel preaching to the Jews first, on and after Pentecost (Ac 3:25). They were slow to apprehend the spiritual nature of His kingdom, and His crucifixion and resurrection as the necessary preliminary to it. Even after His resurrection seven of them returned to their fishing; and it was only by Christ's renewed call that they were led' to remain together at Jerusalem, waiting for the promised Comforter (John 21; Ac 1:4).
From the day of the Pentecostal effusion of the Holy Spirit they became new men, witnessing with power of the resurrection of Jesus, as Jesus had promised (Lu 24:45,49; Ac 1:8,22; 2:32; 3:15; 5:32; 13:31). The first period of the apostles' working extends down to Ac 11:18. Excepting the transition period (Acts 8-10) when, at Stephen's martyrdom, the gospel was extended to Samaria and. to the Ethiopian eunuch by Philip, Jerusalem is its center, and Peter' the prominent figure, who opened the kingdom of heaven (according to Jesus' promise to him, Mt 16:18-19) to the Jews and also to the Gentiles (Acts 2; 10). The second period begins with the extension of the kingdom to idolatrous Gentiles. (Ac 11:19-26).
Antioch, in concert with Jerusalem, is now the center, and Paul the prominent figure, in concert with the other apostles. Though the ideal number always remained twelve (Re 21:14), answering to the twelve tribes of Israel, yet just as there were in fact thirteen tribes when Joseph's two sons were made separate tribal heads, so Paul's calling made thirteen actual apostles. He possessed the two characteristics of an Apostle; he had" seen the Lord," so as to be an eye witness of His resurrection, and he had the power which none but an Apostle had, of conferring spiritual gifts (1Co 9:1-2; 2Co 12:12; Ro 1:11; 15:18-19). This period ends with Ac 13:1-5, when Barnabas and Saul were separated by the Holy Spirit unto missionary work. Here the third apostolic period begins, in which the twelve disappear, and Paul alone stands forth, the Apostle of the Gentiles; so that at the close of Acts, which leaves him evangelizing in Rome, the metropolis of the world, churches from Jerusalem unto Illyricum had been founded through him.
Apostle is used in a vaguer sense of "messengers of the churches" (2Co 8:23; Php 2:25). But the term belongs in its stricter sense to the twelve alone; they alone were apostles of Christ. Their distinctive note is, they were commissioned immediately by Jesus Himself. They alone were chosen by Christ Himself, independently of the churches. So even Matthias (Ac 1:24). So Paul (Ga 1:1-12; Ro 1:1; 1Co 15:9-10). Their exclusive office was to found the Christian church; so their official existence was of Christ, and prior to the churches they collectively and severally founded. They acted with a divine authority to bind and loose things (Mt 18:18), and to remit or retain sins of persons (Joh 20:21-23), which they exercised by the authoritative ministry of the word. Their infallibility, of which their miracles were the credentials, marked them as extraordinary, not permanent, ministers.
Paul requires the Corinthians to acknowledge that the things which he wrote were the Lord's commandments (1Co 14:37). The office was not local; but "the care of all the churches." They were to the whole what particular elders were, to parts of the church (1Pe 5:1; 2Jo 1:1). Apostles therefore could have strictly no successors. John, while superintending the whole, was especially connected with the churches of Asia Minor, Paul with the W., Peter with Babylon. The bishops in that age coexisted with, and did not succeed officially, the apostles. James seems specially to have had a presidency in Jerusalem (Ac 15:19; 21:18).
Once the Lord Himself is so designated, "the Apostle of our profession" (Heb 3:1); the, Ambassador sent from the Father (Joh 20:21). As Apostle He pleads God's cause with us; as" High Priest," our cause with God. Appropriate in writing to Hebrew, since the Hebrew high priest sent delegates ("apostles") to collect the temple tribute from Jews in foreign countries, just as Christ is the Father's Delegate to claim the Father's due from His subjects in this world far off from Him (Mt 21:37).
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And it came to pass, after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, - that Yahweh spake unto Joshua son of Nun, the attendant of Moses, saying:
And it came to pass, after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, - that Yahweh spake unto Joshua son of Nun, the attendant of Moses, saying:
What I am saying to you in the darkness, tell ye in the light, - and, what whispered into the ear ye are hearing, proclaim ye on the housetops.
What I am saying to you in the darkness, tell ye in the light, - and, what whispered into the ear ye are hearing, proclaim ye on the housetops.
And, I also, unto thee, say - Thou, art Peter, - and, upon this rock, will I build my assembly, and, the gates of hades, shall not prevail against it.
And, I also, unto thee, say - Thou, art Peter, - and, upon this rock, will I build my assembly, and, the gates of hades, shall not prevail against it. I will give thee, the keys of the kingdom of the heavens, - and, whatsoever thou shalt bind upon the earth, shall be bound in the heavens, and, whatsoever thou shalt loose upon the earth, shall be loosed in the heavens.
I will give thee, the keys of the kingdom of the heavens, - and, whatsoever thou shalt bind upon the earth, shall be bound in the heavens, and, whatsoever thou shalt loose upon the earth, shall be loosed in the heavens.
Verily, I say unto you - Whatsoever things ye shall bind on the earth, shall be bound in heaven; and, whatsoever things ye shall loose on the earth, shall be loosed in heaven.
Verily, I say unto you - Whatsoever things ye shall bind on the earth, shall be bound in heaven; and, whatsoever things ye shall loose on the earth, shall be loosed in heaven.
Then came unto him the mother of the sons of Zebedee, with her sons, bowing down, and asking something from him.
