ABSTRACT
The first is the collegial character of the apostolic office which first appeared as the office of ‘the twelve’ even before it became, as a result of the events of Pentecost, an office involving a mission, an ‘apostolate’ in the strict sense of the word. Today exegetical research has brought forth two concepts: ‘the twelve’ and ‘the apostles’, of which the first is older and the latter must be regarded as originating after Pentecost … .
