The commissioning of the Twelve Apostles during the ministry of Jesus is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels.

After his resurrection, Jesus sent eleven of them (minus Judas Iscariot) by the Great Commission to spread his teachings to all nations. There is also an Eastern Christian tradition derived from the Gospel of Luke of seventy apostles. Paul the Apostle (Saul of Tarsus), not one of the Twelve or the Seventy but a later convert, "the apostle of the Gentiles",[Romans 11:13] claimed a special commission from the resurrected Jesus, separate from the Great Commission given to the Twelve. Paul did not restrict the term apostle to the Twelve, he referred to his mentor Barnabas as an apostle.[1] The restricted usage appears in Revelation.[1][2] The sub-period of Early Christianity during the lifetimes of the apostles is called the Apostolic Age.[1] In the 2nd century, association with the apostles was esteemed as evidence of authority and such churches are known as Apostolic Sees. Paul's epistles were accepted as scripture, and two of the four gospels were associated with apostles, as were other New Testament works. Various Christian texts, such as the Didache and the Apostolic Constitutions, were attributed to the apostles. Bishops traced their lines of succession back to individual apostles, who were said to have dispersed from Jerusalem and established churches across great territories. Christian bishops have traditionally claimed authority deriving, by apostolic succession, from the Twelve.[1] Early Church Fathers that came to be associated with apostles, such as Pope Clement I with Peter the Apostle, are referred to as Apostolic Fathers. The Apostles' Creed, popular in the West, was said to have been composed by the apostles themselves. The Twelve Apostles are also called the Twelve Disciples. In modern usage, major missionaries are sometimes termed apostles, as in Saint Patrick, "Apostle of Ireland".[1]

Contents

1 Etymology 2 Portrayal 3 The twelve apostles o 3.1 Synoptic Gospels o 3.2 Gospel of John o 3.3 Calling by Jesus o 3.4 The twelve and no women o 3.5 Replacement of Judas o 3.6 First Epistle to the Corinthians o 3.7 Deaths of the Twelve Apostles o 3.8 Tombs of the apostles 4 The Apostle of the Gentiles: Paul the Apostle 5 Other apostles in the New Testament o 5.1 Barnabas o 5.2 Andronicus and Junia

5.3 Silas 5.4 Timothy 5.5 Epafroditus 5.6 Apollos 6 Later Christianizing apostles o 6.1 Roman Catholic tradition o 6.2 "Apostle to the apostles" o 6.3 "Equal to the apostles" 7 Fivefold ministry 8 See also 9 References 10 Further reading 11 External links

o o o o

Etymology

Gallery of the Apostles, Temmenhausen Nikolauskirche The word "apostle" comes from the Greek word (apstlos), formed from the prefix - (ap-, "from") and root (stll, "I send", "I depart") and originally meaning "messenger, envoy". The Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament argues that its Christian use translated a Jewish position known in Hebrew as the sheliach (). This ecclesiastical meaning of the word was later translated into Latin as missio, the source of the English "missionary".

Portrayal
In the New Testament, the names of the majority of the apostles are Hebrew names, although some had Greek names.[3] Even Paul, the "apostle of the Gentiles", who said that Jesus revealed himself to him only after his ascension and appointed him to his mission,[4] was a Jew by birth and always proud of it,[1:14] although after his conversion he adopted the Roman cognomen Paulus, rendered in English as Paul, as his name.[Acts 13:9]

Paul made his case to the Corinthian Church that he was an apostle by the evidence of God's power working through him, "The things that mark an apostlesigns, wonders and miracles were done among you with great perseverance."[2 Co. 12:12] Mark 6:7-13 states that Jesus initially sent out these twelve in pairs (cf. Mt 10:5-42, Lk 9:1-6) to towns in Galilee. The text states that their initial instructions were to heal the sick and drive out demons, and in the Gospel of Matthew to raise the dead. They are also instructed to "take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse, but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics", and that if any town rejects them they ought to shake the dust off their feet as they leave, a gesture which some scholars think was meant as a contemptuous threat (Miller 26). Their carrying of just a staff (Matthew and Luke say not even a staff) is sometimes given as the reason for the use by Christian bishops of a staff of office,[citation needed] in those denominations that believe they maintain an apostolic succession. Later in the Gospel narratives the twelve apostles are described as having been commissioned to preach the Gospel to "all the nations,"[5] regardless of whether Jew or Gentile.[6] Paul emphasized the important role of the apostles in the church of God when he said that the household of God is "built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone".[Ephesians 2:19-20]

