God Replaced Judas With a Man Youve Never Heard Of: The Incredible Story of the 13th Apostle

Who Was Matthias, the Forgotten Apostle Chosen by God to Replace Judas?

February 24 marks the feast day of Saint Matthias, the man Scripture records as the apostle chosen by divine lot to fill the vacancy left by Judas Iscariot's betrayal and death.

Matthias, whose name derives from the Greek meaning "gift of God," was a faithful follower of Jesus throughout His entire earthly ministry. He is believed to have been among the seventy disciples whom Christ sent out in pairs to preach the Gospel (Luke 10:1).

After the Ascension, the remaining 120 believers gathered in Jerusalem. The Apostle Peter, citing Psalm 109:8, declared that Judas's position must be filled. The qualifications were clear: the candidate must have accompanied Jesus from the baptism of John through the Resurrection.

Two men met the criteria: Joseph Barsabbas, also called Justus, and Matthias. After fervent prayer, the community cast lots, and Acts 1:26 records the result:

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

This made Matthias the thirteenth apostle, a title he holds to this day.

After his selection, Matthias disappears entirely from the New Testament record. According to tradition recorded by the historian Nicephorus, Matthias first evangelized in Judea before traveling with the Apostle Andrew to Colchis, in what is now the nation of Georgia, where he was martyred by stoning.

Georgian tradition identifies his burial site at the Roman fortress of Gonio. Other accounts claim his relics were later transported to the Abbey of Santa Giustina in Padua, Italy, and eventually to the Benedictine Abbey in Trier, Germany, where they were rediscovered in 1127. That abbey became a major medieval pilgrimage destination.

Matthias was never formally canonized by papal decree, but he is universally regarded as a saint and martyr across Christian traditions. The Church of England observes his feast on February 24, while the Roman Catholic Church moved it to May 14 following the Vatican II reforms of 1969.

The Apostle Matthias: What Every Christian Should Know About His Life and Legacy

In pre Reformation times, the faithful prayed to Saint Matthias for perseverance, particularly when they felt overlooked or passed over. The prayer used to select him made him a natural patron saint for those seeking God's will in difficult decisions, especially those considering ordained ministry or religious vocations.

His story remains a powerful reminder that God's purposes cannot be thwarted by human treachery. Where Judas fell, Matthias was raised up. The Church endured, the apostolic mission continued, and the Gospel went forth to the ends of the earth.

The Crusader's Opinion

Matthias is proof that God does not leave vacancies unfilled. When Judas chose thirty pieces of silver over the Son of God, the Lord already had a man waiting in the wings. That is the nature of divine sovereignty. Evil does not get the last word. Betrayal does not break the mission. Every Christian who has ever felt overlooked, passed over, or forgotten should take heart from this story. God sees the faithful. He rewards those who endure. The world celebrates the loud and the famous. God chooses the steadfast.

Take Action

• Read Acts 1:15 through 26 today and reflect on how God fills the gaps that sin creates in His Church.
• Pray for persecuted Christians around the world who, like Matthias, serve faithfully in obscurity. Support them through Open Doors or www.TheShepherdsShield.org.
• Share this story with a fellow believer who may be feeling overlooked in their calling. Remind them that God sees faithful service.
• Support persecuted believers in Georgia and the Caucasus region through Voice of the Martyrs.
• Attend a church service this week honoring the apostolic tradition and the unbroken line of faith from Matthias to today.