Then came unto him the mother of the sons of Zebedee, with her sons, bowing down, and asking something from him. And, he, said to her - What desirest thou? She saith unto him - Bid, that these my two sons may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left, in thy kingdom.
And, he, said to her - What desirest thou? She saith unto him - Bid, that these my two sons may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus, answering, said - Ye know not what ye are asking: Are ye able to drink the cup, which, I, am about to drink; They say unto him - We are able.
But Jesus, answering, said - Ye know not what ye are asking: Are ye able to drink the cup, which, I, am about to drink; They say unto him - We are able. He saith unto them - My cup, indeed, ye shall drink; but, to sit on my right hand and on my left, is not mine to give, - except unto those for whom it hath been prepared by my Father.
He saith unto them - My cup, indeed, ye shall drink; but, to sit on my right hand and on my left, is not mine to give, - except unto those for whom it hath been prepared by my Father. And the ten, hearing, were sorely displeased, concerning the two brethren.
And the ten, hearing, were sorely displeased, concerning the two brethren. But, Jesus, calling them near, said - Ye know that, the rulers of the nations, lord it over them, and, the great ones, wield authority over them:
But, Jesus, calling them near, said - Ye know that, the rulers of the nations, lord it over them, and, the great ones, wield authority over them: Not so, is it, among you, - but, whosoever shall desire, among you, to become, great, shall be, your minister;
Not so, is it, among you, - but, whosoever shall desire, among you, to become, great, shall be, your minister; And, whosoever shall desire, among you, to be first, shall be, your servant: -
And, whosoever shall desire, among you, to be first, shall be, your servant: -
Afterwards, however, he sent forth unto them his son, saying, - They will pay deference unto my son!
Afterwards, however, he sent forth unto them his son, saying, - They will pay deference unto my son!
and he appointed the twelve (and imposed a name on Simon - ) Peter,
and he appointed the twelve (and imposed a name on Simon - ) Peter,
And they were silent; for, with one another, they had discussed in the way, who should be greatest.
And they were silent; for, with one another, they had discussed in the way, who should be greatest. And, taking a seat, he addressed the twelve, and saith unto them - If anyone willeth to be, first, he shall be, least of all, and, minister of all.
And, taking a seat, he addressed the twelve, and saith unto them - If anyone willeth to be, first, he shall be, least of all, and, minister of all. And, taking a child, he set it in the midst of them, - and, folding it in his arms, said unto them -
And, taking a child, he set it in the midst of them, - and, folding it in his arms, said unto them -
Simon, whom also he named Peter, and Andrew hie brother; and James and John; and Philip and Bartholomew;
Simon, whom also he named Peter, and Andrew hie brother; and James and John; and Philip and Bartholomew;
Ye, however, are they who have remained throughout with me in my temptations;
Ye, however, are they who have remained throughout with me in my temptations;
Then, opened he their mind, to understand the Scriptures;
Then, opened he their mind, to understand the Scriptures;
And lo! I, am sending forth the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry, ye, in the city, until ye be clothed, from on high, with power.
And lo! I, am sending forth the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry, ye, in the city, until ye be clothed, from on high, with power.
But, the Advocate, The Holy Spirit, which the Father will send in my name, He, will teach you all things, and will put you in mind, of all things which, I, told you.
But, the Advocate, The Holy Spirit, which the Father will send in my name, He, will teach you all things, and will put you in mind, of all things which, I, told you.
Whensoever the Advocate shall come, Whom, I, will send unto you from the Father, The Spirit of truth, which, from the Father, cometh forth, He, will bear witness concerning me;
Whensoever the Advocate shall come, Whom, I, will send unto you from the Father, The Spirit of truth, which, from the Father, cometh forth, He, will bear witness concerning me; And do, ye also, bear witness, because, from the beginning, ye are, with me,
And do, ye also, bear witness, because, from the beginning, ye are, with me,
Howbeit, as soon as, he, hath come - The Spirit of truth, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak from himself, but, whatsoever he heareth, he will speak, and, the coming things, will he announce unto you.
Howbeit, as soon as, he, hath come - The Spirit of truth, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak from himself, but, whatsoever he heareth, he will speak, and, the coming things, will he announce unto you. He, shall glorify me; for, of mine, shall he receive, and announce unto you.
He, shall glorify me; for, of mine, shall he receive, and announce unto you.
Jesus, therefore, said unto them, again, - Peace be unto you! Just as, my Father, sent me forth, I, also, send you.
Jesus, therefore, said unto them, again, - Peace be unto you! Just as, my Father, sent me forth, I, also, send you.
Jesus, therefore, said unto them, again, - Peace be unto you! Just as, my Father, sent me forth, I, also, send you.
Jesus, therefore, said unto them, again, - Peace be unto you! Just as, my Father, sent me forth, I, also, send you. And, this, saying, he breathed strongly, and saith unto them - Receive ye Holy Spirit: -
And, this, saying, he breathed strongly, and saith unto them - Receive ye Holy Spirit: - Whosesoever sins ye shall remit, they are remitted unto them, whosesoever ye shall retain, they are retained.
Whosesoever sins ye shall remit, they are remitted unto them, whosesoever ye shall retain, they are retained.
Thomas answered, and said unto him - My Lord, and my God!
Thomas answered, and said unto him - My Lord, and my God!
And being in company with them he charged them, from Jerusalem, not to absent themselves, but - To abide around the promise of the Father which ye have heard of me,
And being in company with them he charged them, from Jerusalem, not to absent themselves, but - To abide around the promise of the Father which ye have heard of me,
But ye shall receive power when the Holy Spirit cometh upon you, and ye shall be my witnesses, both in Jerusalem and inall Judaea and Samaria and as far as the uttermost part of the land.