The twelve apostles

Synoptic Gospels
The Canonical gospels give varying names of the twelve apostles. According to the lists occurring in each of the three Synoptic Gospels, the twelve, some of whom chose to follow Jesus and some who were called by Jesus near the beginning of his ministry, those "whom he also named apostles", were: Matthew [Mt 10:14] Mark [Mk 3:1319] Simon, who is called Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter) Peter Andrew, his brother Andrew James the son of James the son of Zebedee Zebedee John the brother of James (to whom he gave John, his brother the name Boanerges) Philip Philip Bartholomew Bartholomew Thomas Thomas Matthew, the tax Matthew collector James the son of James the son of Alphaeus Alphaeus Luke [Lk 6:1216] Simon, whom he named Peter Andrew his brother James John Philip Bartholomew Thomas Matthew James the son of Alphaeus

Thaddaeus Simon the Zealot Judas Iscariot

Thaddaeus Simon the Zealot Judas Iscariot

Judas the son of James Simon who was called the Zealot Judas Iscariot

The list in the Gospel of Luke differs from Matthew and Mark at two points. It lists "Judas the son of James" instead of "Thaddeus". (For more information, see Jude the Apostle.) In the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus selected Peter, James, and John to witness his transfiguration and to be near him when he prayed at Gethsemane. In Mark, the twelve are obtuse, failing to understand the importance of Jesus' miracles and parables.[7]

Gospel of John

Jesus and the 12 apostles in Domus Galilaeae, Israel. James Tissot, The Exhortation to the Apostles. Unlike the Synoptic Gospels, the Gospel of John does not offer a formal list of apostles, although it refers to "the twelve" in a single scene (John 6:67-71). However, the gospel does not present any elaboration of who "the twelve" actually were. There is also no separation of "apostles" and "disciples" in John. Only the following disciples are mentioned:

Peter Andrew (identified as Peter's brother) "the sons of Zebedee" (presumably meaning John and James, although they are not named) Philip Nathanael Thomas (also called Didymus)[11:16] [20:24] [21:2] Judas Iscariot "Judas (not Iscariot)"[14:22](probably Thaddeus/Jude) "disciple whom Jesus loved"[13:23] [20:2]

Of these, only Nathanael is not in the lists in the other gospels.

