Choosing Matthias

And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:26 NASB20

Matthias fills a position of an Apostle from off the bench (so to speak) as a substitute for Judas who had betrayed Christ and then took his own life. This new Twelfth Apostle gets little mention as we could readily move on to some of the more miraculous events of Acts. (Luke mentions Matthias only twice in these verses.)

What I missed before Peter’s great preaching at Solomon’s Portico in the Temple was the Apostle’s taking up the mantle of leadership of the Church in an upper room in Jerusalem.

After Ten Days Peter finally Acts: Shepherding Christ’s Flock

Acts 1:

Acts of ALL with one accord

And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

Acts 1:15 KJV *Note: μαθητής – mathētēs translated as disciples in the KJV refers to learners of a teacher, not to be confused with Apostles; other versions translate as ἀδελφός adelphos–generally translated as brethren (in Christ)

Why replace Judas?

After a hundred disciples of Jesus returned to Jerusalem and waited together, we can suppose that the Holy Spirit reveals to Simon Peter why Judas must be replaced by a twelfth Apostle.

“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.”

Acts of the Apostles 1:16-17 NASB – Simon Peter preaching to the hundred in Jerusalem

What had David said that applied to Judas now, a thousand years later?

Peter preaches by the same Holy Spirit who inspired David of what is written in the Psalms.

.. the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David foretold about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.17 For he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”

18 Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages. He fell headfirst, his body burst open and his intestines spilled out. 19 This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that in their own language that field is called Hakeldama (that is, “Field of Blood”). 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms:

Let his dwelling become desolate;
let no one live in it; and
Let someone else take his position.

Recalling Judas’ betrayal in the upper room and in Gethsemane

In his first account Luke records Judas’ betrayal of Jesus nearly two months prior to Peter anointing his replacement shortly after Christ’s ascension into heaven.

Luke 22:

Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve..

“This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant in My blood.

But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table. For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”

Gospel of Luke 22:21-22 – Jesus foretells His betrayal by Judas at the last supper

That fateful night two months past in Gethsemane

23 And they began to debate among themselves which one of them it was who was going to do this.

While he was still speaking, suddenly a mob came, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

49 When those around him saw what was going to happen, they asked,

“Lord, should we strike with the sword?” Then one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear.

(We know that it was Peter who cut off the ear of Malchus.)

51 But Jesus responded, “No more of this!” And touching his ear, he healed him.

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Preaching Scripture

Peter had learned well from Jesus the lessons of Scripture for three years.

During more than a month following Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection the Lord certainly must have instructed His disciples of the great significance of events recorded in the Bible (their Old Testament or Old Covenant).

Luke records Jesus’ routine of teaching in Jerusalem, which Peter and the Apostles most certainly would have followed during these first days of the Church.

Now [days] during the day [Jesus] He was teaching in the temple, but [nights] at evening He would go out and spend the night on the [hill] mountain that is called [Olive Grove] Olivet.

And all the people would get up very early in the morning to come to Him in the temple to listen to Him.

Gospel of Luke 21:37-38 NASB [incl. footnotes]

Did you miss this during all the times you have heard the gut-wrenching drama of Christ’s Passion during the Lord’s last week in Jerusalem?

I did.

And you may have even wondered about Jesus preaching about David in Psalm 110 from Luke 20.

Peter also points back to David and Psalms in his understanding of replacing Judas recorded by Luke in Acts.

Jesus and Judas, Like David’s enemy

Psalm 41:

All who hate me whisper together against me;
They plot my harm against me, saying,

“A wicked thing is poured out upon him,
So that when he lies down, he will not get up again.”

Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread,
Has lifted up his heel against me.

Psalm 41:9 NASB

How Peter and the Eleven must have also suffered in failing to discern the betrayal of their fellow Apostle.

Psalm 69:

May their camp be desolated;
May there be none living in their tents.

For they have persecuted him whom You Yourself struck,
And they tell of the pain of those whom You have [pierced] wounded.

according to [lilies] Shoshannim. A Psalm of David. 69:25-26 NASB20

Psalm 109:

A Psalm of David.
God of my praise,
Do not be silent!

