Did The Catholic Church Give Us The Bible? - Part Two - Apostles Continued, Veneration, Communion And Transubstantiation - Conclusion Series

PART 2

After the death of the traitor, Judas Iscariot, Peter was adamantly intent on filling the vacant position with a qualified person and personally deemed it necessary that there must remain 12 Apostles, no more and no less (Acts 1:15-17, 20-22). In a detailed manner, he lays out exactly what the replacement's qualifications must be. For a person to actually become an Apostle, they had to physically (not spiritually) have met one or all of the following requirements:

1. Been an eyewitness and be with Jesus during the whole three years that Jesus was among them (Acts 1:21).

2. Been an eyewitness of Jesus' baptism when the Heavenly Father validated Jesus and His work (Acts 1:22).

3. Directly heard Jesus speak and been an eyewitness to His healings and other miracles (John 17:6; Acts 1:22).

4. Been an eyewitness to Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross (Acts 1:22).

5. Been an eyewitness to Jesus walking, talking, and eating among the disciples again after His resurrection (1 Corinthians 9:1; Matthew 10:1-4; Hebrews 2:3-4).

6. Needed to have been selected and appointed by God directly (Mark 3:14-15, 6:40; Acts 1:24–25; 9:15, Rom 1:1).

7. Their calling was authenticated "by signs and wonders and miracles" (Acts 2:43, 8:6-7; 2 Corinthians 12:12.)

However, the Apostle Peter, in his usual defining impetuousness, proceeded to step out in front of God after being commanded by Jesus to "wait" (Gk: "kathizó' = sit down, to tarry without activity) for the Holy Spirit who will empower them to do His will (Luke 24:49). Peter had previously done the same thing on the Mount of Transfiguration when he offered plans to build three altars, and said "Let's see which of these God has chosen" by using an Old Testament, pre-Pentecost method of hearing from God, rather than from Him through the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:12-26).

Peter also foolhardily told Jesus he would never be killed on the Cross (Acts 1:12-26; Matt 16:23). Jesus responded by calling him satan, which, of course, he was not, but the point being made was that the authoritative will of God takes precedence over feelings and emotions. Even Paul, at one time, had to rebuke Peter for his fleshly reactions (Galatians 2:11-14).

The remaining Apostles also chose not to obey Jesus and wait for the Holy Spirit. It is evident that the Apostles were genuinely sincere in desiring for the Lord to make the final choice between the two men by the casting of lots. They were very familiar with the Priest's use of Urim and Thummim to determine God's will under the Old Covenant, as well as the story of Jonah and the terrified sailors who cast lots for God to show them who was the source of their problems.

The other Apostles joined Peter and fell back on the ways of the Law and Old Covenant and did the equivalent of picking a name out of a hat by choosing a replacement for Judas, who was considered to be numbered among them' (Gk: 'kateerithmeeménos') which means counted or figured as. Yet, Jesus had just commanded them not to do ANYTHING but WAIT for the Holy Spirit, whom He was sent to lead and guide them into all truth, at the Day of Pentecost.

There were 120 disciples with the remaining Apostles, yet only two made the cut for consideration. They were Joseph, called Barsabas, surnamed Justus, and Matthias (Acts 1:23-26). Matthias ended up being picked to replace Judas Iscariot as one of the 12. Many in the church still consider him to be the only 12th office holder of Apostle. Yet, after that day, there is absolutely zero mention of Matthias from that point on in the Scriptures or history as well.

Some say that James also held the office of Apostle. That would make him the 13th Apostle. Paul did refer to James, who worked beside him, as an apostle like himself; even though he said that he was not worthy of being one, he met the requirements of also being numbered among the 12 (Acts 9:1-19; Galatians 1:19).

Jesus had appeared to James, His brother, by Joseph and Mary, who was doing the work of an Apostle just like Barnabas (1 Corinthians 15:7). James probably wrote the Epistle of James, but he is not one of the 12 Apostles listed as those Jesus personally hand-picked (Matthew 13:55-56; Mark 6:3). He became a firm Born-Again Believer and follower of Jesus, as well as the leader of the Jerusalem church (1 Corinthians 9:5; Galatians 2:9).

It has also been said that the disciple Barnabas held the office of Apostle because he was also seen doing the work of an Apostle (Acts 14:4). That would make him the 14th Apostle. Luke describes Barnabas as an individual who was distinct from the 12 Apostles (Acts 4:36; 9:27; 15:2,22).