Apostles

Why don't we have Apostles today?

Jesus had 12 Apostles with Him. Then Judas betrayed Him leaving 11. Just before ascending into heaven, Jesus told His Apostles to wait in Jerusalem for power to come upon them, which it did in Acts 2. But in Acts 1, while waiting in Jerusalem, the Apostles appointed a twelfth man, selected from 2 possibilities. Acts 1:15-26 tells us how and why they did this appointment and gives us a clue as to why we don't have Apostles today.

The reason for appointing a twelfth man is given in verse 20. It had been prophesied in Psalms (69:25 & 109:8) that this would happen and another should "take his office." The Apostles knew about this prophecy and carried out the appointment.

It is interesting to note that the qualifications of being an Apostle are stated clearly here in Acts 1:21-22. "Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us. beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection." For a man to be an Apostle, he had to have been a continual eye-witness of Jesus. All of the eye-witnesses died out and now we just read about them.

Remember the words of Jesus in John 20:29, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." That is you and me. We didn't get to see Jesus on the earth; but we believe those who did, the eye-witnesses who reported the Good News to us.

Thanks for joining me here. Please keep reading each week! And may God bless you!