.. In return for my love they act as my accusers;
But I am in prayer.

So they have [laid upon me] repaid me evil for good,
And hatred for my love.

May his days be few;
May another take his office.

Psalm 109:8 NASB – quoted by Peter in Acts 1:20

Peter connects David’s Psalm to Judas

Acts 1:

14 They all were continually united in prayer..

Now Peter by the Holy Spirit speaks of replacing the Apostolic office of Jesus’ betrayer.

21 “Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us— beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us—from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

YES, during the three years of Jesus’ earthly ministry MANY disciples followed the Lord, believed His teaching and witnessed His acts of miraculous signs only possible through the Lord God.

A helpful early church history linked below provides insight about casting lots used by the Apostles to choose Matthias over Joseph. 

Matthias: an Apostle by Providence

“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”
Proverbs 16:33

It was crucial to the remaining 11 Apostles that the number 12 Jesus had chosen be completed again. They chose as candidates two equally qualified disciples, prayed, cast lots and Matthias was chosen.

Sandra Sweeny Silver – EARLY CHURCH HISTORY—LIFE IN ANCIENT ROME & THE EARLY CHRISTIANS – CASTING LOTS IN THE BIBLE

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24 And they prayed and said,

“You, Lord, who know the hearts of all people, show which one of these two You have chosen to [take the place of] occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”

And they [gave] drew lots for them, and the lot fell [upon]to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

Acts of the Apostles 1:26 NASB – the selection of Matthias as a twelfth Apostle

Matthias

Μαθθίας

Matthias = “gift of God” -the apostle elected to fill the place of the traitor Judas [Acts 1:23, 26]

– apparently a shortened form of G3161; Matthias (i.e. Mattithjah), an Israelite:—Matthias.

• Mattathias = “gift of Jehovah”
  • the son of Amos, in the genealogy of Christ
  • Mattathias was the son of Semei in the genealogy of Christ

LUKE records in his Gospel genealogy, beginning at 3:23

And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi.. which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos.. which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei.. which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David.. [ etc.. ] the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

Of Hebrew origin מַתַּתְיָה (H4993)

• Mattithiah = “gift of Jehovah”
• Mattithiah occurs in 8 verses in the KJV, always a son of the priestly line of the Levites.

Matthias – a post script

We do not read of Matthias again in Acts or the pastoral letters; but aren’t you wondering what awaited this important Apostolic ministry for this new twelfth Apostle?

Here is a reliable, little-spoken historical account (though not by Luke).

The Apostles in Jerusalem & all the world

• About two thousand Christians, with Nicanor, one of the seven deacons, suffered martyrdom during the “persecution that arose about Stephen.”
  • God-willing, we will read more about Steven in Acts 7.
• James the son of Zebedee was martyred about ten years later in A.D. 44.
  • As mentioned in my introduction to Acts, Luke had not yet recorded even his Gospel until about A.D. 60.
• Philip thrown into prison [in Phrygia] , and afterwards crucified, A.D. 54.
• The Apostle and Gospel-writer Matthew was slain with a halberd [a two-handed battle axe] in the city of Nadabah, [Ethiopia] A.D. 60.
• At the age of ninety-four [James the Less] was beat and stoned by the Jews; and finally had his brains dashed out with a fuller’s club.

Matthias
Of whom less is known than of most of the other disciples, was elected to fill the vacant place of Judas.

He was stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded. *

SOURCE: FOX’s BOOK of MARTYRS

https://www.ccel.org/f/foxe/martyrs/fox101.htm

* Other traditions claim that Matthias was martyred in Cappadocia [modern day Turkey]. 
-- St. Jerome and the early Christian writers Clement of Alexandria and Eusebius of Caesarea attest that Matthias was among the 72 disciples paired off and dispatched by Jesus. - Source: Britannica 

* OR Died	c. AD 80
Jerusalem, Judaea or in Colchis (modern-day Georgia) 
-- The tradition of the Greeks says that St. Matthias planted the faith about Cappadocia and on the coasts of the Caspian Sea, residing chiefly near the port Issus. Source: Wikipedia

NEXT: The Acts of Pentecost

To be continued...