Apostle

Apostle is a relationship role, not a governmental role.

Paul had authority, because he had strong relationships with many people in the churches of Asia Minor (he had discipled many of them), not because he was appointed to a governmental role.

Jesus called twelve disciples and called them apostles.

He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, to send them out to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons (Mark 3:14-15).

He did not appoint the twelve to a governmental role. He appointed them to be with him and learn how he did things. Once they had learned how to what he did, he would send them to preach the good news and cast out demons. Like him, they would heal the sick and cast out demons as confirmation of the truth that Jesus is truly Lord and saviour.

What Mathew literally said is the following.

He makes twelve, whom He also names apostles, that they may be with Him, and that He may be apostling them to preach.

We lose the sense of this declaration because English translations use the word "sent" for the verb apostle. The apostles were called apostles because they were sent/apostled to preach. Being sent is what apostles do.

They do not stay behind and rule and control. They are sent out to preach and enforce the of defeat the spiritual powers of evil that Jesus established on the cross. And they form the people they rescue together into new churches, like Paul did.

More at Apostle.