When it comes to saying what the original criteria is for being an apostle, most will go to
Acts 1:21-26 (KJV):
Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
The problem here is Acts 1 does not lay down this criterion for all future apostles.
Paul, of course, would not meet this requirement..but Acts 9-10 show clearly that Paul was visited BY Jesus.
Regarding the replacement of Judas, it appears that there was a group of men who
did indeed met this criterion, from which they selected Barsabas and Mathias. ...and thus, in many ways,
Paul was an exception. In saying he was an exception, we also declare the requirements stated in Acts 1 null and void for future apostles.
Paul did not accompany the original apostles from the baptism by John to the day He ascended into heaven. For some reason, however, many critics claim that this is the lone exception and thus, the Lord would not allow any others. Certainly, one is free to make such a claim, but the Bible contains no foundation for it.
All can usually agree that Paul is an exception...bu there were there other Apostles..
First, there was Barnabas. Acts 14:14 records,
"Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,"
There was also Apollos, mentioned in
1 Corinthians 4:6-9,
And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another…For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
Then, there was James, the brother of Jesus
Christ, who was not one of the original Twelve (and there were two other apostles named James). In Galatians 1:19,
Paul says, "But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother." And James helped in the leadership of the early church and had as much authority as the other apostles.
Additionally, there was also Silvanus and Timothy. In 1 Thessalonians, we find
Paul, Silvanus, and Timotheus, writing to those in Thessalonica:
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; (1 Thessalonians 1:1-2)
Later, they're referenced as Apostles...
But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. (1 Thessalonians 2:4-6)
There are two others that could be considered apostles, as in Romans 16:16-17 Paul praises a woman named Junia as "outstanding among the apostles." The language issue/translation is mainly why there's debate, but there are many academics who've been of the mindset that having a female translation was the correct one ....and with that one, it always seems to be something that gets ALOT of people upset--for many cannot handle the idea that women were actually ministers of the Gospel just as the male apostles were. For more info, one can go here to the thread entitled
Women rabbis (which examines the many female leaders of high rank in the world of the apostles).
Also, some good resources to consider on the matter would be the following:
Using the New Testament text, it seems clear that there are a significant number of men with the title of "Apostle"----and logically, one must ask "
Did all 19 or 21
see the resurrected Lord?"...to that question, we don't know. If they
did, it is not recorded in our current New Testament or there to our knowledge. Suffice it to say, there were several other Apostles, in addition to the original 12. And while the original 11 (minus Judas) were chosen from men who had been with
Christ throughout His ministry, it doesn't seem that this was never declared a universal requirement........