But ye shall receive power when the Holy Spirit cometh upon you, and ye shall be my witnesses, both in Jerusalem and inall Judaea and Samaria and as far as the uttermost part of the land.
And, when they had entered, into the upper-story went they up, where remained behind - both Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the zealot, and Judas the son of James.
And, when they had entered, into the upper-story went they up, where remained behind - both Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the zealot, and Judas the son of James.
It is needful then that, of the men who companied with us during all the time in which the Lord Jesus came in and went out over us,
It is needful then that, of the men who companied with us during all the time in which the Lord Jesus came in and went out over us, Beginning from the immersion by John until the day when he was taken up from us, that, a witness of his resurrection along with us, should one of these become.
Beginning from the immersion by John until the day when he was taken up from us, that, a witness of his resurrection along with us, should one of these become.
And, praying, they said - Thou Lord! observer of the hearts of all men! shew forth whom thou hast chosen, - of these two, one; -
And, praying, they said - Thou Lord! observer of the hearts of all men! shew forth whom thou hast chosen, - of these two, one; -
The same Jesus, hath God raised up, whereof, all we, are witnesses!
The same Jesus, hath God raised up, whereof, all we, are witnesses!
But, the Princely Leader of Life, ye slew: - whom, God, raised from among the dead, whereof, we, are witnesses.
But, the Princely Leader of Life, ye slew: - whom, God, raised from among the dead, whereof, we, are witnesses.
Ye, are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God covenanted unto your fathers, saying unto Abraham - And, in thy seed, shall be blessed, all the families of the ground.
Ye, are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God covenanted unto your fathers, saying unto Abraham - And, in thy seed, shall be blessed, all the families of the ground.
And, we, are witnesses of these things, - also the Holy Spirit, which God hath given unto them who are yielding obedience unto him.
And, we, are witnesses of these things, - also the Holy Spirit, which God hath given unto them who are yielding obedience unto him.
And, having heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying - Hence, even unto the nations, God hath granted repentance unto life.
And, having heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying - Hence, even unto the nations, God hath granted repentance unto life. They, therefore, who had been scattered abroad by reason of the tribulation that took place on account of Stephen, passed through as far as Phoenice and Cyprus and Antioch, unto no one speaking the word, save alone unto Jews.
They, therefore, who had been scattered abroad by reason of the tribulation that took place on account of Stephen, passed through as far as Phoenice and Cyprus and Antioch, unto no one speaking the word, save alone unto Jews. And there were some from among them, Cyprians and Cyrenians, who, indeed, coming unto Antioch, began speaking, even unto the Grecian Jews, announcing the glad tidings as to the Lord Jesus;
And there were some from among them, Cyprians and Cyrenians, who, indeed, coming unto Antioch, began speaking, even unto the Grecian Jews, announcing the glad tidings as to the Lord Jesus; And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number - they who believed - turned unto the Lord.
And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number - they who believed - turned unto the Lord. And the matter was reported in the hearing of the assembly that was in Jerusalem, concerning them; and they sent forth Barnabas, as far as Antioch;
And the matter was reported in the hearing of the assembly that was in Jerusalem, concerning them; and they sent forth Barnabas, as far as Antioch; Who, arriving, and seeing the favour which was of God, rejoiced, and went on to beseech all, with the purpose of their heart, to abide inthe Lord;
Who, arriving, and seeing the favour which was of God, rejoiced, and went on to beseech all, with the purpose of their heart, to abide inthe Lord; Because he was a good man, and full of Holy Spirit and faith; and a considerable multitude were added unto the Lord.
Because he was a good man, and full of Holy Spirit and faith; and a considerable multitude were added unto the Lord. He went away, however, unto Tarsus, to seek up Saul;
He went away, however, unto Tarsus, to seek up Saul; And, finding him, he brought him unto Antioch. And so it was with them, that, for a whole year, they were brought together in the assembly, and taught a considerable multitude; also that the disciples, first in Antioch, were called, Christians.
And, finding him, he brought him unto Antioch. And so it was with them, that, for a whole year, they were brought together in the assembly, and taught a considerable multitude; also that the disciples, first in Antioch, were called, Christians.
Now there were in Antioch, distributed through the existing assembly, - prophets and teachers: both Barnabas and Symeon who was called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen also, Herod the tetrarch's foster-brother, and Saul.
Now there were in Antioch, distributed through the existing assembly, - prophets and teachers: both Barnabas and Symeon who was called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen also, Herod the tetrarch's foster-brother, and Saul. And, as they were publicly ministering unto the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said - Separate forthwith unto me, Barnabas and Saul, unto the work whereunto I have called them.
And, as they were publicly ministering unto the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said - Separate forthwith unto me, Barnabas and Saul, unto the work whereunto I have called them. Then, fasting and praying, and laying their hands upon them, they sent them away.
Then, fasting and praying, and laying their hands upon them, they sent them away. They, therefore, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down unto Seleucia, and, from thence, sailed away unto Cyprus;
They, therefore, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down unto Seleucia, and, from thence, sailed away unto Cyprus; And, coming to be in Salamis, they declared the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; - and they had, John also, as an attendant.
And, coming to be in Salamis, they declared the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; - and they had, John also, as an attendant.
Who appeared, during many days, unto them who had come up with him from Galilee unto Jerusalem; who, indeed, noware his witnesses unto the people.
Who appeared, during many days, unto them who had come up with him from Galilee unto Jerusalem; who, indeed, noware his witnesses unto the people.
Wherefore, I, judge, not to be troubling them who, from the nations, are turning unto God;
Wherefore, I, judge, not to be troubling them who, from the nations, are turning unto God;
And, on the next day, Paul went in with us unto James, and, all the elders, were present.
