5. How does the example of the apostles show that not all must do the same in the ministry?

⁵ Does being whole-souled mean that we must all do the same amount in the ministry? That could hardly be possible, for circumstances and abilities differ from soul to soul. Consider the faithful apostles of Jesus. They were not all capable of doing the same amount. For instance, we know very little about some of the apostles, such as Simon the Cananaean and James the son of Alphaeus. Perhaps their activities as apostles were rather limited. (Matthew 10:2-4) In contrast, Peter was able to accept many weighty responsibilities—why, Jesus even gave him “the keys of the kingdom”! (Matthew 16:19) Yet, Peter was not elevated above the others. When John received the vision of New Jerusalem in the Revelation (about 96 C.E.), he saw 12 foundation stones and on them inscribed “the twelve names of the twelve apostles.”a (Revelation 21:14) Jehovah valued the service of all the apostles, even though some evidently were able to do more than others.