APOSTLE. This word comes from the Greek, Apostolus, which signifies an Envoy. The Hebrews had their Apostles, who were sent by their Patriarch to collect every year a certain kind of tribute, which the Jews paid him, and was called Aurum coronarium1. Some assert, that before Jesus Christ, they had another sort of Apostle2, whose imployment it was to collect the half Shekel, which was to be paid by every Israelite to the Tabernacle or Temple of the Lord. The Deputies whose businels it was to levy the half Shekel before the destruction of the Temple, might be called Apostles. But I cannot observe distinctly that this name was given them, as it was to other officers, belonging to the High-Priests and Heads of the people, who were sent to carry their orders to the cities and provinces, when any affairs relating to Religion were to be transacted.
For example, S. Paul was deputed to the Synagogues of Damascus, with directions to seize on and imprison all those who professed the Religion of Christ Jesus. The Apostle alludes to this custom, according to the remark of S. Jerom3, when in the beginning of his epistle to the Galatians, he says, that he is an Apostle not of man, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ: as if he had said, that he was not an Apostle, after the manner of such as were seen among the Jews, who derived their mission from the chief Priests only, or principal men of the nation, but that he was the Apostle of Jesus Christ himself.
Eusebius and the same St. Jerom4 speak likewise of Apostles who were sent by the Jews to defame Jesus Christ and his Disciples. Justin the martyr in his Dialogue against Trypho, says, they sent those whom they called Apostles, who dispersed circular letters filled with calumnies against the Christians. Epiphanius speaking of these Apostles5, observes, that this was a very honourable and profitable imployment among the Jews.
As to the Apostles of Jesus Christ, they were the first and most distinguished of his Disciples; he invested them with an authority superior to that of any others, filled them with his Spirit, trusted them particularly with his mysteries, and chose them out of all those, who followed him, to raise the edifice of his Church upon them. Jesus Christ after his Resurrection sent them into all the parts of the world with commission to preach and baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and with power to work miracles and cures of all kinds. The names of the twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus Christ are these, 1. Peter, 2. Andrew, 3. John the Evangelist, 4. Philip, 5. James Major, 6. Bartholomew, 7. Thomas, 8. Matthew, 9. Simon, 10. Thaddæus, or Jude, 11. James Minor, 12. Judas Iscariot. This last having betrayed his Master, and in despair hanged himself, S. Mathias was chosen in his place. Lastly, S. Paul having been converted in a miraculous manner by Jesus Christ himself, was reckoned among the Apostles of the first rank. We shall give some account of the life of every Apostle in particular under the titles belonging to them.
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