The question of whether Matthias or Paul was God’s chosen replacement for Judas as the 12th apostle is an interesting one that is debated among Bible scholars. In Acts 1, after Judas betrayed Jesus and later died, the 11 remaining disciples decided to select a 12th apostle to fill Judas’ place. The criteria was that the new apostle had to have been with Jesus from His baptism by John until His ascension. Two men were proposed – Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias. After praying, the 11 disciples cast lots and the lot fell on Matthias, so he was added as the 12th apostle (Acts 1:15-26). However, later in Acts, Saul (who became Paul) has a dramatic conversion experience and becomes a prominent apostle and missionary for the early church. Paul refers to himself as an apostle, equal to the 12 (1 Cor. 15:9, Gal. 1:19). So did God intend for Paul to be the 12th apostle instead of Matthias?
There are good arguments on both sides of this issue:
Case for Matthias being the legitimate 12th apostle:
- Acts 1 says the 11 disciples carefully followed the criteria to select someone who was with Jesus from the very beginning. Matthias fit the criteria.
- The disciples prayed for the Lord’s guidance before selecting Matthias by casting lots. This was a common Old Testament method for discerning God’s will.
- The book of Acts presents the selection of Matthias in a positive light, with no indication it was a mistake.
- Church tradition often refers to “the twelve apostles” and sometimes includes Matthias in the lists.
- Paul himself refers to the twelve apostles in 1 Corinthians 15:5, which could include Matthias.
- Paul emphasizes his own conversion experience and calling as an apostle, but he does not directly claim he was the 12th apostle or deny Matthias’ legitimacy.
Case for Paul being the intended 12th apostle:
- The criteria the disciples used to select Matthias is not applied to Paul. His apostleship seems to be based on his encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus.
- Paul refers to appearing to “the twelve” in 1 Corinthians 15:5, but this may or may not include Matthias. The “twelve” could just refer to the original group.
- Paul claims equality with the twelve and the title of apostle in multiple places, which implies he may have considered himself the true 12th apostle.
- Paul was unequivocally chosen by Christ Himself to be an apostle. The selection of Matthias was not as direct.
- Paul’s missionary journeys and letters had much more influence in establishing the early church than Matthias, who is not mentioned again after Acts 1.
- The use of casting lots to make decisions declined later in church history as other methods of discerning God’s will emerged.
In summary, both Matthias and Paul have credible claims for being the 12th apostle. Matthias was carefully chosen by the 11 to fill Judas’ spot based on clear criteria and the casting of lots, a common Old Testament practice. He continues the original 12 started by Jesus. Paul, on the other hand, was directly chosen by Christ Himself in a miraculous appearance, and his missionary work and writings were foundational for the early church. Scholars debate whether the casting of lots for Matthias was God’s perfect will versus His permissive will, and if Paul should have rightfully been the 12th apostle based on his calling and influence. In any case, both Matthias and Paul ended up serving important roles in the early church.
There are several relevant Bible passages that provide insight into this topic:
Acts 1:15-26 – This passage describes how Matthias was selected as the replacement for Judas. Key details include:
- Peter initiates the selection process among the 120 believers gathered in Jerusalem (v. 15)
- Peter establishes criteria – someone who was with them the whole time Jesus was ministering (v. 21-22)
- Two men are proposed – Joseph Barsabbas and Matthias (v. 23)
- The Eleven pray for the Lord to show which of the two he has chosen (v. 24)
- They cast lots, and the lot falls to Matthias (v. 26)
1 Corinthians 15:3-9 – Paul references Christ appearing to “the Twelve” after His resurrection in v. 5. He also defends his own apostleship in vv. 8-9, calling himself “the least of the apostles.”
Galatians 1:11-24 – Paul details his conversion experience and calling as an apostle from God, not from men. He mentions visiting Cephas (Peter) and James, the Lord’s brother (v. 19).
Romans 1:1 – Paul introduces himself as “a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle.”
1 Corinthians 9:1-2 – Paul rhetorically asks if he is “not an apostle” and says he has seen the risen Lord, indicating that is the basis for his apostleship.
Overall, the biblical texts do not provide definitive proof one way or the other. The selection process of Matthias seems to be portrayed positively, while Paul unquestionably declares himself an apostle repeatedly. There are plausible explanations from the text for either Matthias or Paul to be considered the true 12th apostle.
In the interest of exploring this topic further, here are some additional theological perspectives to consider:
1. Luke may have included the selection of Matthias to provide narrative closure. By showing the 11 disciples following the stated criteria to select a 12th, Luke finished the story of re-establishing the Twelve before transitioning to focus on other topics in Acts. This potentially implies Matthias filled the symbolic need for 12 apostles, but Paul may have still functionally held that unique role later.
2. God’s sovereignty should be recognized in both processes. While the selection methods were different, God could have providentially worked through both the casting of lots for Matthias and the direct revelation to Paul. God is not limited by human means.
3. Later church history favored Paul. While early tradition often included “the Twelve,” most church fathers that mentioned this debate favored Paul as the 12th apostle. The missionary focus on Paul’s writings reinforced his authoritative role.
4. Apostleship had different categories. Jesus chose the original 12, but “apostle” became a broader term. James the brother of Jesus and Barnabas are also called apostles. Matthias and Paul may represent different types of apostles.
5. This apparent biblical tension sparks continued study. The lack of definitive clarity on whether Matthias or Paul should be the 12th apostle prompts deeper analysis of biblical texts and theological concepts like God’s will, election, and calling.
In conclusion, the question of whether Matthias or Paul replaced Judas as the 12th apostle is an intriguing one. Both have reasonable explanations from Scripture and church history for their role. One approach is to recognize God’s ordination in both their selections, though their ministries differed. Paul became more influential in establishing church doctrine and practice. This unresolved tension continues to prompt careful study and discussion of the issue of God’s will in the early church.
While we may not be able to determine conclusively from Scripture whether Matthias or Paul was the 12th apostle after Judas, the rich theological conversation sparked by this question drives us deeper into God’s Word. The lives of both Matthias and Paul as apostles were used by God, though in different ways. Debating their exact roles leads us to explore important biblical truths related to election, calling, God’s sovereignty, the nature of apostleship, and more. Rather than being divisive, this can lead to edifying discussion and continued scriptural learning in the body of Christ.