And, on the next day, Paul went in with us unto James, and, all the elders, were present.
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, separated unto the glad-message of God -
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, separated unto the glad-message of God -
For I am longing to see you, that I may impart some spiritual gift unto you, to the end ye may be established, -
For I am longing to see you, that I may impart some spiritual gift unto you, to the end ye may be established, -
For I wilt not dare to speak anything save of the things which Christ hath wrought out for himself through me for the obedience of nations, - -by word and deed,
For I wilt not dare to speak anything save of the things which Christ hath wrought out for himself through me for the obedience of nations, - -by word and deed, By the power of signs and wonders, by the power of Holy Spirit; so that I, from Jerusalem and in a circuit as far as Illyricum, have fulfilled the glad-message of the Christ, -
By the power of signs and wonders, by the power of Holy Spirit; so that I, from Jerusalem and in a circuit as far as Illyricum, have fulfilled the glad-message of the Christ, -
Am not free? Am I not an apostle? Jesus our Lord, have I not seen? Are not, ye, my work, in the Lord?
Am not free? Am I not an apostle? Jesus our Lord, have I not seen? Are not, ye, my work, in the Lord? If, unto others, I am not an apostle, certainly at least, unto you, I am; for, the seal of my apostleship, ye, are in the Lord.
If, unto others, I am not an apostle, certainly at least, unto you, I am; for, the seal of my apostleship, ye, are in the Lord.
If anyone thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge the things which I am writing to you, - that they are, a commandment, of the Lord.
If anyone thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge the things which I am writing to you, - that they are, a commandment, of the Lord.
Whether as regardeth Titus, he is a partner of mine, and, towards you, a fellow-worker. or our brethren, apostles of assemblies, and Christ's glory.
Whether as regardeth Titus, he is a partner of mine, and, towards you, a fellow-worker. or our brethren, apostles of assemblies, and Christ's glory.
Paul, an apostle, - not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father who raised him from among the dead,
Paul, an apostle, - not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father who raised him from among the dead, And all the brethren with me; - unto the assemblies of Galatia:
And all the brethren with me; - unto the assemblies of Galatia: Favour unto you and peace, from God our Father, and Lord Jesus Christ, -
Favour unto you and peace, from God our Father, and Lord Jesus Christ, - Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, -
Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, - Unto whom be the glory unto the ages of ages: Amen!
Unto whom be the glory unto the ages of ages: Amen! I marvel that, thus quickly, ye are moving away from him that called you in the favour of Christ, unto a different glad-message, -
I marvel that, thus quickly, ye are moving away from him that called you in the favour of Christ, unto a different glad-message, - Which is not, another, only there are, some, that are troubling you, and wishing to change the glad-message of the Christ.
Which is not, another, only there are, some, that are troubling you, and wishing to change the glad-message of the Christ. But, even if, we, or, a messenger out of heaven, announce a glad-message unto youaside from that which we announced unto you, accursed, let him be!
But, even if, we, or, a messenger out of heaven, announce a glad-message unto youaside from that which we announced unto you, accursed, let him be! As we have said before, even now, again, I say: If anyone is announcing unto you a glad-message aside from that which ye accepted, accursed, let him be!
As we have said before, even now, again, I say: If anyone is announcing unto you a glad-message aside from that which ye accepted, accursed, let him be! For am I, even now, persuading, men, or God? Or am I seeking to please, men? If I had been still pleasing, men, Christ's servant, had I not been!
For am I, even now, persuading, men, or God? Or am I seeking to please, men? If I had been still pleasing, men, Christ's servant, had I not been! For I make known unto you, brethren, as to the glad-message which was announced by me, that it is not after man;
For I make known unto you, brethren, as to the glad-message which was announced by me, that it is not after man; For neither, from man, did I accept it, nor was taught it , - but through a revealing of Jesus Christ.
For neither, from man, did I accept it, nor was taught it , - but through a revealing of Jesus Christ.
Needful, nevertheless have I accounted it - Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, but your apostle and public minister to my need, to send unto you;
Needful, nevertheless have I accounted it - Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, but your apostle and public minister to my need, to send unto you;
Whence, holy brethren, partners, in a heavenly calling, attentively consider the Apostle and High - priest of our confession - Jesus
Whence, holy brethren, partners, in a heavenly calling, attentively consider the Apostle and High - priest of our confession - Jesus
Elders, therefore, among you, I exhort - I who am their co-elder and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, who also, in the glory about to be revealed, have, a share; -
Elders, therefore, among you, I exhort - I who am their co-elder and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, who also, in the glory about to be revealed, have, a share; -
and, the wall of the city, having twelve foundations, and, upon them, twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
and, the wall of the city, having twelve foundations, and, upon them, twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
and, the wall of the city, having twelve foundations, and, upon them, twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
and, the wall of the city, having twelve foundations, and, upon them, twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The foundations of the wall of the city, with every precious stone were adorned: the first foundation, was jasper, the second, sapphire, the third, chalcedony, the fourth, emerald,
The foundations of the wall of the city, with every precious stone were adorned: the first foundation, was jasper, the second, sapphire, the third, chalcedony, the fourth, emerald, the fifth, sardonyx, the sixth, sardius, the seventh, chrysolite, the eighth, beryl, the ninth, topaz, the tenth, chrysoprase, the eleventh, hyacinth, the twelfth, amethyst;
the fifth, sardonyx, the sixth, sardius, the seventh, chrysolite, the eighth, beryl, the ninth, topaz, the tenth, chrysoprase, the eleventh, hyacinth, the twelfth, amethyst;
Morish
The Greek word ????????? signifies 'a messenger,' 'one sent,' and is used in this sense for any messenger in 2Co 8:23; Php 2:25; and as 'one sent' in Joh 13:16. It is also used in a much higher and more emphatic sense, implying a divine commission in the one sent, first of the Lord Himself and then of the twelve disciples whom He chose to be with Him during the time of His ministry here. The Lord in His prayer in Joh 17:18 said, "As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world." He was the Sent One, and in Heb 3:1 it is written "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Jesus."* They were to consider this One who had been faithful, and who was superior to Moses, to the Aaronic priests, and to angels, and was in the glory. The ordering of a dispensation depended on the apostolic office as divinely appointed.
