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Who were the Discples and Apostles
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Prophets and Apostles are not the same thing. Many people are confused about what these positions are and have used them interchangeably just as they do with prophet and teacher.
The word "disciple" refers to a learner or follower. The word "apostle" means "one who is sent out." While Jesus was on earth, His twelve followers were called disciples. The twelve disciples followed Jesus Christ, learned from Him, and were trained by Him. After His resurrection and ascension, Jesus sent the disciples out to be His witnesses (Matthew 28:18-20
(verse 18) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
(verse 19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
(verse 20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.Matthew 28 verses 18-20;
Acts 1:8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.Acts 1 verse 8). They were then referred to as the twelve apostles. However, even when Jesus was still on earth, the terms "disciples" and "apostles" were used somewhat interchangeably. -www.gotquestions.org-
Who were the original twelve
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James [the son] of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. Matthew 10:2-4
Footnotes written about these verses,
The twelve are called "disciples" in verse 1And when he had called unto [him] his twelve disciples, he gave them power [against] unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.Matthew 10 verse 1;
here [verse 2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James [the son] of Zebedee, and John his brother.Matthew 10 verse 2]
they are called apostles. The word apostle emphasizes delegated authority (see 1 Thessalonians 2:6Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor [yet] of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.1 Thessalonians 2 verse 6); the term disciple emphasizes learning and following. Because the disciples had been given authority, they were now called apostles.
[Verses 2-4(verse 2) Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James [the son] of Zebedee, and John his brother;
(verse 3) Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
(verse 4) Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.Matthew 10 verses 2-4] The disciples are named in pairs and probably were sent out that way (see Mark 6:7And he called [unto him] the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits.Mark 6 verse 7). -The Nelson Study Bible, NKJV, 1997, pg 1591
And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. Acts 1:23-26
Disciples and Apostles were "Called" by God
These twelve men were called by Jesus Christ. None were self-appointed. Read Matthew 4:18-21(verse 18) And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
(verse 19) And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
(verse 20) And they straightway left [their] nets, and followed him.
(verse 21) And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James [the son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.Matthew 18 verses 18-21,
Matthew 8:9For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this [man], Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth [it].Matthew 8 verse 9, and
Mark 3:13-18(verse 13) And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth [unto him] whom he would: and they came unto him.
(verse 14) And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
(verse 15) And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
(verse 16) And Simon he surnamed Peter;
(verse 17) And James the [son] of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
(verse 18) And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the [son] of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,Mark 3 verses 13-18. Later, after Paul's conversion he too became an apostle.
There are NO MORE APOSTLES today (Revelation 21:14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.Revelation 21 verse 14). -Justin Peters, Clouds without water False prophets-
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office. Romans 11:13