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DictionaryapostleEarly Christian messenger
noun

apostle

uh-PAH-sul/əˈpɑːsl/

A leading messenger and advocate of a faith or cause.

Jesus gives keys to Peter, commissioning him as an apostle.

Jesus commissions Peter, placing a pair of keys in his open hand while gesturing toward an outward path.
Etymology
apoGreekoff, away from
+stleGreekto send

The pieces mean “send forth”: an apostle was a messenger or envoy sent on a mission. In the Christian sense, this describes the followers Jesus sent to preach his Gospel.

In context

aGATHERING14424:05
chosen by Christ to be an apostle not just to Israel but also to the Gentiles. So there is a message to the Gentiles.
Son of Perdition (Anti-Christ) & “The End of the World”

More examples

  • The painting depicts Jesus with his apostles.
  • She was an early apostle of the new scientific method.
  • The congregation studies a letter attributed to an apostle.

Forms

apostle · apostles

Similar words

disciple
A follower or learner rather than necessarily a leading messenger.
advocate
Promotes a cause without the religious or missionary association.