What is apostolic action?

The highest form of this was the apostles' on the day of Pentecost. It was a direct authoritative address, as the apostles of Jesus, appointed by Him, and ratified in power by the Holy Ghost to the world, thereby forming the Church, and becoming, in a certain subordinate sense, heads of the Church, to guide, regulate, order, and direct those whom they so gathered, which gave the subsequent character to apostolic office.

Apostles were specially called of God, and had their mission marked out for them by the Lord Himself. These or their delegates ordained elders in all the Gentile Churches (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5). Others who were gifted by the Lord, evangelists and teachers, went forth in His service, and seemingly without any special call. But whether directly sent forth by the Lord Himself, or whether addicting themselves to the ministry, all were directly responsible to Him, with respect to the way in which they carried out the service they took up. Whatever they might be, they were His servants, and to Him bound to give account.

In the second place, the apostles were called that they might be sent forth to preach. At the commencement of His public ministry the Lord presented Himself, preaching the gospel of God — that the kingdom was at hand. It now was proved to be necessary that this testimony should be taken up by others and spread in all directions, and the Lord chose the twelve that He might commission them to go throughout the country as the accredited heralds of His kingdom. The term "apostle" signifies one who is sent, and the first item of the service assigned to them was to announce that the Redeemer was come to Zion, and that the prophetic kingdom was therefore at the doors.

In accordance with this calling, the Lord in due course during His own ministry sent out the apostolic band, two and two, into the cities of Israel to preach that men should repent. They went out therefore and preached, and in virtue of the power given to them they cast out many demons in the name of Christ, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them (Mark 6:7-13). The signs given accompanied and confirmed the word preached.

(3) In their witnessing they presented Jesus Christ, called upon men to repent, and proclaimed remission of sins in His name; thus they were active in preaching the Gospel of salvation in Christ.

Their work was done when they founded the early Assemblies on the one hand, and by their oral ministry, and in writing the inspired epistles and the Revelation. So Scripture speaks of “the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship” (Acts 2:42).

The apostles returned to Jerusalem with those words ringing in their ears, "Ye shall be witnesses to Me." How did they set about it? Did they appoint a committee to gain "adequate knowledge of the field" of operations, so that "scientific calculations" might be made, and "sound strategy" and "statesmanlike plans" decided upon? No, they simply betook themselves to their knees in the spirit of little children, and when they found themselves endued with power from on high they at once commenced their witness to Christ, boldly utilising each opening for testimony as it presented itself to them. Though they had been called by the Lord to positions of authority in the church of God, analogous to the position of an army officer when compared with a common soldier, yet they recognized that it was not theirs to plan the campaign, but to do what they were told. They had supreme confidence in their great Commander; His "adequate knowledge," His "strategy," His "plans" they accepted as sufficient; and they were content to proceed under His direction whether directly or providentially conveyed to them.

The word of God, with the prayer which drew down application in power and unction, was the fitting work of the apostles. Men might beat and threaten worse; but it was in vain to forbid or oppose their speaking in the name of Jesus, seeing they were witnesses that God raised up and exalted by His right hand Him whom the Jews by instigation of the priests slew by hanging on a tree: God must be obeyed rather than men. "They therefore went their way from the council's presence, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be dishonoured for the Name: and every day in the temple and at home they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus [as] the Christ" (Acts 5:41-42).

We often look at the apostles as vessels of power, taken up by the Lord, and qualified by Him for the accomplishment of His gracious and mighty work on earth. And we are right; for they were ordained by Him to preach, to heal, to cast out devils, and thus to illustrate the infinite power of the blessed Redeemer. That He should have possessed such power, that He should have entered the domain of Satan and spoiled his house, is no wonder when we remember who He was. But it is marvellous to think of the apostles—men—wielding a similar power! They received it from Him in dependence upon Him. They carried His authority, and lived on His account.

Verse 27 speaks of the witness to be borne by the apostles and differentiates it from the testimony of the Comforter. They bore witness to all that they had seen and heard "from the beginning," as we see at the opening of John's first Epistle; in which the weight and value of this witness is revealed to us. They were also the appointed witnesses of His resurrection. Their witness to the great facts and realities on which all is based is of the last importance, yet something more was needed, and it was supplied by the fresh testimony of the Spirit of Truth, which we have recorded in the Acts. That was specially given through Stephen in the first place, and then through the converted arch-persecutor, Saul of Tarsus, who became the Apostle Paul. We may express the difference by saying that the main witness of the twelve was to the great facts connected with the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ: the witness of the Comforter was to be concerning the significance and bearing of those facts; of the whole purpose of God established in them.