💥 The doctrine of the New Testament church comes down from Jesus from heaven after Jesus was taken from this present earth.

 

Acts 6

1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

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We see in the above scripture the establishment of "deacons" to work in the NT church.

We also see "the twelve" apostles involved in setting this up ...  Acts 6:2  Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them,

Judas was one of the original 12 apostles ... then Matthias took the place of Judas and became the last of the 12 apostles.  (Acts 1)

So this passage where it speaks of "the twelve" was not Paul for at the time of Acts 6:2, Paul was persecuting the Christians.  We know this because Stephen was one of those "deacons" who were chosen at this period of time.

Acts 6:5-6  And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:  Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

Stephen was later questioned by the Jews and killed, and at the feet of a man named Saul (Paul) they laid the clothes of the witnesses of Stephen's death as they killed Stephen, and Paul consented to the death of Stephen.

Acts 6:8-9  And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

After Stephen spoke, they killed Stephen.

54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.  (Paul who would later be called by Jesus to be an apostle.)

59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep (died).

Acts 8:1  And Saul was consenting unto his (Stephen's) death.

And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

So by these scriptures we know Paul was not one of the 12 apostles.

Later from heaven Jesus calls Paul and causes him to be an apostle but this is one of the first of the New Testament apostles which Jesus appointed from heaven to be a minister in the NT church.

Ephesians 4:11-12   And HE (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

We must compare scripture with scripture.

Paul was not the last apostle as many churches teach today.  

The last of the 12 apostles who replaced Judas was Matthias.  They drew lots to see which apostle would replace Judas.  

Acts 1:23-26  And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.  And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.  And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

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Paul was persecuting the Christians at the time Matthias was appointed to replace Judas as the 12 apostle.

Paul was one of the first of the NT ministers set up by Jesus from heaven for the NT church.   

Ephesians 4:11-12

11 And HE (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

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