Apostle
Apostle. The word means “one sent forth.” It was the title Jesus gave (Luke 6:13) to the twelve whom he chose and ordained (John 15:16) to be his closest disciples during his ministry on earth, and whom he sent forth to represent him after his ascension into heaven. The calling of an apostle is to be a special witness of the name of Jesus Christ in all the world, particularly of his divinity and of his bodily resurrection from the dead (Acts 1:22; D&C 107:23).Twelve men with this high calling constitute an administrative council in the work of the ministry. When a vacancy occurred with the death of Judas Iscariot, Matthias was divinely appointed to that special office as a member of the council (Acts 1:15–26). Today twelve men with this same divine calling and ordination constitute the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The title was also applied to others who, though not of the number of the original twelve, yet were called to serve as special witnesses of the Lord. Paul repeatedly spoke of himself as an apostle (Rom. 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:1; 9:1; Gal. 1:1). He applied the title to James, the Lord’s brother (Gal. 1:19), and also to Barnabas (1 Cor. 9:5–6; cf. Acts 14:4, 14). The New Testament does not inform us whether these three brethren also served in the council of the Twelve as vacancies occurred therein, or whether they were apostles strictly in the sense of being special witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus is referred to as an apostle in Heb. 3:1–2, a designation meaning that he is the personal and select representative of the Father.
| | Apostles of the New Testament | Most of this information is from the Bible Dictionary |
| 1 | Simon Peter | See the Bible Dictionary: The Rock, Silver and Gold Have I none, but that which I have, . . . . |
| 2 | James | (1) Son of Zebedee, one of the Twelve, brother of John. His call is given in Matt. 4:21; Mark 1:19–20; and Luke 5:10. He was given the name Boanerges (Mark 3:17), and was one of the inner circle of three chosen to be with our Lord on certain special occasions: at the raising of the daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:37); at the Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1; Mark 9:2; Luke 9:28); and at Gethsemane (Matt. 26:37; Mark 14:33; see also Mark 10:30, 41; 13:3; Luke 8:51; 9:54). He was beheaded by Herod (Acts 12:2). |
| 3 | John | http://lds.org/ensign/1991/12/john-the-once-and-future-witness?lang=eng |
| 4 | Andrew | The MISSIONARY: Andrew. Brother of Simon Peter. As a disciple of John the Baptist he met Jesus and then brought Peter to meet Jesus. He was one of the earliest called to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, and was one of the Twelve. Matt. 4:18; 10:2; Mark 1:16, 29; 13:3; John 1:40, 44; 6:8; 12:22. |
| 5 | Philip | Philip. Lover of horses. (1) The apostle; formerly of Bethsaida (John 1:44); mentioned along with Bartholomew (Matt. 10:3; Luke 6:14; see also John 1:43–46; 6:5, 7; 12:21–22; 14:8–9). |
| 6 | Nathaniel | Nathanael. God has given. His friendship with Philip and call to be a disciple are found in John 1:45–51; see also 21:2, where we learn that he belonged to Cana in Galilee. He is generally identified with Bartholomew, on the ground that Nathanael is always mentioned along with apostles, as though of apostolic rank, and that whereas the Synoptists (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14) mention Bartholomew (associating him with Philip) and never Nathanael, John mentions Nathanael and never Bartholomew. |
| 7 | Thomas | Thomas. One of the twelve. The name means a twin, and so it is translated in John 11:16 by the Greek Didymus. He is mentioned in the lists of apostles (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13); and also in John 11:16; 14:5; 20:24, 28; 21:2. |
| 8 | Matthew | Matthew. Gift of God. Known before his conversion as Levi, son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14). He was a tax gatherer at Capernaum, probably in the service of Herod Antipas, in whose tetrarchy Capernaum was. Soon after his call he gave a feast to his old associates (Matt. 9:9–13; Mark 2:14–17; Luke 5:27–32) at which the Lord was present, and was in consequence blamed by the Pharisees. Matthew was probably a thorough Jew with a wide knowledge of the O.T. scriptures, and able to see in every detail of the Lord’s life the fulfillment of prophecy. His Gospel (see Gospels) was written for the use of Jewish persons in Palestine, and uses many quotations from the O.T. His chief object is to show that Jesus is the Messiah of whom the prophets spoke. He also emphasizes that Jesus is the King and Judge of men. His Gospel was probably written in Aramaic, but is known to us by a Greek translation. Of the apostle’s later life little is known for certain. A tradition asserts that he died a martyr’s death. |
| 9 | James | |
| 10 | Jude also known as Judas, Brother of James | One of the brethren of the Lord and probable author of the epistle of Jude. (Matt. 13:55; Jude 1:1). In the New Testament, one of the original Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ (Luke 6:13–16). He was probably also known as Lebbaeus Thaddaeus (Matt. 10:2–4). |
| 11 | Simon | In the New Testament, one of the original Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ (Matt. 10:2–4). |
| 12 | Judas |
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| | James | (3) Brother of the Lord (Gal. 1:19) and of Joses, Simon, Jude, and some sisters (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3; Jude 1:1); known as James the Just. He occupied an important position in the Church of Jerusalem (Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18; Gal. 2:9–12; 1 Cor. 15:7), and was probably the writer of the Epistle of James. |
| | Barnabas | |
| | Paul | |
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