Apostle

In the Bible, the term "apostle" (from the Greek word "apostolos," meaning "one who is sent out") refers to individuals chosen and commissioned by Jesus Christ to spread the Gospel and establish the early Church. The New Testament primarily identifies the twelve apostles—Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (the Less), Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot (later replaced by Matthias in Acts 1:26)—who were direct witnesses of Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection. Their role was foundational, as articulated in Ephesians 2:20, which states that the Church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Himself being the cornerstone.In addition to the twelve, the term "apostle" is also applied more broadly to other key figures in the early Church, such as Paul, who referred to himself as an apostle despite not being one of the original twelve (Romans 1:1, 1 Corinthians 15:8-9). Apostles were characterized by their authority to teach, perform miracles, and guide the developing Christian community, fulfilling the Great Commission as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20, where Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations. Thus, the role of an apostle is one of leadership, teaching, and evangelism, with a significant impact on the spread of Christianity.