* The word 'Christ' is omitted by the Editors.
APOSTLES, THE TWELVE. The Lord appointed these "that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out demons," and also to carry out the various commissions given by Christ on earth. It will be seen by the lists that follow that Lebbaeus, Thaddaeus and Judas are the same person; and that Simon the Canaanite (Cananaean) and Simon Zelotes are the same; Peter is also called Simon; and Matthew is called Levi.
Mt 10:2-4. Mr 3:16-19. Lu 6:14-16. Ac 1:18.
1 Peter and 1 Peter. 1 Simon. 1 Peter.
2 Andrew. 3 James. 2 Andrew. 3 James.
3 James and 4 John. 3 James. 4 John.
4 John. 2 Andrew. 4 John. 2 Andrew.
5 Philip and 5 Philip. 5 Philip. 5 Philip.
6 Bartholomew. 6 Bartholomew. 6 Bartholomew. 7 Thomas.
7 Thomas and 8 Matthew. 8 Matthew. 6 Bartholomew.
8 Matthew. 7 Thomas. 7 Thomas. 8 Matthew.
9 James and 9 James. 9 James. 9 James.
10 Lebbaeus. 10 Thaddaeus. 11 Simon Zelotes. 11 Simon Z.
11 Simon the Cana- 11 Simon C. 10 Judas. 10 Judas.
naean and 12 Judas 1. 12 Judas I.
12 Judas Iscariot.
Peter is always named first; he with James and John was with the Lord on the mount of transfiguration and also with the Lord at other times, though no one apostle had authority over the others: they were all brethren and the Lord was their Master. Judas Iscariot is always named last. In Matthew the word 'and' divides the twelve into pairs, perhaps corresponding to their being sent out two and two to preach. Bartholomew and Simon Zelotes are not mentioned after their appointment except in Acts 1.
When the Lord sent the twelve out to preach He bade them take nothing with them, for the workman was worthy of his food: and on their return they confessed that they had lacked nothing. Their mission was with authority as the sent ones of the Lord; sicknesses were healed and demons cast out; and if any city refused to receive them it should be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgement than for that city. Mt 10:5-15.
They received a new mission from the Lord as risen: see Luke 24; John 20. And before the ascension the apostles were bidden to tarry at Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. This was bestowed at the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. They are also viewed first among the gifts with which the church was endowed by the Head of the body when He ascended up on high. Eph 4:8-11. These gifts were for "the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." The mystery hitherto hid in God was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, namely, that the Gentiles should be joint heirs, and a joint body, and partakers of His promise in Christ Jesus. Eph. 3. Paul was the special vessel to make known this grace. His apostleship occupies a peculiar place, he having been called by the Lord from heaven, and being charged with the gospel of the glory. See PAUL.
On the death of Judas Iscariot, Matthias, an early disciple, was chosen in his place, for there must be (irrespective of Paul, who, as we have seen, held a unique place) twelve apostles as witnesses of His resurrection, Ac 1:22; Re 21:14 as there must still be twelve tribes of Israel. Jas 1:1; Re 21:12. At the conference of the church in Jerusalem respecting the Gentiles 'the apostles' took a prominent part, with the elders. Acts 15. How many apostles remained at Jerusalem is not recorded: we do not read of 'the twelve' after Acts 6. Tradition gives the various places where they laboured, which may be found under each of their names. Scripture is silent on the subject, in order that the new order of things committed to Paul might become prominent, as the older things connected with Judaism vanished away: cf. 2Pe 3:15-16.
There were no successors to the apostles: to be apostles they must have 'seen the Lord.' Ac 1:21-22; 1Co 9:1; Re 2:2. The foundation of the church was laid, and apostolic work being complete the apostles passed away, there remain however, in the goodness of God, such gifts as are needed "till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." Eph 4:12-13.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Now, the twelve apostles' names, are these: - first Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, - and James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew, - Thomas, and Matthew, the tax-collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thadaeus; read more. Simon, the zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also delivered him up. These twelve, Jesus sent forth, charging them, saying: - Into any way to the nations, do not depart, - and, into any city of Samaritans, do not enter; But be going, rather, unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And, as ye go, proclaim, saying, The kingdom of the heavens hath drawn near! Be curing, the sick, raising, the dead, - cleansing, lepers, casting out, demons: freely, ye have, received, freely, give. Ye may procure - neither gold, nor silver, nor copper, for your belts, - neither satchel for journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staff; for, worthy, is the labourer, of his maintenance. And, into whatsoever city or village ye enter, search out who in it is, worthy, and, there, abide, till ye go forth. And, as ye enter the house, salute it; And, if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it, but, if it be not worthy, let your peace, unto you, return. And, whosoever shall neither welcome you, nor hear your words, as ye go forth outside that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet: Verily, I say unto you, - More tolerable, will it be, for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for, that, city!
and he appointed the twelve (and imposed a name on Simon - ) Peter, and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (and imposed on them a name - Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder); read more. and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the zealot; and Judas Iscariot, who also delivered him up. And he cometh into a house;
Simon, whom also he named Peter, and Andrew hie brother; and James and John; and Philip and Bartholomew; and Matthew and Thomas; and James, son of Alphaeus, and Simon, who was called Zealot; and Judas, son of James, read more. and Judas Iscariot, who became betrayer; -
Verily, verily, I say unto you - A servant is not greater than his lord, neither one sent forth greater than he that sent him.
