Matthias Ματθίας, Μαθθίας
Apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot.
Biography
Matthias was a disciple of Jesus who was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot as one of the twelve apostles after Judas' betrayal and death. In the days following Jesus' ascension, the apostles gathered to pray and choose a replacement for Judas. The criteria for the new apostle were that he had to have been with Jesus from His baptism by John until His ascension and be a witness to His resurrection. Two men were proposed: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. After praying, the apostles cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias, who was then numbered with the eleven apostles (Act.1.21-26). Although not much is known about Matthias' life and ministry after this event, his selection as an apostle demonstrates the importance of maintaining the twelve as the foundation of the early church, representing the twelve tribes of Israel.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentActs 2 verses Study available
- Acts 1:23
"They put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias."
Study Acts → - Acts 1:26
"They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles."
Study Acts →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Greek | Ματθίας, Μαθθίας | G3159 |
Matthias
y Judas Iscariot (Ac 1:15-26). This election was held at Jerusalem, and the meeting was presided over by Peter. The conditions demanded of the candidates were that they should "have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto the day that he was received up from us," and that the one chosen should "become a witness with us of his resurrection" (Ac 1:21,22). The mode of procedure was by lot, and with prayer was the election made (compare Ac 1:24).
Hilgenfeld identifies Matthias with Nathanael (compare NATHANAEL). He was traditionally the author of the "Gospel of Matthias," a heretical work referred to by Origen (Hom. on Lk, i), by Eusebius (Historia Ecclesiastica, III, 25, 6) and by Hieronymus (Proem in Matth.). No trace of it is left. The Gnostic Basilides (circa 133 AD) and his son Isidor claimed to ground their doctrine in the "Gospel of Basilides" on the teaching Matthias received directly from the Saviour (Hippol., vii.20) (compare Hennecke, Neutestamentliche Apokryphen, 167). Various parts of the apocryphal "Contendings of the Apostles" deal with the imprisonment and blinding of Matthias by the Ethiopian cannibals, and his rescue by Andrew (compare Budge, Contendings of the Apostles, II, 163, 164, 267-88; see also ANDREW). According to the Martyrdom of Matthias (Budge, II, 289-94) he was sent to Damascus, and died at Phalaeon, a city of Judea. Other sources mention Jerusalem as the place of Matthias' ministry and burial.
C. M. Kerr
mat-i-thi'-a (mattithyah, or mattithyahu, "gift of Yah"):
(1) The Mattithiah of Ne 8:4 (1st spelling) was one of those who stood at Ezra's right hand while he read the law (