What is the differences between an apostle and a disciple?

Answer 1

An APOSTLE is an ambassador of the Gospel, basically a teacher.

A DISCIPLE is a pupil, a student, a follower,someone who was with JESUS the whole time he was on earth.

Answer

Jesus chose an original 'inner circle' of twelve disciples, who were themselves to 'make disciples' i.e. followers of 'all nations' (see Matthew 28:18-20). Thus there would eventually be many disciples of Jesus.

The term apostollos in the Greek from which we get our word Apostle literally means 'one sent forth.' This is close to the meaning above. Apparently both terms were used while Jesus was on the earth.

Luke 6:13 (King James Version)13And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;

The term apostle came to be exclusively used after the Ascension of Jesus. Peter in the Christian assembly gave the qualifications for an apostle as a preliminary to the choice of the replacement for Judas.

Acts 1:21-22 (King James Version)21Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

The term apostle was also applied to Paul, who, although he did not meet the above qualifications, was personally set apart as an apostle to the Gentiles by Christ himself. The so-called 'apostolic age' ended when the last one died around 100AD and of course, there could be no more as Jesus had left the earth.

The apostles became leaders and teachers as well as evangelists in the early church. They did indeed make many disciples, who were all learners as they had originally been, as indeed is any true Christian today. But, although many are in positions of teaching authority in the Christian church today there are no true apostles in the Biblical sense.

Answerfrom the original Greek, a disciple is a 'follower', and an apostle is a 'messenger'. So the twelve disciples were not only followers of Jesus but also apostles, as they are said to have spread the message of Jesus. Paul, although not a disciple, was also an apostle because he was a messenger of Jesus.

A disciple is simply a devoted student, one who studies and learns how to be more like the teacher.

An apostle was an early Christian church leader, charged by Jesus to spread the gospel and begin new congregations throughout the world.

In New Testament usage:

"Apostle" (Greek apostolos) means "a delegate, a messenger, one sent forth with orders."

Apostles were appointed, and given specific tasks and responsibilities. (To use a military analogy, the apostles would have been "high-ranking officers.") The word MOST often refers to Jesus' "inner circle" of twelve, and later, Saul of Tarsus, who became known as the Apostle Paul. The NT rarely refers to other major figures in the early church, such as Barnabas, as an apostle (Acts 14:14).

"Disciple" (Greek mathetes) means "a learner, pupil" (not just "follower"). Anyone who determines to learn the teachings of another is a "disciple," and in the military analogy, these are the "foot soldiers" of the cause. They're not "appointed;" they "enlist."

True disciples of Jesus became His followers in order to learn from Him and apply His teachings, as opposed to those who only followed out of curiosity, or so that they might benefit from His miraculous works (John 6:2). The most casual of these followers left Him in droves when His teachings became particularly challenging (John 6:66).

Answer 2

An apostle is an ambassador of Christ, who represents the Lord Jesus with a measure of authority. A disciple means a learner, or an apprentice, someone who follows the example Jesus. All Christians are called disciples, if you're not a disciple you're not a Christian. Apostles on the other hand were the twelve that Jesus chose, and they're all home with the Lord.