Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(2Co 11:5) “For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.”  By this statement, the Holy Spirit is having Paul establish himself as one “of” the apostles. Does that make thirteen? I would say, “yes”, which should not surprise anyone who studies the Old Testament. There are thirteen tribes, not twelve. Twelve are recognized because one is not mentioned, being taken for the priesthood. It is still a tribe.