Are There Any Legitimate Apostles Today?

Common Sense Commentary: "If you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me (for you) .... understand my knowledge .... which in other ages was not made known .... as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles .... whereof I was made a minister." Eph.3:2-7. Paul did not volunteer, was not elected, chosen of men, or appointed by a religious hierarchy to be an Apostle.  God "made" him an Apostle.

How many people in America today, would you guess, who say they are Christians and are not, or who say they are in love who are not, or who say they are this or that and are not, or who swear to a lie???  Well, nobody actually knows... but I would guess it is about half the population.  One such thing I have come across several times in my ministry is pseudo-ministers who claim to be "An Apostle".  What exactly is an Apostle and the qualifications of an Apostle?

The English word "apostle" was transliterated from the Greek word "apostolos".  It was not translated to it's English meaning but the Greek word was made into an English word, as "baptism" was transliterated from the Gk word baptizo. The actual meaning of the word apostle is "sent messenger".  By that definition, there are several versions of apostles.

First, is Jesus Christ Himself:  "...Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus." Heb.3:1.  God "sent messenger" Christ (Messiah) Jesus  (Saviour) and High Priest (He made blood sacrifice for our sins). In that sense, He was an Apostle

Second, is Counterfeit Apostles: This is those pointed out in 2 Cor.11:13, who appoint themselves or are appointed by anyone other than God Himself.  "For such are false apostles".  The Revelation of Jesus Christ also mentions them in Rev.2:2 "Thou hast tried them which say they are Apostles and are not, and hast found them liars."

Third, are the 12 Apostles whose names are inscribed, in large letters upon the 12 foundations of Heaven:     "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." Rev.21:14.  These 12 Apostles are the 12 chosen by Jesus Christ, minus Judas Iscariot and minus Mathias who was appointed by the Jerusalem Church to fill Judas' chair, temporarily, until Jesus later replaced him with the Apostle Paul in Acts 9. There, Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus and told him of his Apostolic appointment. The resurrected glory of Jesus blinded Paul for a time, but that meeting, witnessing Christ after His resurrection, was a qualification for Apostleship which I will show later.

After Paul's encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, and his anointing there to be the 12th Apostle, he was inspired to write half the books of the New Testament in which he began all but two with his call of God to be an Apostle ... as in
Gal.1:1 "Paul an apostle, (not of men neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead)."

To confirm who the 12 apostles were, Paul wrote in Eph.2:19-20 that, "The household of God ... is built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone."  This verse alludes to the 12 Apostles, including
Paul, who is writing, as the only Apostles upon whose preaching of Jesus Christ, the church was built and whose names are written upon the 12 foundations of Heaven. Rev.21:14 "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."  These 12 Apostles met the qualifications defined by the Jerusalem Church when they were considering who would take Judas' place as an Apostle.  He had to be, "... a witness with us to the resurrection" of Jesus Christ. Acts1:22.  There is nobody with that qualification today. There are only 12 foundations of Heaven and there are only 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul defended his Apostleship and the "signs of an Apostle"  which must be present in Apostles...
"For in nothing am I behind the very chiefest Apostle, though I be nothing. Truly the signs of an Apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds." 2Cor.12:12.  So, what were the apostolic "signs and wonders, and mighty deeds" which were unique to the 12 Apostles?

Acts 2:43 "And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles."

Acts 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Acts 5:12 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.
These Apostolic signs, wonders, and mighty deeds were  instant healings, sight and even raising the dead.  God still hears prayer but these were special, Apostolic miracles which were necessary, at that time, when they had no New Testament record, and the people needed an exceptional demonstration of God's Holy Spirit performing miracles among them that they might believe. The same was true with the speaking languages they did not know, that they might get the gospel out to foreign Jews who were there for Pentecost, without a New Testament containing the Word Of God.  "Faith cometh by hearing ... the word of God." Rom.10:17. But they didn't have the four gospels, the epistles and book of Revelation yet.  It had not been canonized yet so they needed something convincing they could see..... Apostolic Miracles.
 
"But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." 1 Cor.13:10. RB