One of the original twelve disciples (minus Judas Iscariot). An apostle was one who was with Jesus throughout most of his ministry, was a witness to his resurrection, and was sent into the world to proclaim the Gospel with definitive authority. The main task of an apostle was to bear witness to Jesus and to pass the content of that witness on to succeeding generations. The call and commission by Jesus to be an apostle is an essential qualification; there have been no apostles since the time of Jesus apart from Paul, who was uniquely called by the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus.