Lesson 1 - Apostles A Study
Lesson 1Apostles A Study
Objective: To understand the apostles, their names, ministry, etc.. Apostleship can be continued as long as the church exists. The Holy Spirit was poured on the day of Pentecost. It will remain on earth until the church is raptured. To follow the footsteps of the Apostles.
Memory Verse: Act 4: 11 - 13
11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
Introduction: Jesus, who came to the earth in the fullness of time, selected many disciples during his life on earth. From them, he chose 12 to be apostles, to serve the church, to establish it, and edify it. The meaning of the word Apostle is one who is sent to a messenger.
Broadly, we can define the term as one who has been separated for a particular work and has been sent with full authority to accomplish it. Jesus might have selected 12 apostles, to represent the New Testament, in place of the twelve fathers of tribes, who represent the Old Testament.
The Election of the Apostles
Jesus selected his apostles in the first phase of his ministry in Galilee. Some of the apostles were disciples of John, the Baptist (John 1: 35-42). At least 4 of them were fishermen ( Luke 5: 1-11). One was a tax collector ( Matt. 9:9-13). The name of the 12 apostles are given in Mat 10: 2-4 and Mark 3:14 -19
1. Peter (Simon, Cephas was his other name)
2. Andrew ( Brother of Peter)
3. James ( Son of Zebedee - Son of thunder or Boanerges)
4. John ( Son of Zebedee - Sone of thunder or Boanerges)
5. Philip
6. Bartholomew ( also known as Nathanael)
7. Thomas ( Didymus)
8. Mathew ( Levi, the tax collector)
9. James ( Little James. Son of Alphaeus)
10. Thaddeus (Judas - some consider him as the brother of James )
11. Simon ( the Zealot, Canaanite)
12. Judas ( Judas Iscariot - he betrayed Jesus)
In the gospels, they are generally referred to as the disciples because they were just learners while they were with Jesus. They came to be known as apostles after the ascension of Jesus to heaven. Jesus was very much interested in spiritual growth and training of his disciples but often they couldn't understand his plans for them. Some of them thought that Jesus would destroy the Roman Empire and would build his nation (Matthew 20:20-28; Mark 10: 34-45). Though Jesus cared equally for them all, Peter, James, and John loved him more than the other apostles. Because of his unique character, Peter is seen in the forefront of the many incidents. But Peter is never given special respect in any passage of the Bible.
John was known as the disciple whom Jesus loved
26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:26,27)
Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus to his enemies and later killed himself. Mattias was elected to fill his place.
Just as Jesus said, the disciples abandoned Jesus, when he was crucified. Most of them did not believe the words of Jesus that he would resurrect. They could understand Jesus only after they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus also taught them from the scriptures after his resurrection.
But after the day of Pentecost, these fearful disciples were seen as totally transformed. The word Pentecost means the 50th day. The Jews had feast called the feast of Pentecost. The HolySpirit came down and filled the disciples on the 50th day of the death of Jesus Christ. Any person saved through Jesus, can receive the same Holy Spirit today and can experience the transformed life. From that day onwards, they preached the death and resurrection of Jesus with great courage and power.
With the conversion of Saul (Paul, who formerly persecuted the church the number of apostles increased. the church changed its center of activity from Jerusalem to Antioch
The gentiles also got saved and were added to the church. Paul was mightily used by God and his ministry is described in the book of Acts. The church of Jesus Christ spread throughout all the regions around the Mediterranean sea.
There is no detailed account of the evangelical work of the other apostles, in the bible. Though traditional literature give some light about it, most of them are not authoritative. But we can understand that most of them died as martyrs. The apostles stood for the words of Jesus and built on that foundation. Many have given their lives for this cause, down through the ages. Thus the period between the Pentecost and the death of John the apostle (the end of the first century AD) is considered as the period of the apostles. We should imitate the examples of the apostles.
Martyrs
All the apostles except for John died as martyrs in different countries of the world. Their martyrdom is an asset to the church. God has a plan in the life of all. And He desired that his name be glorified even in the death of his servant. To fulfill the purpose of God, we may have to undergo suffering but in the end, God rewards all those who suffered to accomplish his purpose. Moreover, God gives a crown of victory and a great honor to those who fulfill the purpose.
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