Christian Martyr - Matthias the Apostle

There is not much known of Matthias the Apostle? We know that he was elected to replace the disciple that had betrayed Jesus, who was known as Judas.

We also know that the name Matthias signifies "gift of God." He was also in the group of the seventy two disciples that Jesus had sent out before him.

"After this the Lord appointed seventy two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go." (Luke 10:1)

Interesting to know, for we had always heard about the twelve disciples in Jesus' inner circle, but hardly anything about the seventy two disciples that he had sent out ahead of Him.

Understand that this is a group of disciples that had worked courageously and tirelessly behind the scenes. Jesus had sent them out two by two to every place and town that he was about to go, in which he gave them these instructions:

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

"When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house." (Luke 10:2-7)

It was during these days that we would had learnt that Peter had stood up among the group of believers which numbered around one-hundred-twenty. Peter told them about Judas betraying Jesus, an how he went and brought himself a field with the money he had earn for his deceit.

Peter continues to tell them how Judas had hung himself in that same field, and how his body had burst open spilling out his intestines in the process. After everyone in Jerusalem had heard about this they named that field "The Field of Blood."

We now have Peter confirming that this group of seventy two disciples were with Jesus from the beginning of His ministry, up to when He ascended to the Eternal Kingdom.

"Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time Jesus was taken from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection." (Acts 1:21-22)

So after Peter had said this; they had proposed that the choice should be between two men? One which was Joseph who was also called Barsabbas, who also had the surname "Justus," and the second person was called Matthias.

Now after they had selected these two, they then prayed to the Lord asking Him to show them which one out of these two He preferred. Then they cast lots and the lots fell to Matthias, who was then added to the eleven apostles.

Matthias is said to have been stoned in Jerusalem, and soon after his stoning he was beheaded.

1) Stephen the Deacon

2) James the Apostle

3) Philip the Apostle

4) Matthew the Apostle

5) Andrew the Apostle

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7) John Rogers

8) Alban of Verlamium