The Apostles will stand as witnesses on the day of judgment, testifying that they bore special witness to all people everywhere to become part of the House of Israel, and also that they taught the house of Israel the truth, and some would not listen and obey. In this sense they will stand as judges over the House of Israel. The House of Israel represents the Church of Christ (but it does also represent all Israelites by birth, at some instances).

The word Apostle, According to the Greek dictionary, is derived from the Greek Apostolos, from Apostellein, meaning: to send away. And in the Christian Church this sending away was to teach and expound, to preach, to lead, to heal the sick, to raise the dead, to cast out unclean spirits, to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost, etc. But most of all, to be an Apostle was to be a Special Witness of Jesus Christ.

Jesus called twelve disciples to prepare for the Apostleship. In order to be a special witness, an Apostle, the here-to called must have seen and heard things worth testifying of! The special witnesses must know the fabric of the man, his character, his teachings, and his powers, and they must have received a personal revelation from God that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. This was the nature of the preparation to become Apostle.

By right of seniority in the Apostleship Peter was the presiding High Priest, and as such he would receive revelation as to whom he would call to sit in council with. And Jesus made it very easy for Peter in deed, since he chose James and John to be the ones to stand by Peter in the leadership of the Church, while he was still on the earth.

It's quite clear that Jesus groomed his senior Apostle to shoulder his mantle after his crucifixion. One example of this is the wonderful chance Jesus gave Peter to redeem himself after having denied Jesus on the night of his crucifixion:

31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. (Matthew 26:31-35)

Of course, Peter did deny Jesus thrice, and wept bitterly. But Jesus, who knew the bravery of Peter, didn't wait many days before he had this conversation with Peter:

14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:14-17)

Thrice he denied, and thrice he was permitted to affirm his love directly to Jesus. There is no doubt that the denial crossed Peter's mind as he was asked again and again if he loved the Lord.

Peter's position as the leader of the Twelve Apostles was confirmed:

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. (Matthew 16:13-20)

Verse 18 of this passage has been greatly misunderstood. When Peter answered Jesus' question, "Whom say ye that I am?" with "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God", Jesus says something that (in our translations) is quite ambiguous: "flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." But the ambiguity cannot be detected without a bit of pondering, and a bit of whispering of the Holy Spirit. Let us start at the end of the quote, and work it from there…

"…and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it". Notice that it doesn't say prevail against "you" or against "him", which Jesus would have said if the "rock" upon which he would build his church was Peter! Or if Jesus meant Peter and his successors, then Jesus would have said "them".

So what was Jesus talking about? "…for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven". Revelation! Personal revelation! This is what Jesus talked about! Let me paraphrase this passage in a way that is not ambiguous:

…And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon son of Jona: for people hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven.

And I say also unto thee, that because of this revelation you are solid as a rock, and upon the rock of revelation I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against revelation.

So, the actual proclamation of the leading position of Peter is found in verse 19, not in verse 18.

When Paul had been appointed, he and his two counselors were being prepared. In order to withstand persecution, in order to really know, never doubting, Peter, James and John were singled out, being the three presiding High Priests, or Presiding Apostles, to receive a witness from even God the Father. This placed them in a position of leadership over their brethren among the twelve, and as leaders over the entire Church, after Jesus was gone.

2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. (Mark 9:2-9)