Even as thou didst send me forth into the world, I also, send them forth into the world;
This man therefore had possessed himself of a field out of the reward of unrighteousness, - and falling headlong burst asunder in the midst, and forth gushed all his bowels;
It is needful then that, of the men who companied with us during all the time in which the Lord Jesus came in and went out over us, Beginning from the immersion by John until the day when he was taken up from us, that, a witness of his resurrection along with us, should one of these become.
Beginning from the immersion by John until the day when he was taken up from us, that, a witness of his resurrection along with us, should one of these become.
Whether as regardeth Titus, he is a partner of mine, and, towards you, a fellow-worker. or our brethren, apostles of assemblies, and Christ's glory.
Wherefore he saith - Ascending on high, he took captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Now this, He ascended; what is it, - save - that he also descended into the under parts of the earth? read more. He that descended, he, it is who also ascended over-above all the heavens, that he might fill all things; And, he, gave - some, indeed, to be apostles, and some, prophets, and some, evangelists, and some, shepherds and teachers, - With a view to the fitting of the saints for the work of ministering, for an upbuilding of the body of the Christ; Until we all advance - into the oneness of the faith, and the personal knowledge of the Son of God, into a man of full-growth, into the measure of the stature of the fulness of the Christ;
Needful, nevertheless have I accounted it - Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, but your apostle and public minister to my need, to send unto you;
Whence, holy brethren, partners, in a heavenly calling, attentively consider the Apostle and High - priest of our confession - Jesus
James, a servant, of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, - unto the twelve tribes that are in the dispersion, Wishes joy.
And account, our Lord's long suffering, to be salvation: - even as, our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given unto him, hath written unto you; As also, in all letters, speaking in them concerning these things, - in which letters are some things, hard to be understood, which, the uninstructed and unstable, wrest, - as also the other scriptures, - unto their own destruction.
I know thy works, and thy toil, and endurance, and that thou canst not bear bad men, and thou hast tried them who were affirming themselves to be apostles, and they were not, and hast found them false;
having a wall great and high, having twelve gates, and, at the gates, twelve messengers, and names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel, -
and, the wall of the city, having twelve foundations, and, upon them, twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Smith
(one sent forth), in the New Testament originally the official name of those twelve of the disciples whom Jesus chose to send forth first to preach the gospel and to be with him during the course of his ministry on earth. The word also appears to have been used in a non-official sense to designate a much wider circle of Christian messengers and teachers See
It is only of those who were officially designated apostles that we treat in the article. Their names are given in
and Christ's charge to them in the rest of the chapter. Their office.-- (1) The original qualification of an apostle, as stated by St. Peter on the occasion of electing a successor to the traitor Judas, was that he should have been personally acquainted with the whole ministerial course of our Lord from his baptism by John till the day when he was taken up into heaven. (2) They were chosen by Christ himself (3) They had the power of working miracles. (4) They were inspired.
Joh 16:13
(5) Their world seems to have been pre-eminently that of founding the churches and upholding them by supernatural power specially bestowed for that purpose. (6) The office ceased, a matter of course, with its first holders-all continuation of it, from the very condition of its existence (cf.
), being impossible. Early history and training.--The apostles were from the lower ranks of life, simple and uneducated; some of them were related to Jesus according to the flesh; some had previously been disciples of John the Baptist. Our Lord chose them early in his public career They seem to have been all on an equality, both during and after the ministry of Christ on earth. Early in our Lord's ministry he sent them out two and two to preach repentance and to perform miracles in his name Matt 10; Luke 9. They accompanied him in his journey, saw his wonderful works, heard his discourses addressed to the people, and made inquiries of him on religious matters. They recognized him as the Christ of God,
Mt 16:16; Lu 9:20
and described to him supernatural power
Lu 9:54
but in the recognition of the spiritual teaching and mission of Christ they made very low progress, held back as they were by weakness of apprehension and by national prejudices. Even at the removal of our Lord from the earth they were yet weak in their knowledge,
Lu 24:21; Joh 16:12
though he had for so long been carefully preparing and instructing them. On the feast of Pentecost, ten days after our Lord's ascension, the Holy Spirit came down on the assembled church, Acts 2; and from that time the apostles became altogether different men, giving witness with power of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus, as he had declared they should.
Lu 24:48; Ac 1:8,22; 2:32; 3:15; 5:32; 13:31
Later labors and history.--First of all the mother-church at Jerusalem grew up under their hands, Acts 3-7, and their superior dignity and power were universally acknowledged by the rulers and the people.
ff. Their first mission out of Jerusalem was to Samaria
where the Lord himself had, during his ministry, sown the seed of the gospel. Here ends the first period of the apostles' agency, during which its centre is Jerusalem and the prominent figure is that of St. Peter. The centre of the second period of the apostolic agency is Antioch, where a church soon was built up, consisting of Jews and Gentiles; and the central figure of this and of the subsequent period is St. Paul. The third apostolic period is marked by the almost entire disappearance of the twelve from the sacred narrative and the exclusive agency of St. Paul, the great apostle of the Gentiles. Of the missionary work of the rest of the twelve we know absolutely nothing from the sacred narrative.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Now, the twelve apostles' names, are these: - first Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, - and James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew, - Thomas, and Matthew, the tax-collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thadaeus; read more. Simon, the zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also delivered him up.
