The Apostle Paul took the place of Judas. This is true because:
1. there are only twelve Apostles of the Lamb. This is a distinct group, even though any messenger of God may be called an apostle. For instance, Barnabas was an apostle, but not an Apostle of the Lamb, one of the twelve.
2. The Bible reveals that the Apostles of the Lamb are only twelve and their office is fixed eternally. Revelation 21:14: Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
3. The twelve recognized their distinct calling, both individually and as a group. Peter knew they needed twelve Apostles, so went about remedying the situation. He seemed to forget that Jesus was alive and well and about to pour out his Spirit on them.
The entire truth of the church was not known at this time. Peter did not even know the Gentiles were included in the church until later (Acts, chapter 9). The full revelation of all things regarding the church was given to the Apostle Paul as (a secret now revealed, formerly hidden in God).
4. Peter made several mistakes in seeking to replace Judas. First, he forgot that Jesus Himself is the only one who selects His Apostles.
Next, he was incorrect in believing that an Apostle had to be an eye-witness to the resurrection to be an Apostle. Any Christian today can testify to the truth of the resurrection, yet none of us were there. Even the Apostles heard it first from the Godly women. Yet Paul did see the resurrected Christ, and more than once.
Then last of all, Peter used an Old Testament method of determining the will of God. This was especially crude when contrasted to the Promise of the Spirit, not yet received. Later on in the church experience, the Spirit revealed Paul to believers and to the earlier Apostles, who then acknowledged his office. Peter's premature action in forcing a resolution to a need instead of waiting on God to do it His way, is characteristic of Peter ... and us, as well.
5. Peter is later proven wrong in the hasty selection of Matthias, by the Lord's selection of Paul to fill out the number of the Twelve.
Acts 9:15: But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he (Paul) is a CHOSEN vessel of MINE to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."
Paul himself knew and claimed the office of Apostle: Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me...
Paul's works prove he is a true apostle...especially in the delivery of sinners from sin to Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:1: "Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord."
Acknowledging the Apostle Paul as the twelfth Apostle of the Lamb is important because:
1. It's always important to honor all of God's truth and the position Christ has chosen for men.
2. The ministry and teaching of the Apostle Paul to and in the church is of crucial importance in understanding Biblical Christianity. He is the Apostle to the Gentiles and the steward of the church age truth. We should recognize this all important church truth and as one brother wrote: "run all things (teachings) through the filter of Paul."
3. The Enemy still seeks to deny, disparage and cast doubt about the authenticity of the Apostle Paul and his scriptural teachings. Let us, conversely, understand and honor Paul's Apostleship and study his unique writings, given to him by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
4. The sinner needs Jesus to be saved from the penalty of past sins. The believer needs Paul to be instructed in how Jesus presently saves us from a sinful life. The church needs Paul to instruct us in how Jesus is going to save us from the Tribulation and deliver us into glorification.
5. The failure of church teachers of the past and present to allow Paul to occupy the place Christ has given him, is a major reason for untold misery and error in the church, throughout the centuries.
Christ's delegated authority as given to the Apostles is to be honored by believers just as one honors Him:
Matthew 10:14: "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."
Note:
The Apostle Paul is our role model in Christianity. He like us, had a sinful nature, but learned how to win the victory over it in order to live for Christ effectually. We do well to learn from him.
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