Note 2 at Lk. 6:13: The Greek word used for "apostles" is "apostolos" and literally means "one sent forth." These twelve were ordained (Mk. 3:14) and sent forth by our Lord Jesus, Himself. The requirements for the replacement of the apostle Judas Iscariot were given by Peter in Acts 1:21-22. Because Peter stressed the importance of this new apostle having been with them all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among them, it has been interpreted that an apostle could only be someone who was with Jesus during His earthly ministry.

However, the apostle Paul was not among Jesus' disciples during His earthly ministry. And the other apostles mentioned in scripture (see note 1 at Mk. 3:14, p. 108) were never mentioned as having seen Jesus during His earthly ministry. Paul seemed to place more emphasis on the supernatural manifestation of God's power as a sign of apostleship (2 Cor. 12:12). Ephesians 4:11 states that Jesus "gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers." Just as surely as there are evangelists, pastors, and teachers today, there are also apostles and prophets.