Calling by Jesus
See also: calling of the four disciples, calling of Levi, choosing of the twelve apostles The three Synoptic Gospels record the circumstances in which some of the disciples were recruited, Matthew only describing the recruitment of Simon, Andrew, James, and John. All three Synoptic Gospels state that these four were recruited fairly soon after Jesus returned from being tempted by the devil. Despite Jesus only briefly requesting that they join him, they are all described as immediately consenting, and abandoning their nets to do so. Traditionally the immediacy of their consent was viewed as an example of divine power, although this statement isn't made in the text itself. The alternative and much more ordinary solution is that Jesus was simply friends with the individuals beforehand, as implied by the Gospel of John, which states that Andrew and an unnamed other had been a disciple of John the Baptist, and started following Jesus as soon as Jesus had been baptized. The Bible identifies Jesus as a tekton,[Mk 6:3] a Greek word meaning builder or artisan,[8] traditionally translated as carpenter. Considering this profession, it is plausible that Jesus had been employed to build and repair fishing vessels, thus having many opportunities to interact with and befriend such fishermen. Albright and Mann extrapolate from Simon's and Andrew's abandonment of their nets, that Matthew is emphasizing the importance of renunciation by converting to Christianity, since fishing was profitable, though required large start-up costs, and abandoning everything would have been an important sacrifice. Regardless, Simon and Andrew's abandonment of what were effectively their most important worldly possessions was taken as a model by later Christian ascetics. Matthew describes Jesus meeting James and John, also fishermen and brothers, very shortly after recruiting Simon and Andrew. Matthew and Mark identify James and John as sons of Zebedee. Luke adds to Matthew and Mark that James and John worked as a team with Simon and Andrew. Matthew states that at the time of the encounter, James and John were repairing their nets, but readily joined Jesus without hesitation. This parallels the accounts of Mark and Luke, but Matthew implies that the men have also abandoned their father (since he is present in the ship they abandon behind them), and Carter feels this should be interpreted to mean that Matthew's view of Jesus is one of a figure rejecting the traditional patriarchal structure of society, where the father had command over his children; most scholars, however, just interpret it to mean that Matthew intended these two to be seen as even more devoted than the other pair. The synoptics go on to describe that much later, after Jesus had later begun his ministry, Jesus noticed, while teaching, a tax collector in his booth. The tax collector, Levi according to some Gospels, Matthew according to others, is asked by Jesus to become one of his disciples. Matthew/Levi is stated to have accepted and then invited Jesus for a meal with his friends. Tax

collectors were seen as villains in Jewish society, and the Pharisees are described by the synoptics as asking Jesus why he is having a meal with such disreputable people. The reply Jesus gives to this is now well known: it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.[Mk 2:17]

Adriaen van de Venne's Fishers of Men. Oil on panel, 1614

The twelve and no women

Each of the four listings in the New Testament (Mark 3:13-19, Matthew 10:1-4, Luke 6:12-16, and Acts 1:13) indicate that all were men. While the names vary in the four lists, the male identity is uniform. Why were the twelve all men? Classicist Evelyn Stagg and Theologian Frank Stagg concluded that "this is the strongest single evidence against a clear breakthrough on the part of Jesus in the recognition of the full equality of women with men".[9]They say the New Testament gives no clear answer. However, they present several considerations in their book.

Replacement of Judas
Main article: Saint Matthias After Judas Iscariot betrayed Christ and then in guilt committed suicide before Christ's resurrection (in one Gospel account), the apostles numbered eleven. When Jesus had been taken up from them, in preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit that he had promised them, Peter advised the brethren: Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus... For he was numbered with us, and received his portion in this ministry... For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his habitation be made desolate, Let no one dwell therein', and, 'Let another take his office'... So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us, must become with us a witness to his resurrection Acts 1:15-26 So, between the ascension of Christ and the day of Pentecost, the remaining apostles elected a twelfth apostle by casting lots, a traditional Israelite way to determine the Will of God. (see Proverbs 16:33) The lot fell upon Matthias.

This is one of several verses used by the Orthodox Churches (including Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox Churches) in support of their teaching of Apostolic Succession, and by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in support of the Great Apostasy.

First Epistle to the Corinthians

Paul the Apostle, in his First Epistle to the Corinthians, appears to give the first historical reference to the twelve apostles: For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 1Corinthians 15:3-8 The text has some unresolved issues. Paul does not refer to "the twelve" anywhere else in his writings, nor did he ever limit the usage of the word "apostle" to the twelve disciples who by definition were the ones appointed as apostles.

Deaths of the Twelve Apostles

Christian tradition has generally passed down that all but one were martyred, with John surviving into old age. Only the death of James, son of Zebedee is described in the New Testament, and the details of the other deaths are the subject of pious legends of varying authenticity. In some cases there is near unanimity in the tradition, and in other cases, there are widely varying and inconsistent accounts. Judas Iscariot, originally one of the twelve, died after Jesus' trial. Matthew 27:5 says that he hanged himself, and Acts 1:18 says that he fell, burst open, and his "bowels gushed out." Matthias was elected to take his place as one of the twelve.

