Apostles and prophets are prominent in the New Apostolic Reformation. In order to ascertain whether or not the claims of those within the NAR are biblical, we must first examine what the Scripture says about apostles and prophets.  The word ἀπόστολος apóstolos, apostle occurs 79 times in the New Testament.  The word προφήτης prophḗtēs, prophet occurs 144 times in the New Testament.  For more information, see the following articles.

• Word Study on the Greek word apóstolos, apostle
• Word Study on the Greek word apostolḗ, apostleship
• Word Study on the Greek word prophēteúō, to prophesy
• Word Study on the Greek word prophḗtēs, prophet
• Word Study on the Greek word prophētikós, prophetic
• Word Study Word Study on the Greek word prophḗtis, prophetess

Apostles

1. The Twelve, original
   1. Listed in Matt. 10:2-4; Luke 6:13, as Peter, Andrew, James of Zebedee, John his brother, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot
   2. Jesus chose them (Acts 1:2)
   3. They were with Jesus (Mark 6:30; Luke 22:14)
   4. They were subject to Jesus (Mark 6:30; Luke 9:10)
   5. Jesus directed them (Acts 1:2)
   6. Had been with the Lord Jesus from the bigging of John’s baptism to His resurrection (Acts 1:21-22)
   7. Those who converted to Christianity, studied their teaching (Acts 2:42)
   8. The apostles could do wonders and signs (Acts 2:43; 5:12)
   9. They testified of the risen Jesus (Acts 4:33)
   10. Items sold by Christians were laid at their feet to be distributed as needed (Acts 4:35-37)
   11. The twelve apostles were persecuted (Acts 5:18; 5:40)
   12. They obeyed God rather than man (Acts 5:29)
   13. They commissioned people by the laying on of hands (Acts 6:6)
   14. The apostles bestowed the Spirit through laying on of their hands (Acts 8:18)
   15. Were persecuted (Acts 5:18; 5:40)
   16. Obeyed God rather than man (Acts 5:29)
   17. Spirit bestowed through laying on of the apostles’ hands (Acts 8:18)
2. Apostles, general information
   1. Will be killed (Luke 11:49)
   2. Can be married (1 Cor. 9:5)
   3. Are appointed in the church (1 Cor. 12:28)
   4. Along with N.T. prophets, build the foundation of the church (Eph. 2:20; Eph. 4:11)
   5. Are to equip the church (Eph. 4:11-12)
   6. The mystery of the inclusion of Gentiles in redemption was revealed to them (Eph. 3:5)
   7. Appear to be greater than prophets (1 Cor. 12:28)
   8. Have authority (1 Thess. 2:6)
   9. Are to be tested (Rev. 2:2)
3. Apostles listing of, besides the original Twelve
   1. Jesus (Heb. 3:1)
   2. Barnabas (Acts 14:14)
   3. Paul (Acts 14:14; Romans 1:1; 11:13; 1 Cor. 1:1; 4:9; 9:1; 2 Cor. 1:1; 11:5; Ephesians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:1; 2:7; 2 Tim. 2:1, 11; Titus 1:1)
   4. Possibly Andronicus and Junias (Romans 16:7)
   5. Possibly James, who was Jesus’ brother (Galatians 1:9)
4. Apostles and Elders
   1. Mentioned together (Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22-23; 16:4)
5. Possible requirements to be an apostle,
   1. Seen the risen Lord (1 Cor. 9:1-2)
   2. Of the original twelve, to have been with Jesus from the beginning (Acts 1:21–26)
   3. Verification of a true apostle by signs, wonders, and miracles (2 Cor. 12:12)
6. False apostles,
   1. Deceitful workers appear as apostles (2 Corinthians 11:13)
   2. Judas as a false apostle (Matt. 10:4)
7. SUMMARY
   1. Some apostles were only among the 12. They performed miracles.  Some wrote scripture. (Acts 1:21-22)
   2. Paul was an apostle (unique?) specifically commissioned by Christ. He performed miracles and wrote scripture. (Acts 14:14; 1 Cor. 9:1; Gal. 1:1)
   3. Barnabas is an apostle. He performed no miracles, wrote no scripture . . . (Acts 14:14)
   4. Jesus is called an apostle. He performed miracles. (Heb. 3:1)
   5. There are apostles in the sense of simply being sent. They are messengers.  They perform no miracles. (Phil. 1:19 John 20:19)
   6. It could possibly be that anyone who was involved in Christ’s ministry before his death and saw him after his resurrection could be referred to as apostles. (Acts 1:21-22)
   7. There are false apostles (2 Cor. 11:13; Rev. 2:2)

Prophets

1. The Prophets of the Old Testament
   1. Made prophecies which came to pass.  They did not fail. (Matt. 1:22; 2:5, 15, 17, 23; 3:3; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17; 13:35; 21:4; 24:15; 26:56; 27:9; Mark 1:2; Luke 3:4; 4:17; 18:31; John 1:23; 12:38; Acts 2:16; 3:18, 22; 7;37)
   2. Were persecuted (Matt. 5:12; 23:29-31, 34, 37; Luke 6:23; 11:47, 49-50; 13:33-34; Acts 7:52; Rom. 11:3; 1 Thess. 2:15)
   3. Spoke in the name of the Lord (James 5:10)
   4. Prophesied of Jesus (1 Peter 1:11)
   5. Bore witness of Jesus (Acts 10:43)
   6. Were often not appreciated (Matt. 13:57; Mark 6:4; Luke 4:24)
2. Prophets in the New Testament
   1. Are appointed in the church (1 Cor. 12:28).
   2. Spoke in the name of the Lord (James 5:10)
   3. Prophesied of Jesus (1 Peter 1:11)
   4. Bore witness of Jesus (Acts 10:43)
   5. Were often not appreciated (Matt. 13:57; Mark 6:4; Luke 4:24)
   6. Jesus was called a prophet (Matt. 21:11; John 4:19, 44; 6:14; 9:17).
   7. There were female prophets (Luke 2:36).
   8. Prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch (Acts 11:27).
   9. There were prophets at Antioch (Acts 13:1)
3. New Testament prophets are listed.
   1. Agabus (Acts 11:27; 21:10)
   2. Judas and Silas (Acts 15:32).
   3. Possibly Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul (Acts 13:1)
4. Abilities of New Testament prophets
   1. Predicting the future (Acts 11:27-28).
   2. Giving encouragement (Acts 15:32).
   3. Speak in church (1 Cor. 14:29).
   4. Are self-controlled (1 Cor. 14:32).
   5. Are subject to Paul’s teachings (1 Cor. 14:37).
   6. Understood the mystery of Christ regarding the Gentiles salvation (Eph. 3:5, per Rom. 11:25. DOES THIS MEAN THEY WERE JEWS?)
      1. Ephesians 3:5, ” which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;”
      2. Romans 11:25, ” For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;”
   7. Not mentioned in New Testament Prophets
      1. No mention of hearing from God in a prophetic word of knowledge kind of thing where they then tell people what God wants and they are then subject to it, etc.
5. Other
   1. Are subject to Paul’s teachings (1 Cor. 14:37).

Apostles and prophets the great deal in the New Testament in the Old Testament. The New Apostolic Reformation must conform to what Scripture has stated about them.