Matthias the Apostle
Apostle chosen by lot to replace Judas Iscariot.
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Matthias (born c. 1st century AD – died c. AD 80) was an apostle in Christianity. According to the Acts of the Apostles, he was chosen by God through the remaining apostles to replace Judas Iscariot after Judas's betrayal of Jesus and subsequent death. His selection was unique: although he had known Jesus throughout Jesus's earthly history, Matthias was chosen by casting lots after Jesus's ascension to heaven.
Reader's Guide
Matthias's significance lies in his role as the apostle chosen to restore the number of the Twelve after Judas's defection, a process that emphasized divine guidance through the casting of lots. His story underscores the early church's concern for continuity and apostolic authority. However, all information concerning his ministry and death is vague and contradictory. Traditions vary widely: some say he preached in Cappadocia and near the Caspian Sea, others in Judaea and Ethiopia (Colchis, modern Georgia), where he was crucified.
Another tradition holds he was stoned in Jerusalem and then beheaded. Hippolytus of Rome claims he died of old age in Jerusalem. Relics are claimed in Padua, Trier, and Gonio-Apsaros, Georgia. The lost Gospel of Matthias is attributed to him but considered heretical by early Church Fathers.
Did You Know?
- Matthias was chosen by lot, not by direct appointment by Jesus, making his apostleship unique.
- His name is variable: the Syriac version of Eusebius calls him 'Tolmai', not Matthias.
- Clement of Alexandria observed that Matthias was not chosen along with the other apostles but showed himself worthy to substitute for Judas.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Matthias the Apostle (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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