Apostles: Was Matthias the rightful replacement for Judas?
I can still remember how around fifty years ago I was taught that he wasn’t and that it was the apostle Paul who was the rightful replacement for Judas. I can certainly see how some people would wonder what difference this makes. But something that may seem insignificant in this case is extremely important for your understanding of the Bible. For roughly two thousand years, Christendom has focused on Peter as though he was the head of the church today. What confusion this has created, even in what matters most—the means to one’s salvation. Acts 2:38 has been seen by many as our gospel message and Matthew 28:19-20 or even Mark 16:15-20 has been seen as our commission. But what about all that? You’ll find articles on this website explaining them both. I hope you’ll make good use of them.
Concerning our gospel—
Gospels: Did Peter & Paul preach the same gospel?
Concerning our commission—
Commission: Which one is ours?
If Christendom can get these very important things wrong, we should not be surprised about the situation with Matthias. Paul and his writings are thought to be irrelevant even though Scripture tells us the words of Paul ARE the words of Christ to us IN OUR TIME.
1 Corinthians 11:1
1 Be ye followers of me [Paul], even as I also am of Christ. [Emphasis added]
Paul was the “chosen vessel” God used for this.
Acts 9:15
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: [Emphasis added]
We are told that Paul, not Peter is the apostle to the Gentiles!
Romans 11:13
13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [Emphasis added]
It is the writings of Paul that serve to be our foundation today for the things we’re to believe and do.
Romans 16:25
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, [Emphasis added]
Because of the influence of Christendom, people are shocked to hear that there are TWO gospels in the Bible and that it is the one given to us by Paul that is ours for people today.
Galatians 2:7-8
7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
Christendom and many of their Bible translations lump these two into one gospel, but the Greek text of this passage clearly tells us there are clearly two, not one.
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) [Emphasis added]
Even some professing dispensationalists criticize Peter and the 10 for appointing Matthias as the replacement for Judas, instead of waiting for Paul’s conversion. Again, what confusion there is about all this! Long–standing false traditions are always a powerful force to be reckoned with to bring people around to believing the truth. To get a clear understanding of all this we’ll take it one point at a time.
The first thing we need to know about this is that Peter and the ten had divine authorization to pick a replacement for Judas.
Acts 1:15-26
15 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,)
16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms [Psalm 109:8], Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
For some years I followed the teachings of a pastor who would rant and rave about this appointment, claiming that Paul was the rightful replacement. But I eventually found that he was not only wrong about this, but a lot of other things.
24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. [Emphasis added]
This may seem strange to us as a way to pick his replacement, but such was not uncommon in the history of Israel. There were many instances where people were selected for important positions through the casting of lots. Even “the promised land” was divided between the tribes of Israel by the casting of lots.
Joshua 18:10
10 And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions. [Emphasis added]
Casting lots for decision-making was not uncommon at all to Israelites. Furthermore, Peter was fully authorized to do what he did as a way to replace Judas. Their act was prophesied.
Psalm 109:8
8 Let his days be few [those of Judas]; and let another take his office. [Emphasis added]
We would probably never know the meaning of this prophecy if Judas had not done what he did. This verse, inspired by the Holy Spirit [Acts 1:16], gave Peter and the 10 the authority they needed to appoint the twelfth replacement apostle. They did not need the coming of the Holy Spirit to guide them concerning this since there was already Scripture written about this occasion providing all the guidance they needed.
Before His crucifixion the Lord Jesus Christ told the apostles they would eventually sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel.
Matthew 19:27-28
27 Then answered Peter and said unto him [Jesus], Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration [PALINGENESIA = born again (when the nation of Israelites would experience a new birth)] when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. [Emphasis added]
Later, our Lord makes this promise to the apostles again.
Matthew 24:34-35
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. [Emphasis added]
Please read my article about why that ultimately WAS NOT fulfilled in that generation—
Jesus Christ: Will He return in this generation?
The promised kingdom for Israel has not been canceled but it has been postponed. Because Israel rejected her Messiah, the prophetic timeline was interrupted and something totally unknown to all was introduced—The Dispensation of the Grace of God of which we are a part today. The Bible speaks of it as having been a mystery, that is, a secret that had been held in the mind of God. At the time of Acts 9 God saved the biggest rebel of them all—Saul of Tarsus. He then through this man introduced this period of history of which we are a part today. How long this period of history will last is something no one knows. I have several articles on this website that help to explain all this—
Jesus Christ: Why did He stand at the stoning of Stephen?
Dispensations: When did ours begin?
Bible: What is the Dispensation of Grace?
The ruling of the Twelve Tribes of Israel will begin when Christ comes back to the Earth to establish His earthly kingdom that will last for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:1-6
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
The thousand years is literal. Never let anyone ever convince you to believe otherwise.
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. [Emphasis added]
Beyond these thousand years will be what is often called The Eternal State.
We’re told that the man who was to replace Judas had to meet two qualifications. He had to first be one who had followed Christ from the time of John the Baptist’s ministry. Secondly, he had to be one who had followed Christ up until the time of His ascension into Heaven [Acts 1]. The apostles were given by our Lord the authority to conduct this appointment.
Luke 22:28-29
28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; [Emphasis added]
Matthew also speaks of this.
Matthew 19:28
28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. [Emphasis added]
God also authorized the casting of the lots to determine who it would be.
Proverbs 16:33
33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. [Emphasis added]
Furthermore, we see in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians that he spoke of the “the twelve” apostles meaning that he saw Matthias as the legitimate replacement for Judas.
1 Corinthians 15:3-5
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: [Emphasis added]
When he speaks of “the twelve” he can’t be including Judas in his numbering because he was already dead before all the resurrection appearances of Christ.
Conclusion—
Matthias was, therefore, the legitimate replacement for Judas. One reason this is so important is that the idea that Paul was one of the twelve apostles takes away from the fact that he was “the” apostle to the Gentiles. The Twelve Apostles were apostles to Israel, having a very different message and ministry. Even their gospel message for salvation was not the same as Paul’s.
Galatians 2:7 again
7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; [Emphasis added]
Neither Matthias nor the other eleven were apostles to the Gentiles as Paul was.
Romans 11:13 again
13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [Emphasis added]
Putting Paul with Peter and the message of the other apostles is what we could call “wrongly” dividing the Word of God. It is quite the opposite of what we’ve been commanded to do but where nearly all Christendom stands today.
2 Timothy 2:15-16
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. [Emphasis added]
