Acts 1:26

‘And they gave lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.'

Choice by lot had been common in Israel right from the first giving of the Urim and Thummim which probably worked on the same basis. The Urim and Thummim appear to have allowed answers of ‘yes', ‘no' and ‘no answer'. It may be that it was the same here. We should note the forethought and prayer that accompanied this decision. The lots were not used lightly. Candidates for priestly offices in Israel were regularly selected on the same basis. Compare Proverbs 16:33, which does not mean that any use of lots produces the right results, but that it is so when used rightly and prayerfully. The lots could be shaken in a vessel, with the one that fell out giving the choice, or could be by throwing down objects and receiving the answer accordingly. But note that the lot was only called on once the choice had first been limited to two equally desirable candidates with little to choose between them, by the use of careful thought and consideration and prayer. It was not just a quick fix. It simply gave the Lord the last say.

The final selection was approved by the whole church, and Matthias was ‘numbered with the eleven Apostles'. He was seen as replacing Judas under the Lord's instruction.

We should perhaps therefore note his involvement in the Apostolic ministry that followed:

· He stood with Peter and the other ten on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14).

· He would be one of those who taught the early believers (Acts 2:41).

· He was one of those through whom wonders and signs were done (Acts 2:43).

· He was one of God's servants through whom it was prayed that God would cause His word to be spoken boldly, accompanied by signs and wonders in the name of God's holy Servant, Jesus (Acts 4:29).

· With the other eleven he stood and preached in Solomon's porch when none dared join with them, and was held in high honour by the people (Acts 5:12).

· He was arrested along with the other eleven and imprisoned, and with them was released from prison by an angel during the night (Acts 5:18), and went back with them at daybreak to the Temple, boldly to continue their ministry (Acts 5:21).

· With the other eleven he was set before the council and questioned (Acts 5:27), and when they were reminded that they had been charged not to preach in the name of Jesus, was one of those who replied that they had no alternative (Acts 5:28).

· Along with the eleven he was beaten, and charged not to speak in the name of Jesus and let go, and subsequently rejoiced that he was counted worthy to suffer for the Name, and continued preaching and teaching (Acts 5:40).

· With the other eleven he stressed that no hindrance should be put on his teaching ministry (Acts 6:2)

· He remained with the other Apostles in Jerusalem when persecution caused the believers to be scattered (Acts 8:1). It may well be that the persecution was at this time mainly aimed at the Hellenists.

· He was still in Jerusalem with the other Apostles when they determined to send Peter and John to oversee the ministry among the Samaritans (Acts 8:14). (Note there how Peter is subject to the authority of all the Apostles).

· In chapter 15 he would almost possibly be a part of the general assembly that made the decision to accept Gentiles without circumcision and not put on them the whole burden of the ceremonial Law.

It is apparent then that Matthias was kept very busy and played his full part in the Apostolic ministry, even though we lose touch with him after chapter 15, as we do with most of the Apostles.