Are apostles and prophets on top?

There is a fundamental flaw in the minds of many regarding the role of apostles and prophets. Please understand that these are ministry gifts and so we could have immature apostles and prophets as much as immature teachers and pastors. 

Let us understand the function of an apostle clearly. First of all, apostles are those who have a specific commission and have been set apart for that particular task. Paul and Barnabas was ministering in the church when they they specifically commissioned by Holy Spirit. I believe this is a vital point and is mostly overlooked. Today we have apostles who are as surprised as we are when someone lays hands on them and tells them they are apostles! They may not even know what to do next. 

Secondly apostles are not independent of churches but they are accountable and have to report back to the churches that sent them. Inside the church where they came from, it is not the apostle that takes authority over the elders but is one among them (John and Peter call themselves elders) and so the plurality of leadership in the church is not violated. An apostolic ministry can be as varied as we see in Epaphroditus (Paul calls him an apostle in Phil 2:25) and if they are called to establish churches, they should be willing to relinquish authority as soon as elders are appointed. 

Thirdly, just because someone has a healing and deliverance ministry does not qualify him as an apostle. He may be an anointed evangelist as in the case of Philip. The verse in 2 Cor 12:12 is widely misunderstood. Paul is not saying that the signs of a true apostle are signs and wonders and miracles alone. Paul himself says in 1 Thess 2:9 that Satan will come with signs and false wonders. Paul's emphasis in 2 Cor is that the apostle was indeed one because he manifested the quality of perseverance. The context of that verse is patient endurance through hardships, difficulties and persecutions which is the hallmark of a true apostle. TNIV brings out that verse aptly.