updated August 2026
What is an apostle? Learn the biblical meaning, four qualifications of Christ’s apostles, who the apostles were, and why their authority matters.
The Greek word apostle means "messenger" or "one who is sent." We might use the term ambassador or emissary today. Normally, the one sending delegates authority to the one being sent, giving the person sent the authority to speak for and represent the sender. In the secular world, this person could sign contracts and conduct business on behalf of the one sending him.
The apostles of Jesus Christ have the authority to speak for Jesus. They were given the authority to explain the teaching of Jesus and proclaim what he taught when he was not present.
There are 4 qualifications to being an apostle of Jesus Christ.
- An apostle had to be personally commissioned by Jesus — Mark 3:14; Gal 1:1; Acts 1:24–26.
- An apostle had to be personally taught by Jesus — Acts 1:21–22; 1 Cor 9:1; 1 Cor 15:8.
- An apostle had to be given a complete and full understanding of Jesus' teaching by the Holy Spirit — John 14:26; 16:13; Eph 3:5.
- An apostle had to be confirmed by miraculous signs. Anyone can claim to speak for Jesus. We know the apostles have the authority to speak for Jesus because they performed miraculous signs in Jesus name — 2 Cor 12:12; Heb 2:3–4; Acts 2:43.
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Two senses of the word
If you read the four qualifications above and then open your concordance, you'll hit an apparent contradiction. The New Testament applies the word apostolos to men who were plainly not among the Twelve, and in a couple of places to men we know almost nothing about.
The reason is that Greek had an ordinary, everyday use of this word alongside the technical one. Remember the root meaning: one who is sent. Anyone dispatched by someone else with a message or an errand is, in plain Greek, an apostolos. Our English translators usually signal the difference by rendering the ordinary sense as "messenger". Or if the messenger is divine it's translated "angel."
- Paul calls the men carrying the Jerusalem collection messengers of the churches (2 Corinthians 8:23). The churches sent them; Jesus did not.
- Epaphroditus is called Philippi's messenger to Paul (Philippians 2:25).
- Jesus himself uses the word generically: a servant is not greater than his master, "nor is he who is sent greater than the one who sent him" (John 13:16).
So the test isn't the word. The test is who did the sending, and to do what. An apostle of Jesus Christ was commissioned by Jesus himself to speak with his authority. A messenger of the church at Philippi was commissioned by that congregation to carry a gift and some news. Same word, entirely different office.
A few passages sit in the middle and are genuinely debated. Luke calls Barnabas and Paul "the apostles" in Acts 14:4 and 14:14. Paul greets Andronicus and Junia in Romans 16:7 with a phrase that can be translated either "well known among the apostles" or "well known to the apostles." The Greek allows both, and the two readings put them in very different categories. Reasonable interpreters land in different places on these.
One more use is worth noticing: Hebrews 3:1 calls Jesus the apostle of our confession. He is the one the Father sent. Everything the Twelve were commissioned to do flows from that.
Why this matters: when someone claims apostolic authority today, the question to ask isn't whether the New Testament ever uses the word of anyone besides the Twelve. It does. The question is whether the claim is to the office: personal commissioning by Jesus, personal instruction from him, and the confirming signs Paul points to in 2 Corinthians 12:12. That's what the four qualifications are for.
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Testing the claim
Anyone can say he speaks for Jesus. The first-century churches knew that, and the New Testament shows them doing something about it.
Paul is blunt about the problem in Corinth. The men troubling that church were false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:13). They were persuasive, impressive speakers, and they had a following. Sincerity and success weren't the issue.
And in Revelation 2:2, the risen Christ commends the church at Ephesus for testing men who called themselves apostles. Notice what that assumes.The claim was testable. There was something to check.
So what did they check?
The commissioning could be verified. The Twelve were known men with known histories. When they replaced Judas, Peter's criterion was public and specific: someone who had been with them the whole time, from John's baptism to the ascension (Acts 1:21–22). That is a matter of record, checkable by anyone who'd been in Jerusalem. Paul, the exception, appealed to a public event and to living witnesses (1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:8).
The signs were public. This is the whole force of qualification #4. Paul doesn't argue that the Corinthians should take his word for it; he reminds them of what they saw with their own eyes: the signs of a true apostle were performed among you (2 Corinthians 12:12). His opponents evidently couldn't point to the same thing, which is why he can appeal to it as evidence.
The message had to match. This is the test Paul makes absolute. If anyone — including Paul himself, including an angel from heaven — preaches a different gospel than the one they had already received, that person is condemned (Galatians 1:8–9). The Corinthian intruders were preaching another Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4). A true apostle's job was to deliver Jesus' teaching accurately. A message that contradicted what the church already had from the apostles was proof the claim was false, no matter how compelling the man making it.
Put together, the tests are all of one kind: they appeal to things the church could check: Public history, public events, public teaching. Not to the claimant's confidence, charisma, or private experience.
Why this matters now. The same logic still applies, and it cuts in a particular direction. Two of the qualifications — personal commissioning by Jesus and personal instruction from him during his earthly ministry — are self-limiting by their nature. Christians differ over whether the office continues in any form, and that discussion deserves more room than a paragraph.
