“Apostle” From Dictionary of Biblical Words:
—one sent forth. A special name given by Jesus to twelve of His disciples (Luke 6:13), afterward extended to others, as Paul, Barnabas, &c. The qualification for the twelve apostles is stated in Acts 1:21, 22.
“Apostolic Succession” From Dictionary of Biblical Words:
No hint of this is found in Scripture. 1 Cor. 9:1 excludes it, and when we read ‘some of the closing words of the apostles, such as Paul’s address to the elders of the Ephesian Church, we find no thought of any successors, but the disciples are committed to “God and the word of His grace.”
Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(one sent forth). Official name of the twelve disciples. As to power and names see Matthew 10:1-42; John 16:13; Mark 16:20. In a broad sense, any one commissioned to preach the gospel (2 Cor. 8:23; Phil. 2:25). Term applied to Christ (Heb. 3:1).
Concise Bible Dictionary:
The Greek word; ἁπόστολος signifies “a messenger,” “one sent,” and is used in this sense for any messenger (2 Cor. 8:23; Phil. 2:25); and as “one sent” (John 13:16). It is also used in a much higher and more emphatic sense, implying a divine commission in the one sent, first of the Lord Himself and then of the twelve disciples whom He chose to be with Him during the time of His ministry here. The Lord in His prayer in John 17:18 said, “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” He was the Sent One, and in Hebrews 3:1 it is written “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Jesus.” They were to consider this One who had been faithful, and who was superior to Moses, to the Aaronic priests, and to angels, and was in the glory. The ordering of a dispensation depended on the apostolic office as divinely appointed.
Apostles, The Twelve. The Lord appointed these “that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out demons,” and also to carry out the various commissions given by Christ on earth. It will be seen by the lists that follow that Lebbaeus, Thaddaeus and Judas are the same person; and that Simon the Canaanite (Cananæan) and Simon Zelotes are the same; Peter is also called Simon; and Matthew is called Levi.
Matthew 10:2-4. Mark 3:16-19. Luke 6:14-16. Acts 1:13.
1. Peter and 1. Peter. 1. Simon. 1. Peter
2. Andrew. 3. James. 2. Andrew. 3. James.
3. James and 4. John. 3. James. 4. John.
4. John. 2. Andrew. 4. John. 2. Andrew.
5. Philip and 5. Philip. 5. Philip. 5. Philip.
6. Bartholomew. 6. Bartholomew. 6. Bartholomew 7. Thomas.
7. Thomas and 8. Matthew. 8. Matthew. 6. Bartholomew.
8. Matthew. 7. Thomas. 7. Thomas. 8. Matthew.
9. James and 9. James. 9. James. 9. James.
10. Lebbaeus. 10. Thaddaeus. 11. Simon Zelotes. 11. Simon Zelotes.
11. Simon the Cananaean 11. Simon C. 10. Judas. 10. Judas.
12. Judas Iscariot. 12. Judas Iscariot. 12. Judas Iscariot.
Peter is always named first; he with James and John was with the Lord on the mount of transfiguration and also with the Lord at other times, though no one apostle had authority over the others: they were all brethren and the Lord was their Master. Judas Iscariot is always named last. In Matthew the word “and” divides the twelve into pairs, perhaps corresponding to their being sent out two and two to preach. Bartholomew and Simon Zelotes are not mentioned after their appointment except in Acts 1.
When the Lord sent the twelve out to preach He bade them take nothing with them, for the workman was worthy of his food: and on their return they confessed that they had lacked nothing. Their mission was with authority as the sent ones of the Lord; sicknesses were healed and demons cast out; and if any city refused to receive them it should be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment than for that city (Matt. 10:5-15).
They received a new mission from the Lord as risen (see Luke 24; John 20). And before the ascension the apostles were bidden to tarry at Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. This was bestowed at the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. They are also viewed first among the gifts with which the church was endowed by the Head of the body when He ascended up on high (Eph. 4:8-11). These gifts were for “the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” The mystery hitherto hid in God was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, namely, that the Gentiles should be joint heirs, and a joint body, and partakers of His promise in Christ Jesus (Eph. 3). Paul was the special vessel to make known this grace. His apostleship occupies a peculiar place, he having been called by the Lord from heaven, and being charged with the gospel of the glory. See PAUL.
