Why was Matthias chosen to be the 12th disciple?

Various views follow.

One View

Because it was God's will.

According to Acts 1:20-26, the disciples fulfilled the Psalm about needing to find another person to take Judas' place. It then says the disciples prayed to God about the decision after selecting two men who had been with them since the beginning of Jesus' ministry on Earth. They cast lots to make the decision, which was the equivalent of rolling dice or drawing straws, and Matthias was the one chosen. To a believer in the Bible, Matthias was chosen to be the 12th disciple because that is what God's will was.

This was in accordance with a fulfillment of the Scriptures, which Peter quoted in v. 20 from Psalms 69:25 & 109:8 for replacing Judas' position.

Another View

It is perplexing. [The following amounts to another question, not an answer.]

Why God would favor an unknown Matthias in a lottery and not Barnabas who is close to the original apostle, is perplexing.

Saint Barnabas was an early Christian mentioned in the New Testament. His Hellenic Jewish parents called him Joseph, (although the Byzantine text-type calls him Joses, the Aramaic version of Joseph) but when he sold all his goods and gave the money to the apostles in Jerusalem, they gave him a new name: Barnabas, which means huios parakleseos (Greek:) "son of exhortation," or 'man of encouragement.' see Acts 11:23) and connotes a prophet in the primitive Christian sense of the word (see Acts 13:1; 15:32). His feast day is June 11.

Another View

The Bible gives the criteria.

The first view explains the election criteria and process. As for the result - the Bible does indicate why Matthias was chosen over Barnabas - only Matthias & Joseph Justus (Barsabas) seem to be qualified for the position. Barnabas, a native of Cyprus, while being a godly Early Church believer, did not meet the criteria that Peter explained in Acts 1:21, 22. Matthias was shown to be God's choice, there being no Biblical reason to question it.

Another View

Matthias as the 12th disciple is a myth. [The following amounts to a question on the canon and the credibility of the Scriptures.]

JESUS was the one who chose his Twelve Apostles and at no time did he ask anyone else to choose his Apostles for him. Then Jesus went up a hill and called to himself the men HE WANTED. They came to him, and he chose twelve, whom he named apostles. "I HAVE CHOSEN YOU to be with me." (Mark 3:13-14). The twelve men he chose were present with him when he sealed God's covenant. Then he took a cup, gave thanks to God, and handed it to them; and they ALL drank from it. Jesus said, "This is my blood which is poured out for many, my blood which seals God's covenant." (Mark 14:23-24). Refer to Jeremiah 31:31-34. The accepted belief that Matthias was chosen to replace Judas is simply a myth just like all the New Testament books, bar one - The book of Mark.

First answer by Kubrendan. Last edit by Silverghost. Contributor trust: 18 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 69 [recommend question]