And, Simon Peter, answering, said - Thou, art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
And he said to them - But who say, ye, that I am? And, Peter, answering, said - The Christ of God!
We, however, were hoping that, he, was the one destined to redeem Israel! But indeed, even with all these things, this brings on, the third, day, since these things happened: -
Ye, are witnesses of these things.
Yet many things, have I, unto you, to be saying, - but ye cannot bear them, just now; Howbeit, as soon as, he, hath come - The Spirit of truth, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak from himself, but, whatsoever he heareth, he will speak, and, the coming things, will he announce unto you.
But ye shall receive power when the Holy Spirit cometh upon you, and ye shall be my witnesses, both in Jerusalem and inall Judaea and Samaria and as far as the uttermost part of the land.
Beginning from the immersion by John until the day when he was taken up from us, that, a witness of his resurrection along with us, should one of these become.
The same Jesus, hath God raised up, whereof, all we, are witnesses!
But, the Princely Leader of Life, ye slew: - whom, God, raised from among the dead, whereof, we, are witnesses.
And, through the hands of the Apostles, were coming to pass many signs and wonders among the people; and they were all with one accord in the portico of Solomon;
And, we, are witnesses of these things, - also the Holy Spirit, which God hath given unto them who are yielding obedience unto him.
Who appeared, during many days, unto them who had come up with him from Galilee unto Jerusalem; who, indeed, noware his witnesses unto the people.
Am not free? Am I not an apostle? Jesus our Lord, have I not seen? Are not, ye, my work, in the Lord?
Whether as regardeth Titus, he is a partner of mine, and, towards you, a fellow-worker. or our brethren, apostles of assemblies, and Christ's glory.
Watsons
APOSTLE, ?????????, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, commissioned by him to preach his Gospel, and propagate it to all parts of the earth. The word originally signifies a person delegated or sent; from ?????????, mitto; in which sense it occurs in Herodotus, and other profane authors. Hence, in the New Testament, the term is applied to divers sorts of delegates; and to the twelve disciples by way of eminence. They were limited to the number twelve, in allusion to the twelve tribes of Israel. See Mt 19:28; Lu 22:30; Re 21:12-14; and compare Ex 24:4; De 1:23; and Jos 4:2-3. Accordingly care was taken, on the death of Judas, to choose another, to make up the number, Ac 1:21-22,26. Of the first selection and commission of the twelve Apostles, we have an account, Lu 6:13, &c.; Mt 10:1, &c. Having chosen and constituted twelve persons, under the name of Apostles, our blessed Lord determined that for some time they should be continually with him, not only to attend upon his public ministry, but to enjoy the benefit of his private conversation, that he might furnish them the better for the great work in which they were to be employed; and that, at length, after suitable preparation, he might, with greater advantage, send them abroad to preach his Gospel, and thus make way for his own visits to some more distant parts, where he had not yet been; and to enable them more effectually to do this, he endowed them with the power of working miracles, of curing diseases, and casting out demons. About the commencement of the third year of his ministry, according to the common account of its duration, he sent them out two by two, that they might be assistants to each other in their work; and commanded them to restrict their teaching and services to the people of Israel, and to avoid going to the Gentiles or to the Samaritans, to declare the approach of the kingdom of heaven, and the establishment of the Gospel dispensation; to exercise the miraculous powers with which they had been endowed gratuitously; and to depend for their subsistence on the providence of God, and on the donations of those to whom they ministered. Their names were, Simon Peter; Andrew, his brother; James the greater, the son of Zebedee; and John his brother, who was the beloved disciple; Philip of Bethsaida; Bartholomew; Thomas, called Didymus, as having a twin brother; Matthew or Levi, who had been a publican; James, the son of Alpheus, called James the less; Lebbeus, surnamed Thaddeus, and who was also called Judas or Jude, the brother of James; Simon, the Canaanite, so called, as some have thought, because he was a native of Cana, or, as Dr. Hammond thinks, from the Hebrew ???, signifying the same with Zelotes, or the Zelot, a name given to him on account of his having before professed a distinguishing zeal for the law; and Judas Iscariot, or a man of Carioth, Jos 15:25, who afterward betrayed him, and then laid violent hands on himself. Of these, Simon, Andrew, James the greater, and John, were fishermen; Matthew, and James the son of Alpheus, were publicans; and the other six were probably fishermen, though their occupation is not distinctly specified.
After the resurrection of our Saviour, and not long before his ascension, the place of Judas the traitor was supplied by Matthias, supposed by some to have been Nathaniel of Galilee, to whom our Lord had given the distinguishing character of an "Israelite indeed, in whom there was no guile;" and the twelve Apostles, whose number was now completed, received a new commission, of a more extensive nature than the first, to preach the Gospel to all nations, and to be witnesses of Christ, not only in Jerusalem, in all Judea, and in Samaria, but unto the uttermost parts of the earth; and they were qualified for the execution of their office by a plenteous effusion of miraculous powers and spiritual gifts, and particularly the gift of tongues. In consequence of this commission, they preached first to the Jews, then to the Samaritans, and afterward to the idolatrous Gentiles. Their signal success at Jerusalem, where they opened their commission, alarmed the Jewish sanhedrim, before which Peter and John were summoned, and from which they received a strict charge never more to teach, publicly or privately, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. The noble reply and subsequent conduct of the Apostles are well known. This court of the Jews was so awed and incensed, as to plot the death of the twelve Apostles, as the only effectual measure for preventing the farther spread of Christianity. Gamaliel interposed, by his prudent and moderate counsel; and his speech had so good an effect upon the sanhedrim, that, instead of putting Peter and John to death, they scourged them, renewed their charge and threats, and then dismissed them. The Apostles, however, were not discouraged nor restrained; they counted it an honour to suffer such indignities, in token of their affection to their Master, and zeal in his cause; and they persisted in preaching daily in the courts of the temple, and in other places, that Jesus of Nazareth was the promised and long expected Messiah. Their doctrine spread, and the number of converts in Jerusalem still increased. During the violent persecution that raged at Jerusalem, soon after the martyrdom of St. Stephen, several of the leading men among the Christians were dispersed; some of them travelled through the regions of Judea and Samaria, and others to Damascus, Phoenicia, the Island of Cyprus, and various parts of Syria; but the twelve Apostles remained, with undaunted firmness, at Jerusalem, avowing their attachment to the persecuted interest of Christ, and consulting how they might best provide for the emergencies of the church, in its infant and oppressed state.
