Derived from apostello ('to send away'), apostole denotes the office and commission of one sent with full authority on behalf of another. In its four New Testament occurrences it refers exclusively to the apostolic ministry -- the divinely authorized mission entrusted to the Twelve and to Paul. At Acts 1:25 it names the office vacated by Judas; at Rom 1:5 and Gal 2:8 Paul speaks of the apostleship he received by grace; at 1 Cor 9:2 the Corinthians themselves are the 'seal' of his apostleship. Spanish apostolado and French apostolat both preserve the institutional, office-bearing nuance, while German Apostelamt ('apostle-office') makes the official character explicit.