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The Greek verb apostello [伪蟺慰蟽蟿蔚位位蠅] occurs 132 times in the New Testament. It means to 鈥渟end away,鈥 鈥渟end out,鈥 or 鈥渟end off.鈥 The noun form is apostolos, which means 鈥渙ne who is sent out鈥 and is the origin of the English word apostle. It is used throughout the New Testament to refer to persons or things being sent. Morphologically, apostello is formed by combining the Greek preposition apo, which means 鈥渙ut of鈥 or 鈥渇rom,鈥 and stello, which means 鈥渢o put in order鈥 or 鈥渁rrange.鈥 Etymologically, apostello came to simply mean 鈥渟end.鈥
At least 25 verses in the Bible use apostello to refer to God 鈥渟ending鈥 Jesus (see Matthew 10:40; Mark 9:37; Luke 9:48; John 3:17). Another 28 verses use apostello to refer to God or Jesus sending someone or something (see Matthew 10:16; Mark 11:1; Luke 9:2; John 17:18). In Luke 11:49, Jesus refers to God鈥檚 statement, 鈥淚 will send [apostello] them prophets and apostles [apostolos闭.鈥
As a result of the word鈥檚 prevalence in the New Testament, apostello has been used by many churches, Christian organizations, missions agencies, and causes as part of their name. Every Christian is ultimately a 鈥渟ent one鈥 (Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 1:8). We are all sent to proclaim the gospel to the lost and dying world that surrounds us. Whether it is to someplace near or somewhere far away, we are all sent as God鈥檚 ambassadors.
