Question
In Acts 13:1-4, Paul (Saul) and Barnabas were recognized as prophets or teachers, it was here they were separated to do the work that the lord called them to do. The Holy Spirit sent them out in Acts 14:14 they are referred to as apostles. So were there 14 apostles?
Response
The issue of others being designated “apostles” besides the 12 apostles in God’s program with Israel, and besides the apostle Paul in connection with the present dispensation of God’s grace, can seem puzzling at first. However, what needs to recognized is that “apostle” can be used not only with the meaning of an official title for one who is specifically chosen by God to head up and to authoritatively oversee the administration of His program, but it can also be used to designate ones within God’s programs who are entrusted with special ministries that involve them being sent out to various places to accomplish various things in connection with the program. (Even within the secular Greek world, the word “apostle” could be used in the same two ways. Hence there were ones who could be officially entitled “apostles” by the head of the government as they were given the authority and office to carry out government policy in a particular area. While others who were sent out by some branch of the government to carry out a mission in some area of the country could also be called “apostles” in connection with their particular mission, though they themselves did not hold the government office.)
Briefly put, in God’s program with Israel the 12 apostles (with Matthias replacing Judas) are the ones God chose to head up and authoritatively oversee the administration of Israel’s program during and throughout its climactic and final stage. They are 12 in number in accordance with the basic government setup in Israel consisting of their 12 tribes, each one having a designated prince and counselor as its head. Hence the Lord said to the 12 apostles what He did, for example, in Matthew 19:27-28 when He told them about the governmental positions over Israel that they would possess once the kingdom of heaven is established on the earth. Now in God’s program with Israel only the 12 hold this type of official ministry and apostleship. However, in Israel’s program there are some others who were designated as “apostles.” But they were so designated in accordance with them being given special ministries within the administration of the overall program, and they were sent out (or ‘apostled’) to various places to accomplish those ministries. In fact, the Lord told the rebellious, unbelieving rulers of Israel to expect to see such individuals. In places like Matthew 23:34-35 and Luke 11:47-51 He said to them in connection with the program entering its final stage that He would be sending to them a number of individuals with special ministries. These He called “prophets and apostles,” and “prophets, and wise men, and scribes.” These wouldn’t necessarily be the 12 apostles themselves, for they had already been chosen by the Lord for their special role long before this, and they had already been functioning for some time. These others would be other members of the believing remnant of Israel who would be functioning along with the 12 during the coming final installment of God’s program with Israel. And among them were ones like Stephen and Barnabas.
Now, when God in accordance with providing for fulfilling “the mystery of Christ,” suspended His program with Israel following the events of Acts 1-7 and ushered in this present dispensation of His grace to the Gentiles, He raised up Paul to be His apostle for the new dispensation and to head it up and to authoritatively oversee the administration of it. Hence, as Paul says to us, in his epistles to us, he is the one to whom God revealed “the mystery of Christ” and to whom was given the dispensation of God’s grace for us Gentiles. Paul alone, therefore, holds the office of “the apostle of the Gentiles.” He holds the only official and authoritative office of apostleship of God for this present dispensation of God’s grace.
However, as it was in God’s program with Israel so also at the beginning of this present dispensation of grace there were others who were also called “apostles.” For example, Paul called Timothy and others with him “apostles.” And just as those others who were called “apostles” in Israel’s program were ones who were sent out with special ministries within the program and were under the administration of the 12, so also did Timothy and others like him function as “apostles” within the program for this present dispensation and were under Paul’s administration. Hence, we find Paul sending out (or ‘apostle-ing’) Timothy and others to accomplish certain ministries.
Now since you specifically asked about Barnabas, my understanding is that after God had suspended His program with Israel, had raised up Paul as His new apostle, and had ushered in the dispensation of His grace, Barnabas and some others functioned in a very special way at the beginning of this dispensation. For example, Barnabas was sent out (or ‘apostled’) by the 12 when it came to initially finding out about and investigating the Lord’s unique activity in Antioch. However, upon realizing what was taking place there, he also went to get Paul and stayed there with him in Antioch, having previously come to understand and appreciate the basic issue of Paul’s special apostleship and what God was now doing. In addition, my understanding is that he also functioned in a special way with Paul at the beginning of this dispensation when it came to the issue of testifying to and bearing witness to the “stumbling” and the “fall” of Israel, which preceded God suspending His program with them. This issue clearly was testified to, and also needed to be testified to, during that time. And my understanding is that Barnabas in particular functioned in accordance with this, and was sent out (or ‘apostled’) to go with Paul during the beginning of this dispensation to provide for that testifying and that witness.
This is the gist of my understanding on this issue. I hope that you find it to be of some help to you.
Keith Blades
Enjoy The Bible Ministries
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