Tombs of the apostles

Out of the eleven apostles excluding Judas Iscariot, the burial sites of only seven have been identified by Christian tradition.

The St. Peter's Basilica Vatican, Rome, Italy which was built on the burial site of Peter the Apostle.

Basilica of St. Andrew at Patras, Achaea, Greece where the relics of Andrew the Apostle are kept, said to be erected over the place of his martyrdom.

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, Galicia, A Corua, Spain which houses the tomb of St. James son of Zebedee.

The tomb of John the Apostle at Ephesus, near Seluk, Turkey.

The Santhome Basilica, Santhome, Chennai, India, which houses the tomb of Thomas the Apostle.

St. Philip Martyrium, Hierapolis, near Denizli, Turkey. Recent discoveries indicate his tomb was not inside the octaganal martyrium pictured, but below a 5th-century church that was excavated in 2011.[10][11]

St. Bartholomew Monastery near Bakale, Turkey. The Monastery was built on the traditional site of the martyrdom of Bartholomew the Apostle.

The Apostle of the Gentiles: Paul the Apostle

Main article: Paul the Apostle

Paul, the "Apostle of the Gentiles", writing a letter. In his writings, Paul, originally named Saul, though not one of the original twelve, described himself as an apostle, one "born out of due time" (e.g., Romans 1:1, 1 Corinthians 15:8 and other letters). He was called by the resurrected Jesus himself during his Road to Damascus vision and given the name "Paul."[Acts 9:1-9] With Barnabas, he was allotted the role of apostle in the church.[Acts 13:2] He referred to himself as the apostle of the Gentiles.[Rom 11:13] He also described some of his companions as being called of the Lord as apostles (Barnabas, Silas, Apollos, Andronicus and Junia).[citation needed] As the Catholic Encyclopedia states, "It is at once evident that in a Christian sense, everyone who had received a mission from God, or Christ, to man could be called 'Apostle'"; thus extending the original sense beyond the twelve. Since Paul claimed to have received the gospel through a revelation of Jesus Christ[12] after the latter's death and resurrection (rather than before like the twelve), he was often obliged to defend his apostolic authority (1 Cor. 9:1 "Am I not an apostle?") and proclaim that he had seen and was anointed by Jesus while on the road to Damascus. James, Peter and John in Jerusalem accepted his calling to the apostleship from the Lord to the Gentiles (specifically those not circumcised) as of equal authority as Peter's to the Jews

(specifically those circumcised) according to Paul.[Gal 2:7-9] "James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars agreed that we [Paul and Barnabas] should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews."[Gal 2:9] Paul, despite his divine calling as an apostle, considered himself perhaps inferior to the other apostles because he had originally persecuted Christ's followers.[1 Cor. 15:9] In addition, despite the Little Commission of Matthew 10, the twelve did not limit their mission to solely Jews as Cornelius the Centurion is widely considered the first Gentile convert and he was converted by Peter, and the Great Commission of the Resurrected Jesus is specifically to "all nations".

Other apostles in the New Testament

Barnabas
Main article: Barnabas In Acts 14:14, Barnabas is referred to as an apostle.

Andronicus and Junia

Main article: Junia In Rom 16:7 Paul states that Andronicus and Junia were "of note among the apostles." This has been traditionally interpreted in one of two ways: 1) That Andronicus and Junia were "of note among the apostles," that is, distinguished apostles.[13] 2) That Andronicus and Junia were "well known among the apostles" meaning "well known to the apostles". See also: Women in Christianity In the first view it is believed that Paul is referring to a female apostle.[14][15] Unhappy with reference to a female apostle, editors and translators have often changed the name to "Junias," the masculine version of Junia, as in the Revised Standard Version.[15] While "Junia" was a common name, "Junias" was not.[15] In the second view, it is believed that Paul is simply making mention of the outstanding character of these two people which was acknowledged by the apostles. Historically it has been virtually impossible to tell which of the two views were correct. The second view, in recent years, has been defended from a scholarly perspective by Daniel Wallace and Michael Burer.[16] Following an examination of this Greek phrase (epismoi + the preposition en) in biblical Greek, patristic Greek, papyri, inscriptions as well as Hellenistic and

classical Greek texts, they conclude that the normal way one would attempt to convey the meaning to the apostles rather than among the apostles was employed by Paul.

