The Apostles were personally commissioned messengers of Jesus, sent with authority to establish the Church, proclaim the Gospel, and demonstrate the power of God. While Jesus originally chose twelve disciples to follow Him, He later commissioned eleven of them as apostles, as Judas Iscariot was sent away.
Additionally, the New Testament identifies other apostles outside of the original eleven, showing that apostleship was not limited to Jesus’ immediate disciples but was a divinely appointed role in the early Church. These men were sent with authority, not just as learners, but as those entrusted with spreading the Kingdom of God.
Understanding the true role of an apostle, their divine commission, and their lasting impact on Christianity gives us a deeper appreciation for their unique role in biblical history and the foundation of the Church.
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Historical Background and Origins
The apostles were chosen, trained, and commissioned by Jesus for a specific mission:
- Disciples First, Then Apostles – The men Jesus originally called were disciples (students), but only eleven were later commissioned as apostles (Luke 6:13, Matthew 28:16-20).
- Judas Was Not an Apostle – Though Judas Iscariot was a disciple, he was never commissioned as an apostle. Instead, he betrayed Jesus and was sent away (John 13:27-30, Acts 1:16-20).
- Apostles Were More Than Just Messengers – They were divinely appointed leaders, empowered by the Holy Spirit to establish the Church (Acts 1:8).
- New Apostles Were Raised Up – Beyond the eleven, other men were later appointed as apostles, including Paul, Barnabas, James (the Lord’s brother), and others.
This distinction is crucial—not every disciple was an apostle, and apostleship carried divine authority beyond simple discipleship. Apostleship was a spiritual gift given to some, but not to all as Paul taught in his letter to the Ephesians, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:11-12).
Geography and Political Influence
The apostles’ ministry spread the Gospel across the known world, reaching:
- Jerusalem and Judea – The first center of Christian activity, where the Church began at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-41).
- Samaria and the Gentile World – Philip and other apostles brought the Gospel beyond Jewish territories (Acts 8:4-25).
- The Roman Empire – Apostles like Paul and Barnabas took the Gospel to Rome, Greece, and Asia Minor (Acts 13-28).
- Beyond the Empire – Early traditions suggest that apostles reached India (Thomas), Ethiopia (Matthew), and Spain (Paul).
The apostles were not confined to one location but were commissioned to take the Gospel worldwide (Matthew 28:19-20).
Religious Beliefs and Practices
The apostles did not create a new religion but proclaimed Jesus as the fulfillment of Jewish prophecy:
- Jesus as the Promised Messiah – Apostles taught that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies (Luke 24:44-47).
- Baptism as Entry into the Church – They commanded converts to be baptized in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38).
- Communion as a New Covenant – They instituted the Lord’s Supper as an ongoing practice (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
- Signs and Miracles Confirmed Their Authority – Apostles performed healings, exorcisms, and resurrections to validate their divine calling (Acts 5:12-16).
Their God-given authority set them apart from other believers, ensuring that Christianity was rooted in divine truth and power.
The Apostles in the Bible
The apostles are mentioned throughout the Gospels, Acts, and Epistles, revealing their unique mission:
1. The Commissioning of the Eleven Apostles (Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 1:8)
- After His resurrection, Jesus gave the eleven apostles authority to teach, baptize, and make disciples of all nations.
2. The Replacement of Judas (Acts 1:21-26)
- Since Judas had betrayed Christ and was never truly an apostle, the eleven chose Matthias to replace him as one of the twelve.
3. The Holy Spirit Empowers the Apostles (Acts 2:1-41)
- The apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, enabling them to preach with boldness and perform miracles.
4. New Apostles Emerge in the Early Church (Acts 9:15, Acts 14:14, Galatians 1:19)
- Beyond the original eleven, other men were called apostles, proving that apostleship was not limited to the original disciples.
These passages confirm that apostles were uniquely commissioned, empowered, and sent with divine authority.
Key Apostles of the Early Church
While Jesus commissioned eleven apostles, others were later appointed by God to carry His message:
1. Paul – The Apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13, Acts 9:15, Galatians 1:1)
- Paul was directly called by Jesus on the road to Damascus and became the greatest missionary of the early Church.
- His writings form much of the New Testament, and he was instrumental in spreading the Gospel to non-Jews.
2. Barnabas – Recognized as an Apostle (Acts 14:14)
- Barnabas was Paul’s early companion and co-laborer in missionary work.
- The Bible explicitly calls him an apostle, showing that apostleship extended beyond the eleven.
3. James (the Lord’s Brother) – A Leader Among the Apostles (Galatians 1:19, Acts 15:13-21)
- James was not one of the twelve disciples but was later recognized as an apostle.
- He became a key leader in the Jerusalem Church and wrote the Epistle of James.
4. Silas and Timothy – Apostolic Messengers (1 Thessalonians 1:1, 2:6)
- Paul refers to Silas and Timothy as apostles, confirming that others were commissioned beyond the original eleven.
These men prove that apostleship was not limited to the original disciples but was a divine calling given to many in the early Church.
Spiritual Lessons and Application
- Apostleship is a divine calling, not a human position – The apostles were chosen and sent by God, not self-appointed.
- God raises new leaders when needed – Just as Paul, Barnabas, and James were called after the resurrection, God continues to call leaders today.
- The Holy Spirit empowers God’s messengers – Apostles were given miraculous power, showing that spiritual authority comes from God alone.
- We are called to continue the apostolic mission – While no new apostles exist today, believers are sent into the world to spread the Gospel (Matthew 28:19-20).
Conclusion: God’s Sovereignty Over His Messengers
The Apostles, unlike disciples, were commissioned with authority to establish the Church, spread the Gospel, and perform miracles. Though Jesus originally chose twelve disciples, He only commissioned eleven as apostles, later adding Paul, Barnabas, James, and others to continue the mission.
As Paul wrote:
“Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father.” (Galatians 1:1)
Their legacy lives on in Scripture, the Church, and the Great Commission, proving that God sovereignly chooses His messengers to accomplish His plan.
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
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