The apostles were the followers of Jesus Christ who went from place to place telling people about him and trying to persuade them to become Christians.
...the twelve apostles.
Synonyms: evangelist, herald, missionary, preacher More Synonyms of apostle
2. countable noun
An apostleof a particular philosophy, policy, or cause is someone who strongly believes in it and works hard to promote it.
Her mother was a dedicated apostle of healthy eating. [+ of]
More Synonyms of apostle
apostle in British English
(əˈpɒsəl)
noun
1. (often capital)
one of the 12 disciples chosen by Christ to preach his gospel
2.
any prominent Christian missionary, esp one who first converts a nation or people
3.
an ardent early supporter of a cause, reform movement, etc
4. LDS Church
a member of a council of twelve officials appointed to administer and preside over the Church
Word origin
Old English apostol, from Church Latin apostolus, from Greek apostolos a messenger, from apostellein to send forth
apostle in American English
(əˈpɑsəl)
noun
1.
a person sent out on a special mission
2. [usuallyA-]
any of the twelve disciples sent out by Christ to teach the gospel: originally, Andrew, Bartholomew, James (the younger, son of Alphaeus), James (the elder) and John (sons of Zebedee), Jude (or Lebbaeus or Thaddaeus), Judas Iscariot, Matthew (or Levi), Philip, Simon the Canaanite, Simon (called Peter), and Thomas (or Didymus); Paul, the “Apostle to the Gentiles,” was not among the original twelve; Judas was replaced by Matthias
3.
the first Christian missionary in a place
4.
any of a group of early Christian missionaries
5.
an early advocate or leader of a new principle or movement, esp. one aimed at reform
6.
any of the twelve administrative officials of the Mormon Church
Word origin
ME < OE apostol < LL(Ec) apostolus < Gr apostolos, person sent forth < apostellein < apo-, from + stellein, to send: see still1
Synonyms of 'apostle'
evangelist, herald, missionary, preacher
supporter, champion, advocate, pioneer
More Synonyms of apostle
All related terms of 'apostle'
apostle bird
a gregarious grey-and-brown Australian nest-building bird, Struthidea cinerea
apostle spoon
a silver spoon with a figure of one of the Apostles on the handle
Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Titus
Saint . a Greek disciple and helper of Saint Paul . Feast day: Jan 26 or Aug 25
Epistles of Paul the Apostle to Timothy
Saint . a disciple of Paul , who became leader of the Christian community at Ephesus . Feast day: Jan 26 or 22
First and Second Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians
→ the First and Second Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians
the First and Second Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians
two books of the New Testament
1 (noun)
Definition
one of the twelve disciples chosen by Christ to preach his gospel
the twelve apostles
Synonyms
evangelist
A noted evangelist was preaching to a rather hostile congregation.
herald
She hovered by the hearth while the herald delivered his news.
missionary
He plays the part of a missionary who meets a woman of doubtful morals.
preacher
a self-educated Methodist lay preacher
messenger
The document is to be sent by messenger.
proselytizer
2 (noun)
Definition
an ardent supporter of a cause or movement
They present themselves as apostles of free trade.
Synonyms
supporter
a major supporter of the tax reform plan
champion
advocate
He was a strong advocate of free market policies.
pioneer
proponent
a leading proponent of the values of progressive education
propagandist
a brilliant propagandist for free trade
propagator
see also subject word lists:
See The Disciples of Jesus
Additional synonyms
in the sense of advocate
Definition
a person who upholds or defends a cause or course of action
He was a strong advocate of free market policies.
Synonyms
supporter,
spokesman or woman or person,
champion,
defender,
speaker,
pleader,
campaigner,
promoter,
counsellor,
backer,
proponent,
apostle,
apologist,
upholder,
proposer
in the sense of herald
Definition
a person who announces important news
She hovered by the hearth while the herald delivered his news.
Synonyms
messenger,
courier,
proclaimer,
announcer,
crier,
town crier,
bearer of tidings
in the sense of messenger
Definition
a person who takes messages from one person or group to another