But the test isn't in dispute. When someone claims to speak for Jesus with authority, Ephesus is the model: ask what the claim rests on, and ask whether the message matches what the apostles already delivered. A claim that can't be examined is one Scripture never asks you to accept.
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Who are the apostles?
The apostles of Jesus Christ are the Twelve (Acts 1:12-13; Matthew 10:1-4; Mark 3:16-18; Luke 6:13-16) plus Paul and James, the brother of Jesus.
- Peter (aka Simon, Simon Peter, Cephas; Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-18)
- Andrew (Peter's brother; Mat 4:18-22)
- John, the son of Zebedee, James's brother (Mark 1:19-20)
- James, the son of Zebedee, John's brother (Mark 1:19-20)
- Philip (Mat 10:3; Mark 3:18)
- Bartholomew (aka Nathanael; John 1:45-29; John 21:2; Mat 10:2; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13)
- Thomas (aka Didymus; the Twin; Mar 10:3; Mark 3:18; John 11:15; John 14:5; John 20:24-28; John 21:2; Acts 1:13)
- Matthew (aka Levi), the tax collector (Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:13-17)
- James, the son of Alphaeus (aka James the Less; Mat 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13)
- Simon, the Zealot (Mat 10:4; Luk 6:15)
- Thaddaeus (aka Judas the son of James) (Matt 10:3; Mark 3:18 Act 1:13)
- Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ (Matt 26:14-16) and is replaced by Matthias (Acts 1:26)
Also:
- Paul (aka Saul) (Galatians 1:11-13; Acts 9)
- Some include: James, the Lord's brother (1Cor 15:7; Galatians 1:19), though James does not call himself an apostle.
The four lists of the Twelve follow certain patterns. Each list can be divided into the three groups of four. Each group begins with the same apostle, but the order within the group varies.
- Group 1: Simon Peter, Andrew, James & John, the sons of Zebedee
- Group 2: Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew
- Group 3: James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas Iscariot
Use of the word apostle in the New Testament
ἀπόστολος apostolos; Strong's G652; from the verb G649; a messenger, one sent on a mission, an apostle: - apostle (19), apostles (52), apostles’ (5), messenger (1), messengers (1), is sent (1)
apostle (19v) - Rom 1:1; Rom 11:13; 1Co 1:1; 1Co 9:1; 1Co 9:2; 1Co 15:9; 2Co 1:1; 2Co 12:12; Gal 1:1; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1; 1Ti 1:1; 1Ti 2:7; 2Ti 1:1; 2Ti 1:11; Tit 1:1; Heb 3:1; 1Pe 1:1; 2Pe 1:1
apostles (57v) - Mat 10:2; Mar 6:30; Luk 6:13; Luk 9:10; Luk 11:49; Luk 17:5; Luk 22:14; Luk 24:10; Act 1:2; Act 1:26; Act 2:37; Act 2:42; Act 2:43; Act 4:33; Act 4:35; Act 4:36; Act 4:37; Act 5:2; Act 5:12; Act 5:18; Act 5:29; Act 5:40; Act 6:6; Act 8:1; Act 8:14; Act 8:18; Act 9:27; Act 11:1; Act 14:4; Act 14:14; Act 15:2; Act 15:4; Act 15:6; Act 15:22; Act 15:23; Act 16:4; Rom 16:7; 1Co 4:9; 1Co 9:5; 1Co 12:28; 1Co 12:29; 1Co 15:7; 1Co 15:9; 2Co 11:5; 2Co 11:13; 2Co 12:11; Gal 1:17; Gal 1:19; Eph 2:20; Eph 3:5; Eph 4:11; 1Th 2:6; 2Pe 3:2; Jud 1:17; Rev 2:2; Rev 18:20; Rev 21:14
messengers - 2Co 8:23; messenger - Php 2:25
Mentions in Scripture
Simon Peter: Mat 4:18; Mat 8:14; Mat 10:2; Mat 14:28; Mat 14:29; Mat 15:15; Mat 16:16; Mat 16:18; Mat 16:22; Mat 16:23; Mat 17:1; Mat 17:4; Mat 17:24; Mat 18:21; Mat 19:27; Mat 26:33; Mat 26:35; Mat 26:37; Mat 26:40; Mat 26:58; Mat 26:69; Mat 26:73; Mat 26:75; Mar 3:16; Mar 5:37; Mar 8:29; Mar 8:32; Mar 8:33; Mar 9:2; Mar 9:5; Mar 10:28; Mar 11:21; Mar 13:3; Mar 14:29; Mar 14:33; Mar 14:37; Mar 14:54; Mar 14:66; Mar 14:67; Mar 14:70; Mar 14:72; Mar 16:7; Luk 5:8; Luk 6:14; Luk 8:45; Luk 8:51; Luk 9:20; Luk 9:28; Luk 9:32; Luk 9:33; Luk 12:41; Luk 18:28; Luk 22:8; Luk 22:33; Luk 22:34; Luk 22:54; Luk 22:55; Luk 22:58; Luk 22:60; Luk 22:61; Luk 24:12; Joh 