Not Prominent
In Acts chapter 1, Peter emerges as the de facto leader of the infant church, which we’re told numbers 120, including Mary and Jesus’s brothers and sisters. Peter makes a big deal about needing to select someone to take the place of Judas Iscariot, so that there would be 12 apostles again. The criterion for who it would be: someone who had been with them from the baptism of John, all the way to the ascension.
Until this sentence from the mouth of Peter, we have had no idea there were any other than the 12 who were with Jesus the whole time! We might even assume there were only the 11 present at the ascension. It turns out there are two who meet the qualification, Joseph Barsabbas and Mathias. We’ve never heard of either of them! But they’ve been with Jesus the whole time. And what’s more…we will never hear of them again.
In fact, after being listed in verse 13, we will never again hear of Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, or Judas son of James. After great emphasis is placed on the 12 being the prime witnesses…there is nothing more said of them.
In fact, the prime witnesses we see in Acts include only 3 of the 12 – Peter and John do the talking in the next couple chapters, and James is executed later on. However, other prominent witnesses emerge. Stemming from the internal ecclesial problem in chapter 6, the seven selected to be “arranging brethren” include Stephen and Philip the Evangelist—and they have much more prominent roles than any of the 12 other than Peter. As time goes on, Saul becomes Paul and is named an apostle. James the Lord’s brother is called an apostle and becomes the leader of the Jerusalem church. Even Barnabas is called an apostle once and has a big role. Some non-apostles are prominent too, like Silas and Apollos, and even Timothy and Titus.
It’s almost like we’re being told that being an apostle didn’t really matter all that much. But I think that conclusion must be incorrect, given the importance Peter gives to the apostleship, and apparently the whole congregation was in agreement. I think what happens is that we confuse prominence with importance.
Nine of the 12 apostles disappear as far as being named, but looking a little closer, they are still there, still active, and I think still have a very important role. We might just read over passages that mention “the apostles”, but we know who they are—we know their names.
In chapter 2, it isn’t only Peter’s words, but all the apostles’ words that cut people to the heart. And after they obey the command to be baptized, it is the teaching of the apostles that the believers devote themselves to. And the miracles done by the apostles strengthen and enlarge the church.
In chapter 4 again the power shown through the apostles is highlighted. And to help with the economic distress of many who turned to Christ, donors brought assistance money to the apostles, who managed it.
In chapter 5, the apostles are arrested, not only Peter and John who had been arrested before and threatened.
In chapter 6 all the apostles (“the twelve” specifically) are involved in resolving the issue with assistance for widows. They recognize the need for administrative functions, but understand their own role is to preach, and the first arranging board is the result. Note, all twelve are engaged in the preaching.
In chapter 8 the persecution led by Saul drives many away from Jerusalem, but the apostles stay put.
Later in the chapter, it’s noted that giving the gifts of the Spirit is done by laying on of the apostles’ hands.
Reference is made to the apostles in chapters 9, 11, and 14, and the huge controversy over Gentile believers is addressed in chapter 15 by “the apostles and elders”.
It’s evident – all of the 12 apostles remained very active. Even if not individually named, they were all out there doing the work. The work was important. And they had their hands full, full time. A few of them became prominent, and so did some others who weren’t among the 12. That did not make them more important.
Among us in our present time, there are inevitably some who become prominent. Hardly ever does the prominence extend beyond our own small community, so “prominent” probably isn’t even the right word. The main point though is that being well known is not the same thing as being important.
The important work of declaring the risen Christ, of serving his brothers and sisters, of loving our neighbors, doesn’t very often lead to prominence. I think some of us belittle ourselves, and some of us might exalt ourselves, over how prominent we are or aren’t. What’s the Lord’s perspective? We know, and we know it has no connection to name recognition. It’s the flesh that hangs onto such things.
Pretty simple point here. Each one of us sheep, all of whom are known by name to the Shepherd, need to be following him, doing his important work. I hope someday to be able to talk to Bartholomew, Simon the Zealot, the younger James, Matthias, and listen to them talk about the important work they did, most of it far out of the public eye. I suppose they might confess that now and then they had twinges of jealousy. Or maybe not. These guys were handpicked by Jesus to be the ones sent. It had to be that some became prominent. But most just went ahead with the important work, and I doubt they cared very much whether they got famous. Isn’t it interesting—these guys are still teaching us, by their example. Specifically by not getting any air time.
Love, Paul
If you have any feedback, please contact me at: paul.zilmer@gmail.com