One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles... (Luke 6:12-13)
Anyone who has read any part of the New Testament has encountered the word apostle at some point. Most people, like me, during their first glance of this word probably did not understand its true meaning and significance. Just what actually is an apostle? What does an apostle do? Are they active in the church today? How can we recognize a true apostle from a false one? Before any of these questions can be answered one must go back into history to see the initial intent and the meaning of the word. An apostle is one who was (and is today):