Special Qualifications

[Mary Naeem]

Special Qualifications

Apostles had to be eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ.

Apostles repeatedly affirmed that they were eyewitnesses - Acts 2:32; 10:41; 3:15; 1 John 1:1-4; etc.

Acts 1:15-26 (esp. vv 21,22) - The one chosen to replace Judas had to be an eyewitness.
Paul was an eyewitness of the resurrected Christ.

Acts 22:3-16 (esp. vv 14,15) - Paul saw and heard Jesus so he could be a witness.

Acts 26:16 - Jesus said he appeared to Paul to make him a witness. [Acts 9:1; 1 Corinthians 15:4-8; 9:1-5]

One special duty of apostles was to give testimony of Jesus' resurrection whereby others could believe. To do this, each one had to have personally witnessed Christ alive after the resurrection. Jesus' appearance to Paul was exceptional; nevertheless he did see Jesus alive, so he was just as qualified to do this work as were other apostles.