On the death of Judas Iscariot, Matthias, an early disciple, was chosen in his place, for there must be (irrespective of Paul, who, as we have seen, held a unique place) twelve apostles as witnesses of His resurrection (Acts 1:22; Rev. 21:14); as there must still be twelve tribes of Israel (James 1:1; Rev. 21:12). At the conference of the church in Jerusalem respecting the Gentiles “the apostles” took a prominent part, with the elders, Acts 15. How many apostles remained at Jerusalem is not recorded: we do not read of “the twelve” after Acts 6. Tradition gives the various places where they labored, which may be found under each of their names. Scripture is silent on the subject, in order that the new order of things committed to Paul might become prominent, as the older things connected with Judaism vanished away (compare 2 Peter 3:15-16).
There were no successors to the apostles; to be apostles they must have “seen the Lord” (Acts 1:21-22; 1 Cor. 9:1; Rev. 2:2). The foundation of the church was laid, and apostolic work being complete the apostles passed away, there remain however, in the goodness of God, such gifts as are needed “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:12-13).
Bible Handbook:
Hippolytus, who died about A.D. 230, gives an account of where the apostles laboured and where they died.
Peter preached the gospel in Pontus and Galatia, and Cappadocia and Betania (Bithynia), and Italy and Asia; he was afterward crucified by Nero in Rome, with his head downward, as he had desired.
Andrew preached to the Scythians and Thracians, and was crucified at Patrae (a town) of Achaia.
John was banished by Domitian, the emperor, to the isle of Patmos, in which he also wrote his Gospel, and saw the Apocalyptic vision; and in Trajan’s time he fell asleep at Ephesus.
James his brother, when preaching in Judaea, was cut off with the sword by Herod the Tetrarch.
Philip preached in Phrygia, and was crucified in Hierapolis, with his head downward, in the time of Domitian, and was buried there.
Bartholomew (preached) to the Indians, to whom also he gave the Gospel according to Matthew: he was crucified with his head downward, and was buried in Allanum (or Albanum) of the Great Armenia.
Matthew wrote the gospel in the Hebrew tongue, and published it at Jerusalem, and fell asleep at Hierees (a town) of Parthia. As to Matthew having written his gospel in Hebrews, see ‘the book of Matthew, briefly considered.’
Thomas preached to the Parthians, Medes, Persians, Hyrcanians, Bactrians, and Margians (or Magis), and was thrust through in the four members of his body with a pine spear, at Calamene (or Caramene), a city of India.
James, the Son of Alphaeus, when preaching in Jerusalem, was stoned to death by the Jews.
Judas, who is also Lebbaeus, preached to the people of Edessa, and to all Mesopotamia, and fell asleep at Berytus.
Simon the Zealot, the son of Clopas, who is also (called) Judas, became bishop of Jerusalem after James the Just, and fell asleep at the age of 120 years.
Matthias, one of the seventy, was numbered with the apostles, preached in Jerusalem, and fell asleep there.
Paul entered into the apostleship a year after the ascension of Christ, and beginning at Jerusalem, he advanced as far as Illyricum, and Italy and Spain, preaching the gospel for five-and-thirty years. One year after the ascension is not correct, even if the crucifixion and ascension is fixed as late as A. D 33; Paul was converted about A. D. 36: see Chronological Tables of Events. And in the time of Nero he was beheaded at Rome, and was buried there.
Of James the Lord’s brother, Hegesippus (2nd century) relates that he was highly esteemed at Jerusalem, and the scribes and Pharisees came to him and said, “We pray thee stop the people, for they have gone astray after Jesus, as though he were the Christ. We pray thee to persuade all that come to the Passover concerning Jesus.” So they set him at the gable of the temple, that all might hear him; and calling to him said, “O just one, to whom we ought to give heed, seeing that the people are going astray after Jesus who was crucified, tell us what is the door to Jesus.” He answered with a loud voice, “Why ask ye me about Jesus the Son of Man? He sits in heaven on the right hand of great power, and will come in the clouds of heaven.” Many were convinced, and gave glory on the testimony of James, crying out, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” This enraged the rulers, and he was thrown down and stoned, while he, like his Lord, prayed for his enemies.
Josephus also states that James was stoned, but says it was under the charge of breaking the laws. Both accounts may be true: his testimony being the cause of his death, and the accusation of breaking the laws, the plea raised.
As to James, the son of Alphaeus, and James the Lord’s brother being the same person, as is thought by some, {see James.}