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Matthias

Matthias [Grk. Matthias]. A personal name.

Matthias was an eyewitness of Jesus' ministry subsequently chosen to replace Judas by the casting of lots (Acts 1:23-36). After Judas' suicide and Jesus' ascension, Peter suggested to the group of about one hundred and twenty believers that a replacement for Judas should be chosen. The requirement for the election was to "have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us" (Acts 1:21-22). Two names were submitted: Barsabbas and Matthias. The lot was cast after prayer and it fell on Matthias, who was added to the eleven (Acts 1:23-36). Matthias is not mentioned again in the biblical record.

C. Adelina Alexe

Citation

Footnote:

C. Adelina Alexe, “Matthias,“ Seventh-day Adventist International Biblical-Theological Dictionary (2026-), ed. Daniel K. Bediako and Keldie Paroschi, https://dictionary.adventist.org/matthias, accessed October 28, 2026

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