I believe that the bible is clear that there are no longer apostles or the need for them.

What was the purpose, qualifications and peculiarities which made someone an apostle?

Here is my take on this topic. It is based on scripture not on my opinion.

1. The apostles laid the foundation of the church.

Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

The church is a building. The foundation has been laid. No one that understands construction would lay another foundation on the roof of a building.

Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

2. The apostles were eye witnesses

Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

Peter prayed and asked God which one of the men who had been with them from the beginning should replace Judas.

Acts 1:21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection…

26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Jesus made sure that the apostles understood their role.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

What did the apostles do? They did as they were told.

Acts 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Paul was an apostle born out of due time. Unlike the other apostles he was not with Jesus from the baptism of John to the present.

Paul states that he was qualified to be an apostle because he had seen the Lord.

1 Corinthians 9:1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord?

Paul was the last eyewitness of the resurrected Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

Those who claim to have seen the Lord after the apostle Paul are either deceived, or lying.

It is true that the apostle John saw the Lord on the isle of Patmos. He had already witnessed the Lord after His resurrection. Paul was the last individual to see the resurrected Christ for the first time. No one else has been with Christ besides Paul and John.

Sorry, the people on TBN who claim to have seen Christ are lying or deceived.

3. Jesus hand picked all the apostles.

Luke 6:13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;

Jesus hand picked Paul and personally taught him. That is why Paul could clearly state what Jesus had said at the last supper.

Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,

Galatians 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood

4. The apostles did signs and wonders to confirm the word and prove their apostleship. They were with the Lord and everyone living at that time knew it.

Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Acts 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

Acts 5:12-13 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

Peter healed a man born lame from birth who was over 40 years old. The miracle was so astonishing that no one could deny it. The scribes and Pharisees called Peter before them.

1. They made note that he had been with Jesus and that a notable miracle had been performed and they could not deny it.

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

There are no apostles today because no one today is doing the miracles and signs of an apostle.

There are no apostles today because no one today has seen the resurrected Christ.

There are no apostles today because Jesus did not choose them.

There are no apostles today because all the apostles were Jews.

There are false apostles today!

Revelation 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

2 Corinthians 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

God may place it upon our hearts to do certain things but it is simply not the same as it was during the Acts of the Apostles.

The apostles laid hands on people and gave them power. We now have the apostle’s doctrine. All of it.

I believe in being “Spirit filled” and “Spirit led”. Why is it so difficult to see and admit that the things that took place during the foundationnal period of the church are not taking place today?

What was the purpose of the apostles and prophets?

To lay the foundation of the church. Either the foundation is laid or the bible is not complete. Which is it?

Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

We do not need special revelation. We have the word of God.

Also the purpose of all the sign gifts were to confirm the word. Mark 16

I must test the “enlightenment” I may or may not receive by the light of scripture. The Holy Spirit will not contradict His word or lead the believer to confusion.

The apostles had special revelation so that when we read we understand.

There is no longer a need for new revelation, We have the complete word of God.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.