Lexical Definition

‎ἀπόστολος‎ apóstolos (ap-os'-tol-os) apostle ^G:N-M
from ‎ἀποστέλλω‎

apostle, messenger, he that is sent.

• a delegate
• specially, an ambassador of the Gospel
• officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers)

Abbott-Smith

ἀπόστολος, -ου, ὁ (< ἀποστέλλω), [in LXX; III Ki 14:6 A (שְׁלִיחַ)*;]
1. a fleet, an expedition (Dem.).
2. a messenger, one sent on a mission (Hdt., LXX, III Ki 14:6, and π.; v. M, Pr., 37 f.; MM, s.v.; M, Th., i, 2:7 and reff.): Jo 13:16, II Co 8:23, Phl 2:25.
3. In NT, an Apostle of Christ
(a) with special ref. to the Twelve: Mt 10:2, Mk 3:14, Lk 11:49, Eph 3:5, Re 18:20, al., equality with whom is claimed by St. Paul, Ga 1:1, 11 ff, I Ti 2:7, a1.;
(b) in a wider sense of prominent Christian teachers, as Barnabas, Ac 14:14, apparently also Silvanus and Timothy, I Th 2:6, and perhaps Andronicus and Junias (Junia?), Ro 16:7 (v. ICC, in l.); of false teachers, claiming apostleship: II Co 11:5, 13, Re 2:2. (On the different uses of the term in NT, v. Lft., Gal., 92-101; Cremer, 530; DB, i, 126; DCG, i, 105; Enc. Br., ii, 196 ff.)

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἀπόστολος-ος, ὁ,

messenger, ambassador, envoy, ὁ μὲν δὴ ἀ. ἐς τὴν Μίλητον ἦν[Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐς Λακεδαίμονα τριήρεϊ ἀ. ἐγίνετο he went off on a mission to Laced., [Refs]

__b commander of a naval force, [Refs 5th c.AD+]
__2 messenger from God, [LXX]; especially of the Apostles, [NT]
__II ={στόλος}, naval squadron or expedition, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀπόστολοςον ἀφιέναι, ἀποστέλλειν, ποιεῖσθαι, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.2 colony, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
__II.3 ={ἀποστολή}, of envoys, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__II.4 ἀπόστολοςον, τό, with or without πλοῖον, packet, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.5 ἀπόστολοςος, ὁ, order for dispatch, of a vessel, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
__II.6 export-licence, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.7 genitive uncertain, cargo dispatched by order, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: LXX.1Kgs.14.6 ☩ Matt.10.2}