1 Corinthians 12:28:
And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
(NIV)
So God has appointed some in the church [for His own use]: first apostles (special messengers); second prophets (inspired preachers and expounders); third teachers; then wonder-workers; then those with ability to heal the sick; helpers; administrators; [speakers in] different (unknown) tongues.
(AMP)
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
(KJV)
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Paul's evangelistic mission was different from the Kingdom Apostles, but in many ways the same. The Kingdom Apostles preached Jesus the Messiah, ready to return to Israel and set up His Messianic Kingdom. From Israel, the Apostles, with Christ on David's Throne, were to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe everything Christ had commanded them. They would do that because all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to Christ. As we all know, that did not happen. It will happen in the future, but it has not yet happened. What has happened is that Christ revealed a Mystery through His Special Apostle Paul.
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Acts 4:23:
On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
(NIV)
After they were permitted to go, [the apostles] returned to their own [company] and told all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
(AMP)
And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
(KJV)
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Why Paul God already had called twelve apostles of the kingdom Although Judas had fallen in transgression, the seat of his apostolic office was filled by Matthias preceding the day of Pentecost. Insofar as Paul was unconverted at the time, he could not have possibly fulfilled the qualificatios set down by the Holy Spirit to be numbered with the twelve (Acts 121-26). Of course, there are many dispensationalists who would agree with this interpretation, but teach that God ordained Paul to be the thirteenth apostle of the kingdom. Perhaps you have heard the saying, 'They jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.' In other words, we have gone from bad to worse, which is certainly the case with this view. the number twelve is stamped throughout the pages of prophecy, thus eliminating the possibility of a thirteenth apostolic office (Matt. 1928 cf. Rev. 12-21). What logical explanation then can we give for Paul's apostleship Before the foundation of the world, God foreordained that He would raise up a new apostle to reveal His eternal purpose for the parenthetical age of Grace in which we now live. Hence, Paul says 'But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen Gentiles...' (Gal. 115.16). When God temporarily rolled up the building plans of prophecy and placed them aside, He made known a secret set of plans. With this program came a completely new set of blueprints. According to the counsel of His will, He had predetermined to call Paul as the masterbuilder of the project. So then, the instructions for our building program are found in Paul's epistles. Little wonder the apostles says 'I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.' (1 Cor. 310). It is essential to use Pauline constructio materials (grace doctrines), simply because someday soon the Building Inspector will examine our workmanship to determine if we followed His codes.
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Ah! How neatly tied, in these people, is the umbilical cord of morality! Since they left their mothers they have never sinned, have they? They are apostles, they are the descendants of priests; one can only wonder from what source they draw their indignation, and above all how much they have pocketed to do this, and in any case what it has done for them.
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In the world to which the Apostles preached their new message, religion had not been the solace of the weary, the medicine of the sick, the strength of the sin-laden, the enlightenment of the ignorant: It was the privilege of the healthy and the instructed. The sick and the ignorant were excluded. They were under the bondage of evil demons.
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When God temporarily rolled up the building plans of prophecy and placed them aside, He made known a secret set of plans. With this program came a completely new set of blueprints. According to the counsel of His will, He had predetermined to call Paul as the masterbuilder of the project. So then, the instructions for our building program are found in Paul's epistles. Little wonder the apostles says 'I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon' (1 Cor. 310). It is essential to use Pauline construction materials (grace doctrines), simply because someday soon the Building Inspector will examine our workmanship to determine if we followed His codes.
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Throughout human history, the apostles of purity, those who have claimed to possess a total explanation, have wrought havoc among mere mixed-up human beings.
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Acts 5:12:
The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade.
(NIV)
Now by the hands of the apostles (special messengers) numerous and startling signs and wonders were being performed among the people. And by common consent they all met together [at the temple] in the covered porch (walk) called Solomon's.
