Assessment of Religious Knowledge (ARK) Practice Exam

The correct choice identifies the original Apostles that Jesus specifically appointed to spread His teachings. According to the New Testament, Jesus chose twelve men to be His closest disciples. These individuals were not just followers; they were given special authority to preach and teach. They represent the foundational leadership of the early Christian church.

The significance of these twelve men lies in their direct relationship with Jesus and the formative role they played in establishing the Christian faith. Each Apostle had unique characteristics and backgrounds, but together they were entrusted with the mission to spread the gospel after Jesus’ resurrection.

Other choices, while they contain elements related to early Christianity, do not accurately represent the group chosen by Jesus as the Apostles. The mention of women in the first option highlights the important role women played in Jesus’ ministry, but they were not designated as Apostles. The second option refers to the broader group of disciples that Jesus sent out, but these disciples were different from the inner circle of twelve Apostles. The last option misidentifies the structure of church leadership at that time, as bishops and priests developed in later stages of the early church, not as the original group chosen by Jesus.