To what extent was Matthias generally accepted as the twelfth Apostle in succession to Judas, after the latter's betrayal of Jesus? The outstanding position of Paul in later times has led to a very general feeling that he was the twelfth Apostle although there is no statement to that effect in the New Testament. He was certainly an Apostle, but conceivably of a different order, like Barnabas (Acts 14.14) who is also called an Apostle. In any case Paul was virtually unknown to the Apostles, except Peter, or to the Judean and Galilean churches for at least ten years after the Resurrection. It is unlikely that these believers would readily have accorded him the status of one of the Twelve unless and until they had become thoroughly familiar with him. The account in Acts 1.15-26, relating how Matthias came to be selected as the successor to Judas immediately after the Ascension states plainly that he was accepted by the assembled church as such after prayer and the seeking of the Lord's will.

The question is sometimes raised as to the precise meaning of the phrase in Acts 2. 14 "But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said". Does this imply that Peter was included in the 'eleven' or that he stood up with eleven others? If the latter, it is clear that Matthias was present and shared in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit with its miraculous gifts. This, in turn, if correct, would seem to imply Divine acceptance of Matthias as one of the Twelve.

The answer to the question lies in the usage of the preposition 'sun'- with. Parallel instances in the New Testament seem conclusive that the meaning here is that Peter stood up with eleven others; there were twelve in all. As illustration, note the following examples, Acts. 1. 14 "These all (apostles) continued …in prayer with the women," and "Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brethren."

"Wherefore of these men… must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection."

Acts 3. 4 "And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John."

Acts 3. 8 "And he, leaping up       . . . entered with them into the temple."

Had the writer of Acts intended to convey that Peter was included in a total number of eleven he would have used a different preposition meaning 'among' as he did in fact use in numerous instances of which the following are examples.

Acts 1.17 "He (Judas) was numbered among us."

Acts 4.34 "Neither was there any among them that lacked."

Acts 5.12 "By the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people."

It is true that Matthias is never mentioned again in the New Testament. His later life and career are completely unrecorded. In this he is not alone. Neither are those of the apostles Andrew, Thomas, Bartholomew, James of Alpheus and Simon the Zealot. Absence of further reference is evidently no indication of Divine non-recognition. It is more probable that Matthias continued to be recognized as one of the Twelve in Judean and Galilean circles of the Early Church and spent his life among them, as did others. So Matthias did faithful pastoral and missionary labours among the home Churches while Paul and Barnabas, Apostles to the Gentiles, wrought mightily in mission fields far away from the original birthplace of the Church.

The word Apostle means one sent forth, or one dispatched as an ambassador. The Twelve Apostles were so named by Jesus because they specially represented Him and went forth to preach His message. After His Ascension it was felt that the members of the Twelve should all have been witnesses of his resurrection, a logical enough conclusion if they were to continue as his representatives and ambassadors. Matthias was evidently one of the many believers who had seen the Lord after his resurrection, and also had companied with him during his lifetime from the beginning of his ministry (Acts 1.21-22). Paul could claim by reason of his experience on the Damascus road to be a witness to the Lord's resurrection but not to have companied with him during his life on earth. The Apostleship of Paul was exercised in a different sphere and it is possible that after all it was Matthias who completed the number of the Twelve, at least in the eyes of Jerusalem Christians. In any case the Twelve separated soon after Pentecost and were scattered over the Eastern world and they never functioned as an entity again.

AOH