Peter’s words in
Acts 1:21-22 gives four points that must be met before a man could be “numbered with” the originally chosen twelve apostles. Without these four qualifications, no one could biblically be a “part of this” specific “ministry” (see
Acts 1:17,
Acts 1:25). The following is a list of these four points and whether or not Judas, Matthias, or Paul met their criterion:
1. men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us (verse 21)
Judas—Yes
Matthias—Yes
Paul—No
2. Beginning from the baptism of John (verse 22)
Judas—Yes
Matthias—Yes
Paul—No
3. unto that same day that he was taken up from us, (verse 22)
Judas—Yes
Matthias—Yes
Paul—No
4. must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. (verse 22)
Judas—Yes
Matthias—Yes
Paul—No
We know that Judas and Matthias met these four points. However, Paul did not, and as a result, Paul could not have been Judas’ replacement. This importance of this four-point criterion has witness in the New Testament, as seen in this verse:
Matthew 19:27-28
(27) Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
(28) And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Acts 10:39-41
(39) And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,
(40) but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear,
(41) not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
Luke 22:28-30
(28) Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
(29) And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
(30) That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
1 Peter 5:1
(1) The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
After the Holy Ghost fell, the Bible says Matthias was God’s choice to replace Judas. This is found in
Acts 2:14. There it says, “Peter, standing up with the eleven…” The “eleven” plus Peter equals 12 apostles. This is inspired scripture so I have to believe this math is accurate.
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