20 SPECIAL NOTE ON MATTHIAS AND PAUL
By William R. Newell
( From his book, Paul vs Peter)

( with other additional notes )

Is it not strange that sixteen (seventeen, if we include 9 ) of the twenty-eight chapters of Acts should be given to that apostle who was not one of the original Twelve at all and was not converted till long after Pentecost ? Must there not be a deep reason for this ? What is that reason ? Search for it in such passages as Ephesians 3:1-3; Galatians 1:11-16; 2:9; Colossians 1:23-26; Romans 15:15-21, 25-27, R.V.; I Corinthians 3:6;10; 9:1-16; 15:8-10; II Corinthians 10-13; I Timothy 2:7; II Timothy 1:11; II Peter 3:15-16. We will study these passages later, but it will be well to read them now. One thing is certainly evident already- that Gentiles have a relation to Paul that we do not have to the other Apostles. Exactly what that relation is we must prayerfully seek to discover.

If you doubt the statement that Paul was not one of the Twelve, consider :

(1) The Holy Spirit baptized Matthias at Pentecost as one of the Twelve (Acts 2:4) and counts him one of them (2:14; 6:2 ).

(2) Peter is evidently divinely enlightened in Acts 1:20 in his quoting Psalm 69:25 and 109:8. No blundering, ignorant Peter speaks here, but the Apostle.

(3) Another was to take Judas' place ( Acts 1:20). This Paul did not; God forced Paul into apostleship ( I Cor. 9:16,17; Acts 9:3,6,15,16).

(4) Peter's declaration in Acts 1:22 that there must be one chosen to complete the number of the twelve witnesses to Israel of their risen Messiah is significant, for twelve is the number of Israel (Gen. 49:28; Exo. 24:4;28:21; Num. 7:3,84,86,87; Josh. 4:2,3,4,8,9,20; I Kings 18:31,etc.). This number is carefully preserved through all Israel's history. And our Lord, in His Jewish ministry, chose Twelve Apostles ( Luke 6:2; Matt. 10:1-6). The Twelve Apostles remained Jewish in their ministry and general relations: in a sense Paul did not ( Gal. 2:7-9 , etc.). And they are to have a Jewish relation in the future ( Luke 22:28-30). ( Note: in the last passage, verse 28, that those addressed were those who "continued with Jesus", which Judas did not, but which Matthias did ( Acts 1:21,22). Matthias was undoubtedly present in Luke 22:28.

(5) All the Apostles concurred with Peter's suggestion in Acts chapter 1.

(6) They already had the Holy Ghost in an enlightening authoritative sense ( John 20:22-23).

(7) It was altogether likely that God would use Peter ( after Matt. 16:18,19) as His agent in suggesting Judas' successor.

(8) The use of the lot was the Jewish appeal to God and was wholly natural to the Apostles, and it further marks this proceeding as entirely Jewish. We shall see that Matthias completed the Jewish apostlolate.

(9) Paul distinctly shows, in I Corinthians 15:5-8, that he was not one of the twelve, and that he did not count himself as one of those Apostles.

Since these notes were written by Mr. Newell, there are other facts gathered which support the conclusion that the Twelve Apostles along with the 120 gathered in prayer, were correct in their actions concerning the election of Matthias.

There is no intimation found in the Scriptures indicating all those participating in
the election were out of God's will, but that the Holy Spirit endorsed their action
as he records the ministry of these apostles which included Matthias :

1:26-"Matthias…was numbered with the eleven apostles."

2:14-"Peter, standing up with the eleven.."

2:37-"they …said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles…"

2:42-"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine…"

2:43-"many wonders and signs were done by the apostles…"

4:33-"gave the apostles witness of the resurrection.."

5:12-"And by the hands of the apostles were many signs…"

5:29-"Then Peter and the other apostles answered…"

6:2- "Then the twelve called the multitude…"

8:2- "they were all scattered abroad….except the apostles…"

8:14-"Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem…"

When the day of Pentecost came, "they (who voted in the election) were all filled with the Holy Spirit" Acts 2:4 Could God fill these same apostles, 11 out of the will of God and 1 'apostle' filling in the shoes of the real and rightful apostle ? How could God begin that day with all of His leaders already starting out on the wrong foot- the foot of the flesh ?

Paul could never meet the requirements given in Acts 1:21-22, even if the Apostles had waited, and not voted on Matthias.

Paul's apostleship was equal to any other Apostles, YET it was distinct because he was called by the Lord, in His Glory and from Glory. Paul was called apostle after the Lord's resurrection, ascension and seating at God's right hand.

Paul never indicates that he is struggling to gain the place of apostolic identity that was denied him in Acts 1. Paul never implies that someone had his God-given place.

In I Cor. 15:5 , as he lists the resurrection appearances of the Lord, And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the" twelve"- we find no indication that there is something wrong here.

In I Cor. 15:7 After that he (Christ) was seen of James and then of "ALL THE APOSTLES"-Paul does not place himself among this group, either, indicating that there were more apostles than just the Twelve, although they were a 'special' group with special promises.

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