Silas
Main article: Silas Silas is referred to as an apostle in 1 Thes. 1:1 and 2:6 along with Timothy and Paul. He also performs the functioning of an apostle as Paul's companion in Paul's second missionary journey in Acts 15:40ff.

Timothy
Main article: Saint Timothy Timothy is referred to as an apostle in 1 Thes. 1:1 and 2:6 along with Silas and Paul. However, in 2 Cor. 1:1 he is only called a "brother" when Paul refers to himself as "an apostle of Christ". Timothy performs many of the functions of an apostle in the commissioning of Paul in 1st and 2nd Timothy, though in those epistles Paul refers to him as his "son" in the faith.

Epafroditus
Epaphroditus is referred to as "your apostle" in Philippians 2:25. Although it is often translated as "your messenger," the word used is apostle (.)

Apollos
Main article: Apollos Apollos is included as "us apostles" in 1 Cor. 4:9 (see 4:6, 3:22, and 3:4-6) along with Paul and Cephas (Peter).

Later Christianizing apostles

Roman Catholic tradition
A number of successful pioneering missionaries are known as apostles. In this sense, in the traditional list below, the apostle either first brought Christianity to a land or a people, or spread the faith in places where a few struggling Christian communities did already exist.

Apostle to the Abyssinians: Saint Frumentius Apostle to the Caucasian Albania: Saint Yelisey Apostle of the Alleghanies: Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin, 17701840 Apostle of Andalusia: Juan de Avila, 15001569 Apostle of the Ardennes: Saint Hubertus, 656727

Apostle to the Armenians: Saint Gregory the Illuminator, 256331 Apostle to Berkshire: Thomas Russell Apostle to Brazil: Jos de Anchieta, 15331597 Apostle to Carantania: Saint Vergilius of Salzburg, Bishop, (74584) Apostle to the English: Saint Augustine of Canterbury, died 604 Apostle of the Eucharist: Saint Peter Julian Eymard Apostle of Franconia: Saint Kilian c. 640 - 689 Apostle to the Franks: Saint Remigius, c. 437 533 Apostle to the Frisians: Saint Willibrord, 657738 Apostle of Gaul: Saint Irenaeus, 130200 Apostle of Gaul: Saint Denis (3rd century) Apostle of Gaul: Saint Martin of Tours, 338401 Apostle to the Gauls: Saint Saturninus, died c. 257 Apostle to the Georgians: Saint Nino, 320s Apostle to the Gentiles: Paul the Apostle Apostle to the Germans: Saint Boniface, 680755 Apostle of Holstein: Saint Vicelinus, 10861154 Apostle to Hungary: Saint Anastasius, 9541044 Apostle to India: Saint Thomas Apostle to India: Saint Francis Xavier; 15061552 Apostle to the "Indians" (Amerindians): John Eliot, 16041690 Apostle to the Indies (West): Bartolom de las Casas, 14741566 Apostle to the Indies (East): Saint Francis Xavier, 15061552 Apostle to Ireland: Saint Patrick, 373463 Apostle to the Iroquois, Franois Picquet, 17081781 Apostle of Mercy: Saint Faustina Kowalska, 19051938 Apostle to Noricum: Saint Severinus Apostle to the North: Saint Ansgar, 801864 Apostle to the Parthians: Saint Thomas Apostle of the Permians: Saint Stephen of Perm, 13401396 Apostle of Peru: Alonzo de Barcena, 15281598 Apostle to the Picts: Saint Ninian, 5th century Apostle to the Polish: Saint Adalbert Apostle to the Pomeranians: Saint Otto, 10601139 Apostle to the Scots: Saint Columba, 521597 Apostles to the Slavs: Saints Cyril and Methodius, c 820869 Apostle of Spains: Saint James the Greater (d. 44) Apostle of the Wends: Saint Evermode, d.1178

