05/05/2026
Verse 11[edit]
See also: Spiritual gifts
— And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,[17]
"Apostles": refer to the people who were directly called by Jesus Christ, received the teaching from Him and the commission to preach it, guided by the Holy Spirit, "had a power to work miracles for the confirmation of their doctrine" as well as the authority to preach the Gospel everywhere, to plant churches, not confined to a particular place or church.[18] An apostle was the first and chief office in the church, elected before Christ's ascension but not received power until the coming of the Spirit (on Pentecost).[18] The task of the apostle is not only to bear witness of Christ in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, but in the farthest ends of the earth.[18]
"Prophets": are some people who are not private members of churches, but may prophesy or teach in a private way.[18] They are not ordinary ministers of the word, but those who have a special gift of interpreting the Scriptures, the prophecies of the Old Testament, and foretelling things to come. Among these were Agabus and others in the church of Antioch (Acts 11:27; 13:1)[18]
"Evangelists": are not meant the writers of the Gospels, as Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, some of which were also apostles, but rather as preachers of the Gospel, distinct from the ordinary ministers.[18] Their position was seen as below that of the apostles, but above those of pastors and teachers; however, they were the companions or assistants of the apostles, and helped them in their work.[18] Among them were Philip (the deacon), Luke, Titus, Timothy, and others. They were not fixed ministers in any place, but were sent anywhere as needed.[18]
"Pastors and teachers": (also called "doctors" of the church) may be thought to be different, because of:
the place where they work: the pastors in the church, while the teachers in the (church or theological) school
the different subject of their ministry: the pastors attending to practical, the teachers to doctrinal points
the charge of the church: the pastors are the shepherds of the flock, as overseers, same as the bishops and elders, whereas the teachers can be the gifted members in the church, assistants to the pastors (ministers of the word)
Nonetheless, it should be seen as one and the same office, that the term "teachers" is only explanative of the figurative word "pastors" or shepherds.[1
