‘The role of the apostles as witnesses to the fact that the crucified and buried Jesus rose from the dead is central for Luke. This role is emphasized in the commissioning of the apostles (Lk 24:48; Acts 1:8), and it is central both in the description of the criteria of apostleship when the need arose to replace Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:21–22) and in Peter’s preaching and teaching (Acts 2:32; 3:15; 4:2, 10, 33; 5:32; 10:41). The apostles are “distinctive in their role as Jesus’ authorized delegates, witnesses to the reality of his resurrection and expounders of its significance” (Clark, 178). The witness is confirmed by God in the signs and wonders that happen in their ministry (Acts 2:43; 3:1–10; 4:16; 5:12, 14; cf. Acts 4:30).’

E.J. Schnabel, Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, 2nd ed, art. ‘Apostle’