Saint Matthias, (meaning, ‘gift of God’) was the chosen one to replace Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus Christ. After the ascension of Jesus Christ, all his disciples gathered in Jerusalem for fellowship and prayer, awaiting the fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit.
Biography: Birth : 1st Century Home Calling : – Homeland : Judea Place of Vision : Ethiopia
There, Peter, knowing the Scriptures (Psalm 109:8, Psalm 69:25) were to be fulfilled, proposed that another person should take Judas Iscariot’s place among the Apostles to continue the ministry. After praying together, the Apostles chose Matthias and numbered him with the eleven.
Though Matthias’s name is mentioned only twice in the Bible (Acts 1:23 and Acts 1:26), he accompanied Jesus and his disciples all the time. He witnessed the baptism of Jesus Christ, His miracles, His resurrection, and His ascension. This shows his constant devotion towards the Lord and his longing to hear the words of life.
Ever since Matthias was appointed as one of the Twelve, he took on a more important role in the early church after having received the Holy Spirit. It is said that Matthias was also one among the 70 disciples appointed and sent by the Lord, ahead of Him, to spread the Gospel in every town.
After the ascension of Jesus, Matthias being an apostle, carried the Gospel to some of the unreached parts of the world. He preached in Cappadocia, Jerusalem, the shores of the Caspian Sea (in modern-day Georgia), and Ethiopia. Despite the imprisonments and constant persecution by the people, he continued to preach the Gospel. He performed many miracles in the name of Jesus and healed the sick.
Though Jesus did not personally appoint Matthias, his close walk with the Lord teaches us two valuable lessons. First, portfolios and positions are not obligatory to serve God, and second, God exalts those who are faithful and consistent in their devotion. Matthias is said to be stoned to death by the cannibals. Saint Matthias
Biography: Birth : 1st Century Home Calling : – Homeland : Judea Place of Vision : Ethiopia
Ever since Matthias was appointed as one of the Twelve, he took on a more important role in the early church after having received the Holy Spirit. It is said that Matthias was also one among the 70 disciples appointed and sent by the Lord, ahead of Him, to spread the Gospel in every town.
Though Matthias’s name is mentioned only twice in the Bible (Acts 1:23 and Acts 1:26), he accompanied Jesus and his disciples all the time. He witnessed the baptism of Jesus Christ, His miracles, His resurrection, and His ascension. This shows his constant devotion towards the Lord and his longing to hear the words of life.
Though Jesus did not personally appoint Matthias, his close walk with the Lord teaches us two valuable lessons. First, portfolios and positions are not obligatory to serve God, and second, God exalts those who are faithful and consistent in their devotion. Matthias is said to be stoned to death by the cannibals. Saint Matthias
There, Peter, knowing the Scriptures (Psalm 109:8, Psalm 69:25) were to be fulfilled, proposed that another person should take Judas Iscariot’s place among the Apostles to continue the ministry. After praying together, the Apostles chose Matthias and numbered him with the eleven.
After his selection, St. Matthias was with the apostles on Pentecost, and after receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, he was filled with zeal. According to St. Clement of Alexandria, St. Matthias emphasized the importance of “mortifying the flesh to subdue sensual appetites – a lesson he learned from Christ and which he faithfully practiced himself” (Butler’s Lives of the Saints).
After the Ascension and before Pentecost, Peter stood up and addressed the community on the importance of choosing someone to succeed Judas Iscariot, and he quoted a Psalm in reference to the betrayer, “May another take his office” (Ps 109:8b; Acts 1:20). Peter then explained the selection criteria. The person must be “one of the men who accompanied us the whole time that the Lord Jesus came and went among us” (Acts 1:21), “beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to the resurrection” (Acts 1:22). Two men were nominated as worthy from among those who had traveled with Jesus throughout his ministry, Joseph Barsabbas, also known as Justus, and Matthias.
St. Matthias began his preaching ministry in Jerusalem and throughout Judea. Then he made a major missionary journey to Cappadocia which is located in far northeastern Asia Minor, as far as Georgia at the southern edge of Russia along the Caspian Sea. He proclaimed the gospel with fervor and sincerity, and as a result he suffered bitter persecution from nonbelievers. He was martyred sometime near 64 AD in Colchis which is located in the Caucasus Mountains north of Cappadocia. Accounts of his death differ; either he was crucified on a wooden cross or beheaded with a halberd, a military weapon that is the combination of a spear and a battle axe. His remains were eventually taken to Jerusalem to be venerated, and then transferred to Rome by Queen St. Helena.
Then, instead of taking a vote, it was decided that lots would be cast to make the choice. The usual method was to write each candidate’s name on a separate stone, place the stones in a container, shake the container, and the first stone to fall out would be the one chosen. By praying first and then leaving it to “chance,” the selection was made by God, the one who knows the hearts of all, and not by men, thereby eliminating the possibility of favoritism or error.
Two men met this requirement and St. Matthias was chosen by casting lots. He joined then became the 12th Apostle and was with all the Apostles at the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. St. Clement of Alexandria an early Christian Theologian noted that Matthias was chosen the same as other disciple, not because of what he already was but because of what he would become. Jesus foresaw the potential for all of His children, including us. As Matthias was welcomed as an Apostle, so too are we encouraged to accept newcomers with open arms.
St. Matthias the Apostle was the twelfth apostle chosen after the Ascension of Jesus. His appointment served as the replacement for Judas, who betrayed Jesus with a kiss on the cheek. Saint Peter was charged with the task of choosing an apostle for this replacement. He had one requirement; someone who had been a disciple of Christ from the beginning of his ministry. It had to be someone who knew all Jesus had said and done, so he could be a witness of Christ.
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