DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP GIFTS
IN ACTS & EPISTLES

I. ACTS ACCOUNT:

APOSTLES (Acts 1:2, 13, 25-26; Also see Elders) “Jesus through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 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; andthe lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”

TEACHERS (Acts 4:2;5:21,42;11:26;15:35;18:11,25;20:20;28:30-31) “Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch, And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. And Paul continued a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. This man(Apollos)was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the Spirit, he spake and taught diligently the thins of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. I(Paul)kept back nothing that was profitable unto, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house. And Paul dwelt two whole years in this own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”

SEVEN (Acts 6:1-7) “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. And the saying please 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 had prayed, they laid their hands on them.”

EVANGELISTS (Acts 6:5;8:5-40;21:8) “And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Philip…Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza which is desert…And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him not more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea. And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.”

PROPHETS (Acts 11:27-28;13:1;15:32;21:10-11) “And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucious of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. And they tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus.”(Anna in Luke 2:36;Philip’s daughters who prophesied in Acts 21:9; Jezebel in Revelation 2:20)

ELDERS, PASTORS, BISHOPS

Elders (Acts 11:30;14:23;15:2,4,6,22-23;16:4;20:17;21:18) “And they sent it(relief) to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, would go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren; And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren, send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders, which were at Jerusalem. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.” Pastors:(Acts 20:28) Bishops:(Acts 20:28)

II. EPISTLE ACCOUNTS:

APOSTLES

Twelve Apostles(Romans 1:1;11:13;16:7;I Corinthians 4:9;9:5;12:28 29;15:7;12:12;Galatians 1:1,17,19; Ephesians 2:20;4:11-16;II Peter 1:1;3:2;Revelations 21:14 (Also see Apostle Studies)

Other Apostles(Acts 14:4;15:22,27,32,34,40;16:1;Acts 20:4;Romans 16:7;I Corinthians 1:12;I Corinthians 4:6,9; II Corinthians 8:23; Galatians 1:19;Philippians 2:25;Colossians 4:14; I Thessalonians 1:1;2:6;Titus 1:4-5;Philemon 23-24;Also see Apostle Studies)(Also see “Phebe” in Romans 16:1-2 and “Priscilla and Aquila” in Romans 16:3)

TEACHERS(Romans 12:7;I Corinthians 12:28-29;Ephesians 4:11;I Timothy 2:7;II Timothy 1:11;Titus 2:3;Hebrews 5:12)

THE SEVEN/DEACONS(“Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:”(Philippians 1:1”; “Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not give to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of the deacon, being found blameless. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.”(I Timothy 3:8,10,12-13)(Also see “wives” in I Timothy 3:11)

EVANGELISTS “And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists’; and some, pastors and teachers;”(Ephesians 4:11);”Do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” (II Timothy 4:5)

PROPHETS(I Corinthians 12:28;14:29,32,37;Ephesians 2:20;3:5;4:11; James 5:10;Revelation 11:18;16:6;18:20,24;22:6,9)

ELDERS, PASTORS, BISHOPS(Interchangeable terms: Acts 20:17, 28; Elders: I Timothy 5:1,17,19; Titus 1:5; James 5:14; I Peter 5:1; II John 1; 111 John 1; Revelation 4:4,10-11; Pastors: Ephesians 4:11; Bishops: Philippians 1:1;I Timothy 3:1-2;Titus 1:7)