“When day came, he called his disciples to himself. And from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named apostles” (Luke 6:13).

The term “Apostles” was not common apart from the Bible, or before the foundation of Christianity. Even when mentioned, it carried a different meaning comparing to other terms like Disciples, Adherents, or Appointee. It was therefore a particular term in the New Testament and within the Church, it was a unique identity given to the twelve that Jesus had specially chosen. 

By observing the Gospels and each time when stories about the twelve apostles were mentioned, there was always a rule of pattern in which they were lay out. The apostles could be divided into three groups of four people each: while the first person of each group remained unchanged at all time, who were Peter, Philip, and James, and the twelfth one was always Judas the traitor.  

“Jesus had picked the number “12” in choosing His apostles; the motive was for its symbolic representation. It reminded us of the twelve ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel. Therefore Jesus had also chosen 12 people to be the base of the new people of God. (Studium Biblicum dictionary no.863)

No followers should supersede their teacher. All of the Apostles died of martyrdom except Judas and John. It was a pitiful fate that Judas took his own life; for he had lost his trust in the mercy of God. John was freed from martyrdom because he had to accompany mother Mary through her entire life.

The calling of the Apostles was to continue on with Jesus’ mission in the salvation of the world. They were keeping unity with their leader Peter, witnessing Jesus Christ’s presence in the midst of our world.

Today, for all who had baptized under the name of Christ, has become "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own” (1 Peter 2:9).

Though we are not the Apostles, but we had shared their mission.