Disciple vs. Apostle: What Luke 6 Reveals About Both

Most of us assume the Apostles were a separate category from disciples — a kind of spiritual elite above the ordinary followers. But read Luke 6:12-19 carefully and you’ll see something different: Jesus spent an entire night in prayer, then in the morning called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles.

The Twelve weren’t promoted out of discipleship. They were disciples first, then sent.

What the Words Actually Mean

The Greek word for disciple is mathētēs — a learner, a follower, someone who walks with a teacher and absorbs both their words and their way of life. In Jesus’ day, having disciples wasn’t unusual. What was unusual was that Jesus called his disciples rather than waiting for them to seek him out.

The word apostle comes from apostolos — literally, “a sent one.” An apostle is a disciple who has been commissioned and dispatched with specific authority. In Luke 6, Jesus designates twelve from the larger group of followers and gives them that title. They aren’t promoted above discipleship; they’re sent out from it.

The Great Commission Wasn’t a New Category

When Jesus gives the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, he says “Go and make disciples of all nations.” He doesn’t say make apostles. The unique office of apostle — eyewitnesses of the risen Christ, foundation-layers of the church — was specific to the Twelve (and Paul, who had his own Damascus Road encounter). That office was not repeatable.

But discipleship is for everyone. The Great Commission expands the circle of learners and followers to include all nations, all people, all generations. You and I are not apostles. We are, however, called to be disciples.

What Luther Saw in This

Martin Luther understood this distinction clearly and built his theology of the church around it. In his teaching on the priesthood of all believers, Luther argued that every Christian is called to witness, serve, and proclaim the Gospel — not because we hold an apostolic office, but because we are disciples. The apostolic foundation was laid once. The work of discipleship continues in every believer.

Luther pushed back hard against the idea that the church’s ministry belongs only to a spiritual class set above ordinary Christians. The call to follow, learn, and be sent belongs to all of us — even if the title “apostle” belongs to the Twelve.

You Are a Disciple

The most important takeaway from Luke 6 may be the simplest one: Jesus called people to himself before he sent them anywhere. Discipleship — learning, following, being shaped by Jesus — is the foundation. Everything else flows from there.

At Triumphant Cross Lutheran Church, we take that seriously. If you’d like to explore what it means to follow Jesus in Dothan and the Wiregrass, we’d love to have you. Visit us at https://triumphantcross.net.