Analogous use for non-Catholic missionaries:

Apostle to the Americas: Saint Innocent, 17971879 Apostle to the Cherokees: Cephas Washburn Apostle to China: Hudson Taylor Apostle to the Goths: Bishop Ulfilas (Arian)

"Apostle to the apostles"

Harvard theologian Karen King cites references in the Gospel of John that the risen Jesus gives Mary Magdalene special teaching and commissions her as an "Apostle to the Apostles." Mary is the first to announce the resurrection and to fulfill the role of an apostlesomeone sent by Jesus with a special message or commission, to spread the gospel ("good news") and to lead the early church. The first message she was given was to announce to Peter and the others that "He is risen!"(Mt. 28:7 Mk. 16:9-11 Lk. 24:10 Jn. 20:2) Although the term is not specifically used of her in the New Testament, Eastern Christianity refers to her as "equal to the apostles"), and later traditions named her as "the apostle to the apostles." King writes that the strength of this literary tradition makes it possible to suggest that historically Mary was a prophetic visionary and leader within one sector of the early Christian movement after the death of Jesus.[17]

"Equal to the apostles"

Some Eastern Orthodox saints are given the title isapostolos ("equal-to-the-apostles"; Russian: ), e.g., Saint Cosmas. Beginning with Saint Constantine, this was also a frequent title of Byzantine Emperors. The Emperor Constantine the Great, sometimes considered founder of the Byzantine Empire, formally recognized Christianity in the Roman Empire in the Edict of Milan in 313 (see also Constantine I and Christianity). According to Philip Schaff's History of the Christian Church: Soon after his death, Eusebius set him above the greatest princes of all times; from the fifth century he began to be recognized in the East as a saint; and the Greek and Russian church to this day celebrates his memory under the extravagant title of "Isapostolos", the "Equal of the apostles". The Latin church, on the contrary, has never placed him among the saints, but has been content with naming him "the Great," in remembrance of his services to the cause of Christianity and civilization. Comp the Acta Sact. ad 21 Maii, p. 13 sq. Niebuhr remarks: "When certain oriental writers call Constantine 'equal to the apostles', they do not know what they are saying; and to speak of him as a 'saint' is a profanation of the word. In the Russian Orthodox Church also Prince Vladimir I of Kiev and Princess Olga of Kiev are revered as equal-to-apostles.

Fivefold ministry
The fivefold ministry states that the apostle continues to be a valid and active office in the contemporary church. C. Peter Wagner has been especially prominent in the New Apostolic Reformation, which argues that God is restoring the lost offices of prophet and apostle.

See also

Apostles' Fast Apostolic Fathers

Apostolic succession Commissioning the twelve apostles Apostolic Council Disciple (Christianity) Disciples of Jesus in Islam Dispersion of the apostles Female disciples of Jesus Great Commission List of members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church) New Apostolic Church New Testament Old Apostolic Church Seventy Disciples Twelve Imams

