You think being one of the twelve requires a personal encounter with the Lord.
I believe that to be one of the twelve you had to be a legal witness to Jesus’s baptism, ministry, death and resurrection, and ascension.
Paul acknowledges ”the 12”. Do you think people knew who “the twelve” were? Of course they did. They were those who first testified of Jesus’s baptism, ministry, death, and resurrection and ascension on the day of Pentecost. Those 12 included Matthias. Paul could not have stood with Peter testifying to the validity of what Peter was preaching, he was not a witness to any of it.
Just in the timing alone: there they were, at the beginning, laying the foundation. Now all apostles lay foundations as they are sent to establish the called out in the places they are sent. But the first work was at Pentecost.
The Holy Spirit obeys Christ alone. If the Spirit says “this one is an apostle - set him apart for the work” then the order came from Christ personally. Just because we don’t get to read how Silas and Timothy and James were set apart doesn't mean they are any less personally called. But the scriptures confirm they are apostles. Sure, not Apostles of the Lamb, not of the twelve, but apostles none the less.
There are only 12 Apostles of the Lamb. They are all now with the Lord. They include Matthias.
There are other apostles. We see at least 5 more in the scriptures. That grace continues today as it did in the early church. It will continue until the Body is brought to the maturity of Christ.
“And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”
Revelation 21:14
“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first,Simon , who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphæus, and Lebbæus, whose surname was Thaddæus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Matthew 10:1-6 KJV
“And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send themforth to preach,”
Mark 3:14 KJV
So far Jesus has named 12 apostles he’s personally chosen and annointed to preach the gospel . But for the math , Let’s look at some of what he said about Judas one of the twelve apostles pre cross
“Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. TheSon of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.”
Matthew 26:20-25
We can now see why Jesus said this about the 12 apostles
“Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.”
John 6:70-71 KJV
“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”
John 17:12
So we can now understand Judas an original member of the twelve apostles of Christ was removed and lost because he was Jesus betrayer part of gods plan for the cross eas that he had to be betrayed by one of his companions. Judas was ordained and foreknown to be the one to betray him it was always written . So now we’re back to eleven men Jesus chose and annointed and sent out to preach the gospel . Let’s look at after Judas was removed
“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Matthew 28:16-20 KJV
Those eleven have tbier commision to be apostles of Christ Jesus
And so we have eleven apostles that Jesus personally chose and sent to be his witnesses and apostles to all the world ?
a then there’s the only other man n the Bible who Jesus comes to personally after his resurrection and gives his the same annointing and calling and appointment as the other eleven to be a witness of the gospel to all people israel and gentile .
That means this for Paul
“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;”
Romans 1:1, 3
argue makes 12 again and each was personally in person chosen and called and appointed by Jesus risen up the eleven and then Paul
This isn’t the same as any of those twelve
“And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”
Acts 1:26
can you acknowledge that’s different from the twelve men Jesus actually appeared to in person eleven who were with him all the way from the beginning and gave them thier appointment and ordination as apostles ? Or Paul who again is the only person in the nt Jesus appeared to as he had the other eleven in person and commissioned him to be his witness to the world ?
There are only twelve apostles of Jesus Christ he personally chose ordained and sent to preach the gospel to all the world .
can you name the twelve apostles of the lamb Jesus Christ ?