Apostle (One who is sent off or away) (II)

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about other peoples, religions, or nationalities that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: ET 2026-07-22) one who is sent off or away from; one sent on some important mis sion; a messenger; a missionary. The name given, in the Christian Church, to the 12 men whom Jesus selected from His disciples as the best instructed in His doctrines, and the fittest instruments for the propagation of his religion. Their names were as follows: Simon Peter (Greek of Caiphas, the rock), and Andrew, his brother; James the greater, and John, his brother, who were sons of Zebedee; Philip of Bethsaida, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew; James, the son of Alpheus, commonly called James the less; Lebbeus, his brother, who was surnamed Thaddeus, and was ite, and Judas Iscariot. Of this num- Church. men; and Matthew, a publican or taxgatherer. When the apostles were reduced to 11 by the suicide of Judas, who had betrayed Christ, they chose Matthias by lot, on the proposition of St. Peter. Soon after, their number became 13, by the miraculous vocation of Saul, who, under the name of Paul, became one of the most zealous propagators of the Christian faith. The Bible gives the name of apostle to Barnabas also, who accompanied Paul on his missions (Acts, xiv: 13), and Paul bestows it also on Andronicus and Junia, his relations and companions in prison. In a still wider sense, preachers who first taught Christianity in heathen countries, are sometimes termed apostles; e. g., St. Denis, the apostle of the Gauls; St. Boniface, the apostle of Germany; the monk Augustine, the apostle of England; the Jesuit Francis Xavier, the apostle apos of the Indies; Adalbert of Prague, the apostle of Prussia proper. Paul was the only apostle who had received a scientific education; the others were mechanics. Peter, Andrew, and John are called in the Scriptures (Acts iv: 13), homines sine literis idiotæ. Peter employed his disciple St. Mark in writing the Gospel which bears his name.