1:40; Joh 1:42; Joh 1:44; Joh 6:8; Joh 6:68; Joh 13:6; Joh 13:8; Joh 13:9; Joh 13:24; Joh 13:36; Joh 13:37; Joh 18:10; Joh 18:11; Joh 18:15; Joh 18:16; Joh 18:17; Joh 18:18; Joh 18:25; Joh 18:26; Joh 18:27; Joh 20:2; Joh 20:3; Joh 20:4; Joh 20:6; Joh 21:2; Joh 21:3; Joh 21:7; Joh 21:11; Joh 21:15; Joh 21:17; Joh 21:20; Joh 21:21; Act 1:13; Act 1:15; Act 2:14; Act 2:37; Act 2:38; Act 3:1; Act 3:3; Act 3:4; Act 3:6; Act 3:11; Act 3:12; Act 4:8; Act 4:13; Act 4:19; Act 5:3; Act 5:8; Act 5:9; Act 5:15; Act 5:29; Act 8:14; Act 8:20; Act 9:32; Act 9:34; Act 9:38; Act 9:39; Act 9:40; Act 10:5; Act 10:9; Act 10:13; Act 10:14; Act 10:17; Act 10:18; Act 10:19; Act 10:21; Act 10:25; Act 10:26; Act 10:32; Act 10:34; Act 10:44; Act 10:45; Act 10:46; Act 11:2; Act 11:4; Act 11:7; Act 11:13; Act 12:3; Act 12:5; Act 12:6; Act 12:7; Act 12:11; Act 12:14; Act 12:16; Act 12:18; Act 15:7; Gal 2:7; Gal 2:8; 1Pe 1:1; 2Pe 1:1.
Andrew: Mat 4:18; Mat 10:2; Mar 1:16; Mar 1:29; Mar 3:18; Mar 13:3; Luk 6:14; Joh 1:40; Joh 1:44; Joh 6:8; Joh 12:22; Act 1:13.
James & John, the sons of Zebedee: Mat 4:21; Mat 10:2; Mat 17:1; Mat 27:56; Mar 1:19; Mar 1:29; Mar 3:17; Mar 5:37; Mar 9:2; Mar 10:35; Mar 10:41; Mar 13:3; Mar 14:33; Luk 5:10; Luk 6:14; Luk 8:51; Luk 9:28; Luk 9:54; Act 1:13; Act 12:2.
Philip: Mat 10:3; Mar 3:18; Luk 6:14; Joh 1:43; Joh 1:44; Joh 1:45; Joh 1:46; Joh 1:48; Joh 6:5; Joh 6:7; Joh 12:21; Joh 12:22; Joh 14:8; Joh 14:9; Act 1:13; Act 21:8.
Bartholomew: Mat 10:3; Mar 3:18; Luk 6:14; Act 1:13. aka Nathanael: Joh 1:45; Joh 1:46; Joh 1:47; Joh 1:48; Joh 1:49; Joh 21:2.
Thomas: Mat 10:3; Mar 3:18; Luk 6:15; Joh 11:15; Joh 14:5; Joh 20:24; Joh 20:26; Joh 20:27; Joh 20:28; Joh 21:2; Act 1:13.
Matthew: Mat 9:9; Mat 10:3; Mar 3:18; Luk 6:15; Act 1:13.
James son of Alphaeus: Mat 10:3; Mar 3:18; Luk 6:15; Act 1:13.
Thaddaeus: Mat 10:3; Mar 3:18; aka Judas, son of James: Luke 6:16; Joh 14:22; Act 1:13;
Simon the Zealot: Mat 10:4; Mar 3:18; Luk 6:15; Act 1:13.
Judas Iscariot: Mat 10:4; Mat 26:14; Mat 26:25; Mat 26:47; Mat 27:3; Mar 3:19; Mar 14:10; Mar 14:43; Luk 6:16; Luk 22:3; Luk 22:47; Luk 22:48; Joh 6:71; Joh 12:4; Joh 13:2; Joh 13:26; Joh 13:29; Joh 18:2; Joh 18:3; Joh 18:5; Act 1:13; Act 1:16; Act 1:25.
Resources on Apostle:
English Dictionary Definitions of Apostle
Nave's Topical Bible: Apostles - Nave's Topical Bible
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Apostle
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary: Apostle
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Apostle
Holman Bible Dictionary: Apostles
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible: Apostles
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament: Apostle
Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary: Apostle
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Apostle
The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia: Apostle and Apostleship
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature: Apostle
Go deeper on the podcast
The apostles show up throughout Wednesday in the Word, but these seasons deal directly with the questions on this page:
2 Corinthians: When Church Hurts — Paul defends his apostleship against men who claimed the same authority. If you want to see the four qualifications actually being argued, start here. 17 weeks.
Galatians: Living by Faith — Paul's account of how he was commissioned, and why the source of a message determines whether you should believe it. 15 weeks.
1 Corinthians: Pride & Prejudice in the Church — includes Paul's appeal to having seen the risen Lord, and his list of the gifts given to the church. 47 weeks.
Gospel of Matthew 8–12: Behold the King! — Jesus calls the Twelve, names them, and sends them out with his authority. 24 weeks.
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