Remembrance of the life and ministry of the Apostle Matthias
Matthias was chosen by the early Church to take the place of Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:18-26). Along with the Apostle Paul, Matthias was not one of the original Twelve Disciples chosen by Christ. Matthias (a contraction of Matithiah or Matthew) was among those who followed Jesus during his earthly ministry. Often it is imagined that only the twelve followed Jesus during his ministry, but upon closer examination of Scripture, it becomes evident that there often many more than the twelve. Matthias was chosen by lot over Joseph Barsabas, to be one of the apostles, supplying the vacancy left by Judas Iscariot who had committed suicide (Acts 1:23-26). It is likely, as Eusebius and Epiphanius have suggested, it is likely that he was one of the seventy disciples.Apostle Matthias
Concerning the election of Matthias to the apostolic post, different opinions have arisen. The most natural, however, is the one given in Scripture. After the address of Peter, the whole assembly, of about 120 (Acts 1:15), proceeded to nominate two, namely, Joseph, surnamed Barsabas, and Matthias. These two fulfilled the requirements necessary for inclusion into the apostolic band. Following prayer, they proceeded to choose between the two men by the casting of lots, perhaps by writing the name of one of the candidates on a tablet and casting it into an urn, and then drawing out one of the two names. In this manner, it is likely that the apostles were seeking to follow a practice established by the Levitical law (Leviticus 16:8), referring the decision to God (cf. Proverbs 16:33). Following the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, this method of election was not used again. It would seem that Paul was the divine appointee for the vacancy of Judas.Apostle Matthias
Day of Remembrance
Apart from the information given about him in the first chapter of Acts, little is known of him. One tradition of the Church suggests he preached the Gospel in Ethiopia or Cappadocia, and finally suffered martyrdom. But according to another tradition, Matthias preached in Judea, and was stoned to death by the Jews then beheaded. Early in the life of the Church an apocryphal gospel arose which bore his name. In Western Christendom, the life and ministry of Matthias is remembered on May 14.
Apostolic Symbol
The life and ministry of Matthias is symbolized by a Bible (sometimes open) and a sword or double bladed battle-ax across it, alluding to the tradition which suggests that he was first stoned and then beheaded with an ax because of his fidelity to Christ.
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Bartholomew, one of the twelve apostles of Christ (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13) is generally believed to have been the same individual who is called Nathanael in John’s Gospel. The justification for this opinion is that in the first three gospels Philip and Bartholomew are constantly named together, but Nathanael is nowhere mentioned. In the fourth gospel Philip and Nathanael are mentioned in combination, but nothing is said of Bartholomew. Of the gospel writers, John uses Nathanael to describe this apostle while the other Read more...
The Apostle Andrew, the brother of St. Peter, carried the Gospel to many Asiatic nations, beginning his missionary endeavors in the Provinces of Vithynia and Pontus on the southern shores of the Black Sea. It is believed that he subsequently traveled to the City of Byzantium where he established a church.
In one of his missionary tours to Achaia (Greece), Andrew visited the city of Patras where his preaching and miracles drew many to Christ, including Maximilla, the wife of the Roman Proconsul, Aegeates. The Proconsul's own brother, StratRead more...
The life and ministry of the Apostle John, son of Zebedee, is observed annually on December 27 by Christians in the West. St. John was distinguished as a prophet, an apostle, and an evangelist. He is known as the beloved disciple or "the disciple whom Jesus loved," and was the younger brother of James the Great. The two brothers, and sons of Zebedee, were known as the "sons of thunder." John was previously a disciple of John the Baptist, and after becoming a disciple of Jesus was not only one of the Twelve Apostles, but one of the three membersRead more...
Matthew was a common Jewish name after the Jewish exile. In the lists of the apostles, Matthew, who was also known as Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke v. 27), is coupled with Thomas (Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15). Matthew’s father’s name was Alphaeus (Mark 2:14), who should not be confused with the father of James the son of Mary, the wife of Cleophas, who was a “sister” of the mother of Jesus (John 19:25). Matthew was born at Nazareth in Galilee but resided primarily in Capernaum due to his occupation.Remembering the Apostle Matthew
His Apostolic Call
HisRead more...
James (or rather Jacobus, the Greek form of Jacob) son of Alphaeus was chosen one of the twelve apostles (Mark 3:8; Matthew 10:3; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). James, whose mother’s name was Mary (Matthew 26:56), was known as James the Less or Younger (Mark 15:40), either because he was younger than James, son of Zebedee or because he occupied a less conspicuous place among the twelve (Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10). Significant debate has been raised as to whether this James is the Lord’s brother mentioned by the Apostle Paul (Galatians 1:19), but the titlRead more...
In the Western Church, the lives of the Apostles Philip and James "The Less" are the first to be remembered in the calendar year.
The Apostle Philip was born in Bethsaida (John 1:44; 12:21) of Galilee and was instrumental in the call of Nathanael (or Bartholomew) to become a disciple of Jesus. At the time of his call to follow Christ, Philip belonged to a group who had been influenced by the ministry of John the Baptist. Together with Andrew and other fellow-townsmen, Philip had journeyed to Bethany to listen to the teachings of John the BapRead more...
Stephen Flick heads Christian Heritage Fellowship, an organization dedicated to reclaiming America’s Christian Heritage and celebrating the life-changing influence of the Gospel around the world.
Concerned with the cultural decay of America, Dr. Flick has sought to provide answers to fellow Christians (and unbelievers) concerning the questions and objections to Christianity often posed by secularists and the irreligious.
Dr. Flick is a writer and speaker and has authored numerous articles and books on America’s Christian heritage. He earned his PhD from Drew University (Madison, NJ) in history and Christian theology and has taught at the graduate level as full professor. He is a licensed minster and resides in East Tennessee. He and his late wife, Beth Anne, have two grown, married children and six grandchildren.
"Almost all the civil liberty now enjoyed in the world owes its origin to the principles of the Christian religion. Men began to understand their natural rights, as soon as the reformation from popery began to dawn in the sixteenth century; and civil liberty has been gradually advancing and improving, as genuine Christianity has prevailed. By the principles of the Christian religion we are not to understand the decisions of ecclesiastical councils...No; the religion which has introduced civil liberty, is the religion of Christ and his apostles, which enjoins humility, piety and benevolence; which acknowledges in every person a brother, or a sister, and a citizen with equal rights. This is genuine Christianity, and to this we owe our free constitutions of government.
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