Did God Approve of....

[ktn4eg]

....the election of Matthias as Judas's "replacement"? (see Acts 1:15-26)

 

[Deacon]

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.
Revelation 4:4 (ESV)

Many believe the twenty-four elders represent the twelve representatives of the Old and New Covenant, the twelve sons of Jacob and the twelve apostles.

Paul clearly identifies himself as an apostle of Christ. This presents a problem identifying Matthias as a chosen apostle of God.

Rob

 

[JonC]

I’ve often heard the argument that people elected Matthias while God elected Paul. While this may be true I don’t think that there is enough biblical evidence to know.

 

[Van]

Interesting topic and excellent responses. Now we have those advocating top down authority (I was called by God!) and bottom up authority (I was called by assembled believers expressing the will of the Spirit!)

An apostle of Christ would be the eleven plus Paul, so Matthias should be seen as a disciple, rather than an apostle.

Clearly Judas the betrayer, was named as an apostle, (Luke 6:13-16) yet was actually chosen to be the betrayer from the beginning. In Matthew 10:2-4, the 12 Apostles are named and Judas is listed as the betrayer.

 

[Tom Butler]

In addition to Paul, seven others are described as apostles in the New Testament.

They are:
Barnabas (Acts 14:14)
Andronicus and Junia (Romans 16:7)
Silas (I Thess 1:1)
Timothy (1 Thess 1:1)
Epaphroditus ((Philippians 2:25
Apollos (I Cor 4:9)

Source is a Wikipedia article on the Apostles.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostle_%28Christian%29

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

In addition to Paul, seven others are described as apostles in the New Testament.

Uh ... not really ...

Barnabas (Acts 14:14)

Along with Paul, yes.

Andronicus and Junia (Romans 16:7)

No.

Romans 16, NASB
7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.​

Silas (I Thess 1:1)

Doesn't even mention Silas

1 Thessalonians
1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.​

Timothy (1 Thess 1:1)

Refer to above verse. Doesn't use the word "apostle."

Epaphroditus ((Philippians 2:25

Nope.

Philippians 2
25 But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need;​

You would be correct to point out that the word translated "messenger" is the Greek apostolos but it is very deliberately not translated "apostle" because Epaphroditus was not considered an apostle.

Apollos (I Cor 4:9)

And ... no. Though Apollos is mentioned as having had teaching credited to him, Paul states that it is done figuratively, and refers all the way back to verse 4 in chapter 3. He is not calling Apollos an apostle in v. 9. He is referring to himself and others that are elsewhere named as apostles.