Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

Christ3. they have the mission to take the gospel into all the world as witnesses of the resurrectedII. A Special OfficeA. Founding the Church1. as they wait with the other disciples in Jerusalem, Peter suggests that a twelfth apostle be selectedto replace Judas Iscariot, who committed suicide after betraying Jesus (Acts 1:15-26)a. Matthias was chosen by miraculous lots over Joseph Barsabas Justusb. this is the only apostolic seat that was ever filled by succession following the death of theholder, for it was the only office prophesied to contain a betrayerc. other apostles die in the course of recorded New Testament history, but the Bible is silentabout filling their seats2. on the day of Pentecost, the 12 had assembled together when Christ’s promise of power wasfulfilled as the Holy Spirit descended upon each of these delegates and empowered them to speak to themasses of people in their own languages, in spite of the fact that the apostles were all uneducatedGalileans (Acts 2:1-21)a. Peter preached to them and convicted thousands, some of whom participated in the executionof their own saviorb. the keys of the kingdom were in use and the door had swung open to admit these penitentsinners who repented and were baptized into Christc. the position of the 12 apostles also emerges in these early days, even before they have takenthe gospel beyond the boundaries of Judea (Acts 2:42-43d. it is clear that there are 12 apostles at this point and no moreB. Breakdown of the Apostles1. Simon Peter was the outspoken and impetuous apostle who always seemed to be close to Christand at the center of attention and even conflict2. Andrew, Peter’s brother, seems to be far more reserved than his sibling3. James, the son of Zebedee, was nicknamed a son of thunder by Christ4. John, the son of Zebedee, was his brother and another son of thunder5. Philip was from Bethsaida and invited Nathanael to come and see if anything good could comeout of Nazareth6. Bartholomew simply appears in every list of apostles7. Thomas is the one who gets most of the notoriety for doubting that Christ has been resurrected8. Matthew, also called Levi, was a tax collector, who cooperated with the Roman government9. James was the son of Alphaeus10. Judas Iscariot was the disciples’ dishonest treasurer and Christ’s betrayer11. Thaddaeus was also called Lebbaeus or Judas, not Iscariot12. Simon the Zealot was part of a party that sought to expel the Gentiles from JudahIII. Beyond the 12A. Paul of Tarsus1. the apostles were witnesses of the resurrected Christ and the selection of a thirteenth apostlemade him a witness in an astounding manner (Acts 9:1-9)a. a preacher named Ananias taught Paul and baptized him for the remission of sins (Acts22:12-16) and then told him that his mission would make him a delegate of Christb. he becomes known as the apostle Paul, and has the same authority, power and mission as the122. some of this can be seen from his meeting with the other apostles (Galatians 2:1-2, 7-10)3. beyond working his own miracles, Paul shows the same power as the other apostles by passingon such abilities to others, something that ordinary disciples could not replicate (Acts 19:1-6)4. and he asserts his apostolic authority as well (First Corinthians 9:1-5, Second Corinthians 12:125. although some apparently disputed his claim to the office, he denied that he took it withoutauthority, being “an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Fatherwho raised him from the dead)” (Galatians 1:1)198