When the Apostles, during their abode at Jerusalem, heard that many of the Samaritans had embraced the Gospel, Peter and John were deputed to confer upon them the gift of the Holy Spirit; for to the Apostles belonged the prerogative of conferring upon others spiritual gifts and miraculous powers. In their return to Jerusalem, from the city of Samaria, they preached the Gospel in many Samaritan villages. The manner of its being sent to Ethiopia, by the conversion of the eunuch who was chief treasurer to Candace, queen of the country, is related in Ac 8:26, &c. After the Christian religion had been planted in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and sent into Ethiopia, one of the uttermost parts of the earth, Ac 1:8; and after it had been preached about eight years to the Jews only, God, in his wise and merciful providence, disposed things for the preaching of it among the Gentiles. Caesarea was the scene in which the Apostle Peter was to open his commission for this purpose; and Cornelius, one of the devout Gentiles, and a man distinguished by his piety and charity, was the first proselyte to Christianity. After Peter had laid the foundation of a Christian church among the devout Gentiles, others imitated his example, and a great number of persons of this description embraced the Christian faith, more especially at Antioch, where the disciples, whom their enemies had hitherto called Galileans, Nazarenes, and other names of reproach, and who, among themselves, had been called "disciples," "believers," "the church," "the saints," and "brethren," were denominated, probably not without a divine direction, Christians.
When Christianity had been preached for about eight years among the Jews only, and for about three years more among the Jews and devout Gentiles, the next stage of its progress was to the idolatrous Gentiles, in the year of Christ 44, and the fourth year of the emperor Claudius. Barnabas and Saul were selected for this purpose, and constituted in an extraordinary manner Apostles of the Gentiles, or uncircumcision. Barnabas was probably an elder of the first rank; he had seen Christ in the flesh, had been an eye witness of his being alive again after his crucifixion, and had received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, as being one of the hundred and twenty. Saul also, since his conversion had preached as a superior prophet, about seven years to the Jews only, and about two
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Then wrote Moses all the words of Yahweh, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar, under the mountain, and twelve pillars, for the twelve tribes of Israel:
And the thing, was good in mine eyes, - so I took from among you twelve men, one man for each tribe.
Take unto you, from among the people, twelve men, one man severally from each tribe; and command ye them, saying, Take you up from hence, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where stood the feet of the priests with firm footing, twelve stones; - and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging-place where ye shall lodge, tonight.
And, calling near his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over impure spirits, - so as to be casting them out, and curing every disease and every infirmity.
And, Jesus, said unto them - Verily, I say unto you, As for you who followed me in the regeneration, When the Son of Man shall take his seat on his throne of glory, ye also, shall be seated upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And, when it became day, he called his disciples, and chose from them, twelve, whom also he named, Apostles, -
That ye may eat and drink, at my table, in my kingdom, and sit upon thrones, judging, the twelve tribes of Israel.
But ye shall receive power when the Holy Spirit cometh upon you, and ye shall be my witnesses, both in Jerusalem and inall Judaea and Samaria and as far as the uttermost part of the land.
It is needful then that, of the men who companied with us during all the time in which the Lord Jesus came in and went out over us, Beginning from the immersion by John until the day when he was taken up from us, that, a witness of his resurrection along with us, should one of these become.
And they gave lots for them; and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
And, a messenger of the Lord, spake unto Philip, saying - Arise, and be journeying along southward, unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, - the same, is desert.
And it came to pass, when had returned unto Jerusalem, and was praying in the temple, that I came to be in a trance,
But rise and stand upon thy feet; for, to this end, have I appeared unto thee, - To appoint thee an attendant and a witness, both of the things as to which thou hast seen me, and of those as to which I will appear unto thee: Rescuing thee from among the people, and from among the nations, unto whom, I, am sending thee - read more. To open their eyes; that they turn from darkness unto light, and the authority of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins, and an inheritance among them who have been made holy by the faith respecting me. Wherefore, O King Agrippa, - I became not disobedient unto the heavenly vision; But - both to them in Damascus, first, and in Jerusalem, unto all the country of Judaea also, and unto the nations, I carried tidings - that they should repent, and turn unto God, and, works worthy of their repentance, should practise.
Salute Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow-captives, who, indeed, are of note among the Apostles, who also before me had come to be in Christ.
Needful, nevertheless have I accounted it - Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, but your apostle and public minister to my need, to send unto you;
having a wall great and high, having twelve gates, and, at the gates, twelve messengers, and names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel, - on the east, three gates, and, on the north, three gates, and, on the south, three gates, and, on the west, three gates; read more. and, the wall of the city, having twelve foundations, and, upon them, twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.