noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
Primarily refers to the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ in Christian contexts. Can also be used figuratively for a devoted follower or pioneer of a cause.
ペテロはイエスの使徒の一人です。
Peter is one of Jesus' apostles.
彼は平和運動の使徒と呼ばれている。
He is called an apostle of the peace movement.
From Chinese 使徒 (shǐtú), literally 'messenger' or 'envoy'. The term was adopted in Japanese to translate the Christian concept of 'apostle'.