Question: Who replaced Judas Iscariot as one of the 12 Apostles after his betrayal of Jesus?
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Saint Matthias.
Judas Iscariot, one of the original twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, is infamous for his betrayal of Jesus to the Roman authorities in exchange for thirty pieces of silver. Following his betrayal, Judas was filled with remorse and ended his own life. Consequently, there was a need to replace him to maintain the symbolic number of twelve apostles, which corresponded to the twelve tribes of Israel.
The task of choosing a replacement for Judas fell to the remaining eleven apostles. This event is detailed in the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament of the Bible, specifically in Acts 1:15-26. The apostles, led by Peter, proposed two candidates: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Both men had been followers of Jesus from the beginning of his ministry and were considered suitable replacements.
The apostles prayed for guidance, asking God to show them which of the two men he had chosen to take over the apostolic ministry from Judas. After the prayer, they cast lots, an ancient decision-making process similar to tossing a coin or drawing straws, and the lot fell to Matthias. Thus, Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot and became one of the twelve apostles.
The selection of Matthias is significant as it highlights the apostles’ trust in divine guidance when making important decisions. Despite being chosen to replace such a controversial figure as Judas Iscariot, little else is known about Matthias from the New Testament accounts.
