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Jesus had many disciples, but He chose twelve disciples (or students) and appointed them as apostles to help him in his ministry and to carry the gospel message to the world. (Luke 6:13) 13And when it was day, he called his disciples; and he chose from them twelve, whom also he named apostles: (American Standard Version)
All of the apostles were Jews; most of them were Galileans and were considered to be common people. Some had been disciples of John the Baptist, (John 1:35-37) 35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, Look, the Lamb of God! 37When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. (New International Version)
The number of the apostles was fixed upon the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28) 28Jesus said to them, I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (New International Version)
"Apostle" means "one, who is sent," in other words one who is sent with authority. In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus sent the twelve on an evangelistic journey, giving them instructions, and authority to preach in his name, heal the sick, and cast out demons. (Matthew 10:1-8) 1He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. (New International Version)
On the night before Jesus died, at the Last Supper, Jesus told the 11 apostles (Judas Iscariot having defected by this time) that he had chosen them and ordained them. When he was with them after his resurrection, he said, "“Peace be unto you. As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosoever sins you retain, they are retained." He also said in (Matthew 28:19 & 20) 19Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: 20teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. (American Standard Version)
When the 120 gathered in the upper room after Jesus' ascension, Peter stood up and announced the first order of business was to select an apostle to fill the office left vacant by Judas Iscariot. (Acts 1:15-26) 15In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16and said, Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus— 17he was one of our number and shared in this ministry. 18(With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20For, said Peter, it is written in the Book of Psalms, 'May his place be deserted; let there be no-one to dwell in it,' and, 'May another take his place of leadership.' 21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection. 23So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24Then they prayed, Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs. 26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. (New International Version)
However, consider the fact that we know nothing about Matthias. And he was never again mentioned in scripture or anywhere else in recorded history after this time. Also consider that all of the apostles were hand chosen by Jesus, not by lot, nor by Peter or any other man.
Peter often ran ahead of the Lord and I personally have to think this is one of those times. So many times we run ahead of God trying to take care of “the business at hand”. I love reading about Peter, he was impulsive. More than once in scripture he was the first to jump out of the boat. He lived by great faith in the Lord Jesus, yet denied knowing Him. But with all of Peters mistakes and humanness we read in (Matthew 16:17-19) 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (King James Version).
Satan loves to have us believe that we are not equipt enough, or good enough, or smart enough..... If God can use a man like Peter then He can use me too. Peter was never meant to be the one to “fulfill the scripture as spoken by David”. Certainly he wasn’t instructed to take this upon himself by Jesus.
Some time later, Saul of Tarsus (Paul) was converted and commissioned by the risen Lord to be "a chosen instrument" to bare Jesus’ name "before the Gentiles, the kings, and the children of Israel." (Acts 9:15-16) 15But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” (New International Version) Although Paul became known as the thirteenth apostle, truly he was the twelfth apostle hand chosen by Jesus.
Remember in Matthew 19:28, 28 Jesus said to them, I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (New International Version) There can’t be 13 apostles when there are only 12 tribes of Israel.
Jesus also showed that evangelism was not confined to the 12 when he also sent out 72 disciples on the same kind of mission with the same authority and capability. (Luke 10:1-20) 1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2He told them, The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. 5When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' 6If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. 7Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
8When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' 10But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' 12I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
13Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. 16He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.
17The seventy-two returned with joy and said, Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name. 18He replied, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.+ 20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (New International Version)
Jesus' plan for continuation of his work after his departure included the commissioning of 11 of the 12 to be the leaders of the Christian movement, originally called "the way" (Acts 9:1-2) 1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. (New International Version) And in (Acts 19:9) 9But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. (New International Version)
Followers of Christ did not become known as "Christians" until several years later, being so called for the first time in Antioch, Syria (Acts 11:26) 26and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (New International Version)
Life of the Apostles
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