IS PAUL THE TWELFTH APOSTLE? 

In Acts, from verse 15, there is a clear account of Peter organising the election of Matthias from the brethren, to be the Apostle to replace Judas lscariot. This was decided firstly by giving prayer and then by a drawing of lots. Therefore the twelve Apostles were thus established. If Paul then became an Apostle, it would make the total number of Apostles 13. Not only is this an undesirable number for God's administration, but it is quite out of step with Revelation, and Matthew 19:28 which states that twelve Apostles only are seated in judgement over the twelve tribes of Israel.

 DEFENCE

The Prosecution is quite correct as regards the election of Matthias, but at no time does Paul claim to be one of the Twelve. He claims to be an apostle to the out-called ones, the Saints of Israel. It appears from John 15:27 and Acts 1:21, 22 that to have been a witness to Jesus' life throughout His ministry, even to His resurrection, was vital. Paul witnessed neither. But that is not all. There are other main points to be found - for example Acts 1:26 states that the drawing of lots favoured Matthias ...

The following verse states that ALL the Apostles were sitting together in a house, and there they were ALL filled with Holy Spirit. This account is Scriptural and proves Matthias to have been Divinely accepted.

Another proof is in Acts 6, where in verse 2 we read that the 'twelve' summoned the body of disciples, and verse 6 clarifies these twelve as being the Apostles. The twelve Apostles here are choosing Stephen for a mission. It was only after Stephen's death that Paul was even converted - once again, proof that Matthias was the twelfth Apostle who replaced Judas. But was Paul also an Apostle?

This is the question that the Prosecution has failed to look at closely enough. Neither Barnabas nor Paul were of the Twelve, however they entered lconium together in Acts 14:1 and verse 4 states that the multitude of the city were divided between the Jews and the Apostles. A more direct reference can be found in Acts 14:14. It reads ...

Romans 16:7 extends the title to 'Andronicus' and 'Junias'. In II Corinthians 8:23 (R.V. margin) the Greek text speaks of two unnamed brethren that are called 'Apostles' (representatives) of the churches or gatherings (Greek. 'ekklesias'). In Philippians 2:25 (R.V. margin) and the Greek text, Epaphrodites is referred to as "your apostle" (your representative). It is used in I Thessalonians 2:6 of Paul, Silas and Timothy, to define their relationship as 'Apostles of an Anointed (One)'. The word is also used of the Lord Jesus Himself to describe His relation to God - Hebrews 3:1 (see John 17:3), because 'apostle' means 'one sent as a representative' of whoever appoints him. A 'disciple', on the other hand, is a 'follower'. There are even 'false apostles' referred to in II Corinthians 11:13.

By these examples it is quite plain that there are many more apostles than just the original Twelve, the latter of whom will sit in judgement over the twelve tribes of Israel. Please note that it is not only the Pauline Epistles that give reference of apostleship to others who are not of the Twelve.

We agree that Paul would make the 13^th Apostle, but Jesus appointed him to be His representative to the out-called ones of Israel, those dispersed stragglers, living among the heathen, and like then, without God's Law and not even circumcised. These dispersed Israelites were considered to be so unclean that official Israel would not converse with them. The Samaritan woman claimed this in John 4 and likewise Peter also, on meeting Cornelius after Jesus' death, when he learnt that these 'low' Israelites became acceptable.

As Paul himself says in I Corinthians 15:9 ...

 That is why Jesus told the Twelve not to go into the way of the (heathen) nations, or the cities of Samaria (Matthew 10:5), but only to those lost sheep of the Nation of Israel.

Although Paul did not qualify for commission as one of the Twelve because he had not witnessed Jesus' earthly ministry, (as stated by Peter), he was selected by the risen Lord Jesus Himself. Paul's commission was to carry the Good News of reconciliation to the dispersed brethren in the Roman Empire - the scattered peoples of Israel. Those 'unclean', cast-off Israelites, "barbarians and Greeks" who could now receive a "placing of sons" (i.e. A.V. 'adoption') through Jesus, to become 'heirs' to the Promises of their Fathers. Jesus could not have done this Himself in His earthly ministry, because until Official Israel had rejected Him, it could not be offered; and that rejection could only be completed after His own death on the stake.