Apostle Matthias, whose name means “gift of God,” was the disciple chosen to replace Judas as one of the twelve Apostles. The Acts of the Apostles indicate that he was also one of the 72 disciples sent out by the Lord Jesus to preach the good news. Very little is known about Saint Matthias, whom we honor today. He likely lived in Galilee when Jesus began His public ministry, as he fits the description of “...one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us...” (Acts 1:21–22). Thus, he was certainly among Jesus’ first followers.
After Judas betrayed our Lord, the Gospel of Matthew states that Judas “went off and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:5). In the Acts of the Apostles, the Apostle Peter describes Judas’ death by saying, “...falling headlong, he burst open in the middle, and all his insides spilled out” (Acts 1:18). Regardless of the manner of Judas’ death, he was still one of the Twelve.
The number twelve is significant in the Bible, as it corresponds to the twelve sons of Jacob (later named Israel), who established the twelve tribes of Israel. Therefore, when Judas died, Peter recommended that someone be appointed to replace him, restoring the number of Apostles to twelve. Peter quoted Psalm 109, which prophesied, “May another take his office” (Acts 1:20).
Approximately 120 disciples gathered in Jerusalem to select a suitable successor, likely in the upper room where the Last Supper had been celebrated. They elected two candidates who had been with Jesus from the beginning, probably including some of the seventy-two disciples sent out on evangelization missions during His public ministry.
The Acts of the Apostles describes the selection process: “So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, ‘You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.’ Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles” (Acts 1:23-26).
Even though about 120 disciples were gathered, the Twelve were recognized as Apostles. Matthias's election took place before Pentecost, so when the Holy Spirit descended, it came upon Matthias as an Apostle, along with the unified body of the Twelve and the other disciples.
A significant theological point to consider is that since Peter organized the elevation of a disciple to the role of Apostle, it is clear that the Apostles did not believe that Jesus intended the role of Apostle to end with the deaths of the Twelve. Jesus intended their ministry to continue and expand beyond twelve as the Church grew beyond Jerusalem. The appointment of Matthias as an Apostle clearly teaches us that the Pope, the successor of Saint Peter, has the authority and responsibility to appoint new Apostles and bishops as needed.
After Matthias is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, nothing more is stated about him. We know very little about his life and ministry following his designation as one of the Church's first bishops. According to various traditions, Matthias travelled north to Cappadocia (modern-day central Turkey) and east to the Caspian Sea (modern-day Georgia). He often faced deadly peril, but the Lord preserved him to continue preaching the Gospel.
Saint Matthias was forced by pagans to drink poison, yet he remained unharmed and even healed other blinded prisoners. When he escaped, he became invisible to his captors. In their rage, the earth swallowed the pagans. Matthias then returned to Judea, spreading Christ's teachings and performing miracles, converting many to Christianity. The Jewish High Priest Ananias, who had previously ordered the killing of Apostle James, had Matthias arrested. Before the Sanhedrin, Matthias demonstrated the divinity of Jesus Christ using Old Testament prophecies. Ultimately, he was sentenced to death and was stoned.
After Saint Matthias's death, some Jews, perhaps hoping to deflect attention from their own actions, wrongly beheaded him and portrayed him as an enemy of Caesar. (Interestingly, some historians suggest that the Apostle Matthias might have actually been crucified and met his end in Colchis.) In 63 AD, the Apostle Matthias was honoured with the glorious martyr’s crown. Various traditions also tell us that he travelled to what we now know as Sudan and Ethiopia.
Early Church fathers recognised the existence of a Gospel attributed to Matthias, which, regrettably, has been lost over time and is considered apocryphal by Pope Gelasius. In a later century, Saint Clement of Alexandria, another esteemed Church Father, speaks of Saint Matthias, saying: “It behoves us to combat the flesh and make use of it, without pampering it by unlawful gratifications. As to the soul, we must develop her power by faith and knowledge.” This beautiful quotation shines a light on the profound spiritual wisdom of Saint Matthias regarding the importance of discipline and nurturing our faith.
Undoubtedly, the three years he spent as a disciple of Jesus equipped him well for his role as a bishop, where he played a crucial part in the conversion and sanctification of many. "The betrayer and his replacement teach us many life lessons, including to ensure that our own witness as followers of Jesus is clear and spotless."
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