(AMP)
And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
(KJV)
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And those before them rejected (the truth), and these have not yet attained a tenth of what We gave them, but they gave the lie to My apostles, then how was the manifestation of My disapproval? / Say: I exhort you only to one thing, that rise up for Allah's sake in twos and singly, then ponder: there is no madness in your fellow-citizen; he is only a warner to you before a severe chastisement.
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Ephesians 4:11:
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers
(NIV)
And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.
(AMP)
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
(KJV)
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Acts 8:1:
And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
(NIV)
AND SAUL was [not only] consenting to [Stephen's] death [he was pleased and entirely approving]. On that day a great and severe persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles (special messengers).
(AMP)
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
(KJV)
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The heart itself is only a small vessel, yet dragons are there, and lions, there are poisonous beasts, and all the treasures of evil, there are rough and uneven roads, there are precipes; but there too is God and the angels, life is there, and the Kingdom, there too is light, and there the apostles and heavenly cities, and treasures of grace. All things lie within that little space.
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Luke 8:1:
After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him
(NIV)
SOON AFTERWARD, [Jesus] went on through towns and villages, preaching and bringing the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom of God. And the Twelve [apostles] were with Him
(AMP)
And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
(KJV)
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2 Corinthians 11:13:
For such persons are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
(NIV)
For such men are false apostles [spurious, counterfeits], deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles (special messengers) of Christ (the Messiah).
(AMP)
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
(KJV)
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Acts 11:1:
The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
(NIV)
NOW THE apostles (special messengers) and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard [with astonishment] that the Gentiles (heathen) also had received and accepted and welcomed the Word of God [the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God].
(AMP)
And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
(KJV)
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Acts 15:22:
Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, who were leaders among the believers.
(NIV)
Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, resolved to select men from among their number and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, [both] leading men among the brethren, and sent them.
(AMP)
Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
(KJV)
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Acts 1:2:
Until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
(NIV)
Until the day when He ascended, after He through the Holy Spirit had instructed and commanded the apostles (special messengers) whom He had chosen.
(AMP)
Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
(KJV)
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Acts 2:42:
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
(NIV)
And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread [including the Lord's Supper] and prayers.
(AMP)
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
(KJV)
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Acts 2:37:
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'
(NIV)
Now when they heard this they were stung (cut) to the heart, and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles (special messengers), Brethren, what shall we do?
(AMP)
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
(KJV)
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The three great apostles of practical atheism, that make converts without persecuting, and retain them without preaching, are wealth, health, and power.
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Acts 8:14:
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria.
(NIV)
Now when the apostles (special messengers) at Jerusalem heard that [the country of] Samaria had accepted and welcomed the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them
(AMP)
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
(KJV)
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Mark 6:7:
Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.
(NIV)
And He called to Him the Twelve [apostles] and began to send them out [as His ambassadors] two by two and gave them authority and power over the unclean spirits.
(AMP)
And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
(KJV)
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Mark 6:30:
The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.
(NIV)
The apostles [sent out as missionaries] came back and gathered together to Jesus, and told Him all that they had done and taught.
(AMP)
And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
(KJV)
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Ephesians 2:20:
Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
(NIV)
You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone.
(AMP)
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
(KJV)
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1 Corinthians 4:1:
This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.
(NIV)
SO THEN, let us [apostles] be looked upon as ministering servants of Christ and stewards (trustees) of the mysteries (the secret purposes) of God.
(AMP)
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
(KJV)
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Ephesians 3:5:
Which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.
(NIV)
[This mystery] was never disclosed to human beings in past generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles (consecrated messengers) and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit.
(AMP)
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
(KJV)
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Luke 9:1:
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases
(NIV)
THEN JESUS called together the Twelve [apostles] and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases
(AMP)
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
(KJV)
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Acts 1:12:
Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city.
(NIV)
Then [the disciples] went back to Jerusalem from the hill called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, [only] a Sabbath day's journey (three-quarters of a mile) away.
(AMP)
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
(KJV)
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Luke 22:14:
When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.
(NIV)
And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
(KJV)
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