God’s true witnesses are a very select group of people.  All but two of them are actually named.

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They are John the Baptist, Christ’s apostles, and the two witnesses yet to come, who are spoken about in Revelation chapter 11.  The only witness on earth between the apostles and those in Revelation 11, is the Holy Spirit Himself.  No other believers are ever referred to as the Lord's witnesses.

 

Firstly; John the baptist was a witness of the Lord's arrival.   

His purpose was to herald the beginning of Christ’s ministry to the nation of Israel, and to announce Him as the Son of God.  “There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.  He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.  He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.  The true light that gives light to every man, was coming into the world.” (John 1:6-8) 

So John the baptist was “sent from God”.  God chose John to be a witness before his birth; it was not something that John decided by himself.  He was told beforehand what he would see, and then he testified that he had seen it.

 “Then John gave this testimony;  ‘I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.  I would not have known him, except the one who sent me to baptise with water told me,  ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain on is he who will baptise with the Holy Spirit’.  I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God’” (John 1:32-34)

So John the baptist was called by God.  He is named, and he testified about what he saw.  “I have seen and I testify”.  

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God's calling is crucial.  The witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ are not simply people who saw Him when He walked the earth. Scripture makes it obvious that many thousands of people saw the Lord Jesus at one time or another, and many put their faith in him.  Yet they were not chosen to be His witnesses. 

 

The true witnesses were all specifically chosen by God and commanded to preach.  As Peter declares, “He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen - by those of us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.  He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead” (Acts 10:41-42).  God chose them, and God commanded them to preach. ​​​

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The Lord Jesus handpicked his disciples to be witnesses of His resurrection before the event took place.  He told them that they would see him after the resurrection, but the world would not.  He said, "Before long, the world will not see me any more, but you will see me.  Because I live, you also will live." (John 14:19)   

 

They are specifically named when He called them to Him and sent them out (apart from Judas Iscariot, who betrayed the Lord and was replaced).

“He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.  These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;  Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;  Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.  These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.  Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.  As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matt. 10:1-8)

This was an event that took place before Christ’s death and resurrection, so the disciples were only allowed to preach the approach of the kingdom of heaven to the Jews.  But the Lord Jesus goes on to tell the chosen disciples that they will eventually become his “witnesses” to the gentiles as well.   “On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles” (Matt 10:18).  The Lord did not say this to a large crowd of people.  He said it to his apostles alone.  They were the ones who had been with him and were chosen to testify about what they had seen.  The Lord told them, “When the counselor comes, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.  And you must also testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.” (John 15:26-27)   

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Once again, after the resurrection, Jesus commanded his apostles to preach:  “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some doubted.  Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” (Matt.28:16-20)  

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We are told again in the beginning of the book of Acts, that the Lord Jesus showed himself to the apostles after his resurrection; “After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.  On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptised with water, but in a few days, you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit’.  So when they met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom of Israel’?  He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’”   (Acts 1:3- 8)   

The Lord was speaking to His apostles alone when he said, “you will be my witnesses - to the ends of the earth”.  However, He also told them that they needed to receive the Holy Spirit before they started their ministry.  These men are specifically named again in the following passage: “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.  When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying.  Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.  They all joined  together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.  In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, ‘Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago’”.  (Acts 1:12-15)  We can clearly see the separation of duty between those whom God had called to be His witnesses, and the other believers who were present.  The apostles began to take hold of their roles in leadership and teaching.  It says, “Peter stood up among the believers”.  The other “believers” are never referred to as witnesses.

 

When the time came to replace Judas the betrayer, it was necessary to appoint someone who had also seen the events that the other apostles had seen: “Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who has been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us.  For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.  So they proposed two men.  Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.  Then they prayed ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart.  Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take over the apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs’.  Then they cast lots and the lot fell to Matthias, so he was added to the eleven apostles.”  (Acts 1:21-26)

According to this passage, Matthias was “chosen” by God to “become a witness”. Even though “Joseph called Barsabbas” had seen all the same things, he was not called as a witness.