References
1. ^ a b c d e "Apostle." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005. ISBN 0192802909 2. ^ Revelation 21:14. 3. ^ As was not uncommon for Jews at the time, some of them had two names, one Hebrew/Aramaic and the other Greek. Hence the lists of Jesus' twelve apostles contains 14 names not 12; the 4 Greek names are Andrew, Philip, Thaddaeus and Lebbaeus. Reference: John P. Meier's A Marginal Jew. 4. ^ Acts 9:1-19 Gal 1:11-12 5. ^ Mt 28:19 Mk 13:10 16:15 6. ^ cf. also Acts 15:1-31, Galatians 2:7-9, Acts 1:4-8, Acts 10:1-11:18. 7. ^ Harris, Stephen L., Understanding the Bible. Palo Alto: Mayfield. 1985. "Mark" pp. 285296. 8. ^ An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon. The Seventh Edition of Liddell and Scott's Greek-English Lexicon. Clarendon Press: Oxford, p. 797. 9. ^ Stagg, Evelyn; Stagg, Frank (1978). Woman in the World of Jesus. Westminster Press. p. 123. ISBN 0-664-24195-6. Retrieved 9 June 2013. 10. ^ Tomb of Jesus' Apostle Found In Turkey? 11. ^ http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-sites-places/biblical-archaeologysites/tomb-of-apostle-philip-found/ 12. ^ cf. Gal 1:12; Acts 9:3-19, 9:26-27, 22:6-21, 26:12-23 13. ^ May, Herbert G. and Bruce M. Metzger. The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha. 1977. 14. ^ Crossan, J. D. and Reed, J. L., In Search of Paul, Harper San Francisco (2004), pp. 115-116. ISBN 978-0-06-051457-0. 15. ^ a b c Ehrman, Bart. Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene: The Followers of Jesus in History and Legend. Oxford University Press, USA. 2006. ISBN 978-0-19-530013-0. 16. ^ See Daniel B. Wallace and Michael H. Burer, "Was Junia Really an Apostle?" NTS 47 (2001): 76-91.

17. ^ King, Karen I. "Women in Ancient Christianity: the New Discoveries." Public Broadcasting System (PBS) Frontline: From Jesus to ChristThe First Christians. Online: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/first/women.html. Accessed 01112008

Further reading

Th Navarre Bible. (RSV, Catholic Edition), Dublin: Four Courts Press, 1999. Albright, W.F. and C.S. Mann. "Matthew." The Anchor Bible Series. New York: Doubleday & Company, 1971. Pope Benedict XVI, The Apostles. Full title is The Origins of the Church The Apostles and Their Co-Workers. published 2007, in the US: ISBN 978-1-59276-405-1; different edition published in the UK under the title: Christ and His Church Seeing the face of Jesus in the Church of the Apostles, ISBN 978-1-86082-441-8. Carson, D.A. "The Limits of Functional Equivalence in Bible Translation - and other Limits Too." in The Challenge of Bible Translation: Communicating God's Word to the World. edited by Glen G Scorgie, Mark L. Strauss, Steven M. Voth. Carter, Warren. "Matthew 4:18-22 and Matthean Discipleship: An Audience-Oriented Perspective." Catholic Bible Quarterly. Vol. 59. No. 1. 1997. Clarke, Howard W. The Gospel of Matthew and its Readers: A Historical Introduction to the First Gospel. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2003. "Fishers of Men." A Dictionary of Biblical Tradition in English Literature. David Lyle Jeffrey, general editor. Grand Rapids: W.B. Eerdmans, 1992. France, R.T. The Gospel According to Matthew: an Introduction and Commentary. Leicester: Inter-Varsity, 1985. Manek, Jindrich. "Fishers of Men." Novum Testamentum. 1958 pg. 138 Schweizer, Eduard. The Good News According to Matthew. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1975 Wuellner, Wilhelm H. The Meaning of "Fishers of Men". Westminster Press, 1967. The Lost Gospel - The Book of Q. by Burton L Mack

External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Apostles

Apostle in the 1911 Encyclopdia Britannica Apostle article from Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge Texts on Wikisource: o "Apostle". Encyclopedia Americana. 1920. o Beach, Chandler B., ed. (1914). "Apostles". The New Student's Reference Work. Chicago: F. E. Compton and Co. o Coppieters, Honor-Joseph (1913). "Apostles". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. o "Apostle". New International Encyclopedia. 1905.

"Apostle". Easton's Bible Dictionary. 1897. Liddell & Scott Strong's G652 Apostle and Apostleship article from Jewish Encyclopedia The Twelve Apostles The Biographies of The Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, the son of God. Apostles.com Biographies of Christ's Apostles Cast Your Nets: Fishing at the Time of Jesus The Fishing Economy in Galilee The Twelve Apostles an Eastern Orthodox perspective by Rev. George Mastrantonis Apostle article from OrthodoxWiki Christian History: The Twelve Apostles Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-Day Saints