And who decided that?
Oh, you know what I'm going to say... :)
FK: The argument has been made around here (I don't remember by whom) that none of the Apostles were true believers until Pentecost. While I'm not sure of that, if it is true, then Judas is certainly left out.
It was probably me. I said they were followers before they became believers. They certainly didn't display the courage they displayed after the Pentecost.
Yes, that's why I think that argument has some merit, even though I don't share that view. Just from my last post, you brought up John 17, and it says:
John 17:8 : For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
This whole passage says to me that Jesus was praying for the disciples (along with all future believers of course :) AS true believers. As you say or imply it is inarguable that the Bible says that before Pentecost (virtually, if not) all of them BLEW IT big time. However, it is not clear to me at all whether these mistakes disqualified them as true believers.
The question is whether they would have persevered had Christ not appeared before them. And if they were true believers, then why was it necessary for them to receive the Holy Spirit?
But the Bible contradicts (oh, it's that word again!) itself on when the Holy Spirit was received. Mark (12:36) says that David received the HS. Luke (1:15) says John the Forerunner (Baptist) was filled with the HS in the womb. According to Luke (1:45), also, his mother, Elisabeth was also filled with the HS.
Again, Luke (2:25) says that a man by the name Simeon was just and devout and that the HS was upon him. And in Acts (1:16), presumably Luke again, says that the HS spoke by the mouth of David.
Yet, John (7:39) says "The Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." That verse leaves very little room for any exceptions.
So, the Gospels do not agree on this issue.
Whatever the case may be it is undeniable that, after the resurrection, the disciples become Apostles without fear, which is quite the opposite of how they acted before.
So, definitely a life-changing events took place for them to become transformed from followers who scooted like scared little bunnies when the chips fell down, to fearless and zealous announcers of the Gospel.
I don't think there is a skeptic in this world who can deny this.