 

After Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot, God’s promise of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled in Acts 2:1- 4, it says, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”    

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When they had been filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter began to preach.  He declared, “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact” (Acts 2:32).  In other words, they were there when it took place – they saw it happen!  That is what “we are all witnesses of the fact” means.   

The Lord's witnesses were chosen by him to testify about salvation through his death and resurrection.  They declare themselves to be witnesses of these events once more in Acts 5:30-32, (here, the Holy Spirit is also declared to be a witness)  “The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead - whom you killed by hanging on a tree.  God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour, that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.   We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

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The apostle Paul also declares who God’s true witnesses are.  “But God raised Him from the dead, and for many days He was seen by those who had travelled with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem.  They are now His witnesses to our people”.  (Acts 13:30-31)

 

The apostle Paul became the final witness to the resurrection of the Lord, when Christ appeared to him on a road near Damascus.  “As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me’?  ‘Who are you Lord’? Saul asked.  ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting’ he replied. ‘Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what to do.'  Saul got up from the ground but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.  So they led him by the hand into Damascus.” (Acts 9:3- 6)   

A man named Ananias was then sent to Saul to restore his sight.  “But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go, this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.  I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.  Then Ananias went to the house and entered it.  Placing his hands on Saul, he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’"  (Acts 9:15,16).  Paul was chosen by the Lord Himself.  

There is no doubt that the Lord Jesus himself appointed Paul as a witness, just as He did with the other apostles.  We are told clearly:  “Then I asked, ‘Who are you Lord?’  ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ The Lord replied.  ‘Now get up and stand on your feet.  I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.’” (Acts 26: 15-16)

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So it's clear that these people were chosen and appointed as witnesses by the Lord Himself.  Does this mean that those who worked alongside the apostles were also referred to as witnesses? No!

 

Even those who aided the apostles in their ministry were never referred to as ‘witnesses’.  They were called “brothers”, “co-workers”, "fellow servants" and “evangelists” or "ministers", but never “witnesses”.  For example: “We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith” (I Thess. 3:2)

 

In his letter to the church at Colosse, Paul makes it clear that the believers there had heard the message from a co-worker named Epaphras.  It says, "All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all it's truth.  You learned it from Epahras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit." (Col. 1:6-8).  Epaphras is referred to again in Col. 4:12 and in Philemon 1:23.  It's clear that Epaphras is spreading the gospel and his work is bearing fruit, but he is never referred to as one of God's witnesses.  He is called a "fellow servant", a "minister" and even a "fellow prisoner" with Paul, but he is never referred to as God's witness.  This is a title reserved for those whom God appointed. 

                       

 ARE THERE ANY MORE WITNESSES AFTER THE APOSTLES?   

 

In the book of Revelation, we are told about things that will happen up to the end of time itself.  We can read about the multitudes whom God has chosen to be with Him in His heavenly kingdom from Israel and all the nations of earth.  None of these people are referred to as his witnesses - ever!  They are his “servants”, “they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb”.  “They are before the throne of God”.  They are in heaven with his angels, but they are not called his witnesses.

 

The Lord Jesus Christ is referred to as "The Amen, the true and faithful witness, the ruler of God's creation." (Rev. 3:14)  Apart from the Lord, there are only two people referred to as witnesses in the entire book of Revelation- “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” (Rev. 11:3).  Exactly when this will happen, we don't know.  But it will happen just as God has promised.  God has already chosen these men, and they will appear on the earth in His time.

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During our time (the period between the apostles and the two witnesses in Revelation 11), the only "witness" on earth is the Holy Spirit: "We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him" (Acts 5:32)

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Those who go around knocking on doors claiming that they are God's witnesses are clearly contradicting God's word by doing so.  And we in Christ have the Holy Spirit to confirm these things, if we are faithful enough to read His word and do the things we are commanded to.