apostles
The word "apostle", meaning "one sent forth," is used of our Lord (Hebrews 3:1). Elsewhere it is used for the twelve who were called to that office by our Lord during His earth ministry; of Paul, called to the apostleship by the risen and ascended Lord, and of Barnabas (Acts 14:14) specially designated by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:2). Of Matthias, chosen by lot by the eleven to take the place of Judas Iscariot, (Acts 1:16-26) it is said: "And he was numbered with the eleven." (Acts 1:26).
The "signs" of an apostle were
(1) They were chosen directly by the Lord Himself, or, as in the case of Barnabas, by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 10:1-2); (Mark 3:13-14); (Luke 6:13); (Acts 9:6); (Acts 9:15); (Acts 13:2); (Acts 22:10); (Acts 22:14); (Acts 22:15); (Romans 1:1).
(2) They were endued with sign gifts, miraculous powers which were the divine credentials of their office (Matthew 10:1); (Acts 5:15-16); (Acts 16:16-18); (Matthew 28:8-9).
(3) Their relation to the kingdom was that of heralds, announcing to Israel only (Matthew 10:5-6) the kingdom as at hand.
( See Scofield) - (Matthew 4:17)
and manifesting kingdom powers (Matthew 10:7-8).
(4) To one of them, Peter, the keys of the kingdom of heaven, viewed as the sphere of Christian profession, as in Mat 13, were given (Matthew 16:19).
(5) Their future relation to the king will be that of judges over the twelve tribes (Matthew 19:28).
(6) Consequent upon the rejection of the kingdom, and the revelation of the mystery hid in God (Matthew 16:18); (Ephesians 3:1-12) the Church, the apostolic office was invested with a new enduement, the baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4) a new power, that of imparting the Spirit to Jewish-Christian believers; a new relation, that of foundation stones of the new temple (Ephesians 2:20-22) and a new function, that of preaching the glad tidings of salvation through a crucified and risen Lord to Jew and gentile alike.
(7) The indispensable qualification of an apostle was that he should have been an eye-witness of the resurrection (Acts 1:22); (1 Corinthians 9:1).
James son of Zebedee
( See Scofield) - (Matthew 4:21).