Disciple – A follower or pupil of a teacher, leader, or philosopher.
To be a disciple of someone, you must literally be present with and follow a person and their instructions. The disciples today are being led and taught by people living today.
To be a disciple of Jesus Christ you would have to live during his lifetime and be personally taught by him. Today, there are no disciples of Jesus Christ.
Scripture records that Isiah had disciples … Isiah 8:16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
And John the Baptist had disciples … Matthew 9:14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? Luke 5:33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? Luke 7:18-19 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. [19]And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
And there are over 250 references to Jesus’ disciples. NOTICE that even though John the Baptist and Jesus preached the same salvation message to the same people (Israel only), they each had their own disciples … people that actually followed them and learned from them … student followers. There are no disciples of Jesus following his death … it is impossible.
Since Christ’s disciples were no longer actively following and learning from Christ as students, because He was no longer on earth, the gentiles and Jews started referring to the disciples of Jesus as Christians.
Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Paul did not have any disciples.
There are no disciples found in Scripture in, or between, the books of Romans to Revelation.
There are many disciples today, but they are the disciples of men. If someone tries to convince you that you are a disciple of Christ, it is proof that they have no understanding … as to the meaning of the word and especially concerning Scripture. If they have no understanding of Scripture, you should flee their profane and vain babbling.
See also Ambassador, Apostle, Christian, Messenger, Pupal, Student