Apostle 1
Matthias: The Twelfth Apostle
(School Name)
New Testament Survey 1302
Dr. C. Michael Milburn
(Date)
(Student Name)
Matthias: The Twelfth Apostle
21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us if His resurrection.”
23 And the proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these tow You have chosen
25 to take part in the ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.”
26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles. [1]
The Lord had just ascended and the recognized leader of the twelve (having been given that position in Matthew 16:18), Peter, stood up among 120 gathered and discussed the new business of the newly founded church. The very first order of business was to replace the disciple, Judas Iscariot, who had betrayed Jesus.” Twelve was a very important number to the Chosen People: twelve was the number of the twelve tribes of Israel. If the new Israel was to come from the disciples of Jesus, a twelfth apostle was needed” [2]
Among those gathered there were two who fit the qualifications outlined by Peter. These were men who had been with Christ since the beginning of His ministry. “The reason for this was simple, the new apostle must become a witness to Jesus' resurrection. He must have followed Jesus before anyone knew him, stayed with him when he made enemies, and believed in him when he spoke of the cross and of eating his body - teachings that had made others melt away” [3]As the scripture says, lots were cast and Matthias was determined to be the winner. Remember that this disciple was chosen by God as much as any of the others. The casting of lots was predicated by the prayer of Peter. God knew that “he was suited for apostleship by the experience of being with Jesus from his baptism to his ascension. He must also have been suited personally, or he would not have been nominated for so great a responsibility.”[4]
References
Catholic Online. (2000). “Saint Matthias”. Catholic Church Online. (accessed 3 September, 2009)
Jacquier, E. (1996). “St. Matthias, Apostle”. Catholic Encyclopedia (Trans. Joseph P. Thomas). (accessed 3 September, 2009)
OCA. (2006). “Apostle Matthias of the Seventy”. Orthodox Church in America. Retrieved (accessed 3 September, 2009)
St. Matthias Church. (2003). “Our Patron”. (accessed 3 September, 2009)
Traditioninaction. (2002). “Saint Matthias the Apostle—February 24th”. Saint of the Day. (accessed 3 September, 2009)
[1]New King James Version, Acts 1:21-26.
[2] Catholic Online.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Traditioninaction.