Apostles: Sent, or called to release and send others?

Acts 1:8 defines what the disciples will be: "you will be my witnesses to Jerusalem ... Samaria ... the ends of the earth". Note the certainty. Its not 'might be', or 'hopefully will be'.

Yet among that early band of disciples, were they? Did they live up to the spec?

We have to wait until chapter 8 until we clearly get beyond Jerusalem, and at that point it is not necessarily the apostles spear-heading the outward movement. It is other arguably less experienced servants like Philip who are thrust out into the forefront. To some extent the apostles are effectively playing 'catch up'. Furthermore the activity is generated by a displacement event: persecution (8:1) with the apostles somehow or for some reason staying behind.

I believe in pioneer leadership. Yet it seems to me that there are times when those in the 'top leadership positions', with all the experience and maturity rightfully recognised in them, need to wise up and see how the next move of the Spirit will be to send out those younger or less experienced out into the wild, pioneering situations.

Should it take a displacement event to do that? Well perhaps sometimes that is even necessary.