Matthias

Who Matthias is

Matthias appears in two verses of Acts and nowhere else in the text supplied here. Before he is named, the standard for the choice is stated: the man must be one of those who companied with the others all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among them, beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up, so that he can be a witness with them of his resurrection. Two men are then appointed, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. Those present pray, addressing God as the one which knowest the hearts of all men and asking him to show which of the two he has chosen to take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell. They give forth their lots, the lot falls upon Matthias, and he is numbered with the eleven apostles. The account says nothing further about him: no words of his own, no act, and no later mention.

Cited passages: Acts 1:21, Acts 1:22, Acts 1:23, Acts 1:24, Acts 1:25, Acts 1:26

Historical setting

Two verses hold everything the text gives: his name in a pair of candidates and the result of the lot. No father, home, trade or age is named, he speaks no recorded word, and no act is credited to him. The qualification at 1:21-22 is stated of the candidates as a group rather than of him in particular, so the text does not describe what he personally saw. The prayer asks God to show his choice and the lot is said to fall on Matthias; the narrator passes no judgment on the method and does not say the choice was right or wrong. The other candidate, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, disappears from the account in the same verse. Neither man is mentioned again in this book.

Cited passages: Acts 1:23, Acts 1:26, Acts 1:21, Acts 1:22, Acts 1:24

How the story is told

Matthias enters as half of a pair and is identified by an outcome rather than by anything he does. The account gives the requirement, the prayer and the result, and withholds every reason: it never says why these two were appointed, what distinguished them, or what the assembly thought afterward. The single sentence that changes his standing is also the last that names him, and he is numbered with the eleven apostles. The chapter then closes, and the next scene belongs to the whole company rather than to him. His name marks the completion of a number more than the arrival of a person.

Cited passages: Acts 1:23, Acts 1:24, Acts 1:26, Acts 1:25, Acts 2:1

Story moments

1. The standard for the choice (Acts 1:21). The candidate must be someone who accompanied the others throughout Jesus's public activity.
2. Two men appointed (Acts 1:23). Joseph called Barsabas, surnamed Justus, and Matthias are put forward.
3. The prayer before the lot (Acts 1:24). Those present ask God, who knows all hearts, to show which of the two he has chosen.
4. The place Judas left (Acts 1:25). The prayer describes the position as the ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell.
5. The lot falls on Matthias (Acts 1:26). Matthias is chosen by lot and numbered with the eleven apostles.

Key passages

Acts 1:23

And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

Acts 1:26

And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

King James Version. 2 indexed passages in total.

For reflection

The text names Matthias twice and then never again, and gives him no words. What do you do with a person an account brings forward only to record a result?

Books Matthias appears in

• Acts

Related people

• Jesus Christ
• David
• Peter
• Mary, Mother of Jesus
• John the Baptist
• John the Apostle
• Jacob
• Andrew