Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas as a Disciple

“Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers…So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when He was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to His resurrection. And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed…And they cast lots for them and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” –Acts 1:12-15, 21-24a, 26 (ESV. Read Acts 1:12-26).

Following Jesus’ ascension and after the two men (angels) had asked them why they stood gazing up into heaven, the disciples and others who had witnessed the resurrection returned from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem. This was “a sabbath’s day’s journey,” the length set by Jewish tradition that one could walk on the Sabbath and it not be work, about 0.6 of one mile or 1 kilometer. They went to “the upper room where they were staying.” Many believe this was the same upper room where Jesus met with his disciples for the Passover Meal and the institution of the Lord’s Supper on the night of His arrest. Scholars also believe the room may have belonged to Mary, the mother of Mark (see Acts 12:12). Luke in writing Acts lists the names of the eleven; all are present on that important occasion. Peter who has been restored by Christ is now the convener, the spokesman (remember how the Lord singled Peter out at the post-resurrection appearance at the Sea of Galilee and told him, “Feed my sheep”?). He first reports on the death of Judas the betrayer. He does not spare details of Judas’s suicide and the subsequent desecration of his body, but reminds those gathered that Judas’s end was prophesied in Psalm 69:25. And then Peter quoted from Psalm 109:8 that another was to be selected to take the position vacated by Judas.

A requirement for selection of the new twelfth member of the apostles (those sent) was to be a man who had been with them, traveled about with them and heard Jesus teach, one who had been with them from the time John the Baptist baptized Jesus until the Lord was taken up, and therefore a witness to the resurrection. Two qualified and were nominated, Joseph and Matthias. After prayer, they “cast lots” (voted) for which of the two would be the new apostle (for the designation of this special group of twelve had now changed to apostles—those sent—from disciples—learners). Scholars tell us that “lots” were probably marked stones placed in a pot and shaken until one fell out. This was a common Jewish way of selecting persons for a task. The lot fell to Matthias. It is significant that the number should be twelve—representative of the twelve patriarchs of Israel and also of the number Jesus Himself had selected to be His inner circle. The church was to be “built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets” (Ephesians 2:20, Revelation 21:14). We do not read of Matthias after his selection. Luke does not give further accounts of his work as an apostle. We are not to read into this that he was not true to his election. Acts highlights some of the major events in the early church and does not account fully for all the twelve and their involvement in spreading the gospel and attending to the work of the early church. The name Matthias means “gift of Jehovah.” The fact that his name is not mentioned again in the New Testament should not lead us to believe he was a wrong selection. Many serve without honor and recognition. His selection set a precedent for the church. We still call out and choose persons for the work of proclamation, teaching and ministry. Praise be to God.