Bible Question:
Please clarify the difference of a disciple and an apostle. Why does the bible use both names? |
Bible Answer: Cited for reference: Acts 1:13 When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. 15 At this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said, 16 "Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 "For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry." 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. 19 And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 "For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'LET HIS HOMESTEAD BE MADE DESOLATE, AND LET NO ONE DWELL IN IT'; and, 'LET ANOTHER MAN TAKE HIS OFFICE.' 21 "Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us-- 22 beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us--one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection." In the Bible, I would think this would be the best portrayal of the distinction between the disciples. Those disciples closest to the Lord were those as listed in verse 13 but these men had been taught to do their part to fulfill scripture and so they made arrangements to replace Judas who killed himself. BUT notice there were certain qualifications they followed. And then they waited for the coming of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter the Lord promised them. Then we see the final distinction made of the Apostles in Acts 2. Remember this information comes to us from the pen of Luke who was not an Apostle but a disciple who wrote this book with the blessing of the Apostles. Please remember Luke was a historian in this sense and recorded the Acts from an historical perspective. And yes indeed, he wrote with the assistance of the inspiring Holy Ghost Himself. So you see, the disciples were all those folks (hundreds of them) who followed Christ from city to city as recorded in the Gospels. WHEREAS the Apostles were those special select few, the Lord's inner circle whom He selected to become His official representatives on whom He would bestow power and authority to make decisions and organize the church in its first few years of development. Do you remember these words, spoken to His inner circle of disciples? Matt 16:19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." 18 "Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. Hope this helps and God bless. --Rowdy |
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Questions and/or Subjects for NT general Archive 1 | Author | ||
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DavidsTent | ||
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Turnip | ||
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JoeGK | ||
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adella | ||
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Rowdy | ||
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adella | ||
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tootyj33 | ||
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iamreedmd | ||
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danCER | ||
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3in1 | ||
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SAZ | ||
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twbab |