Paul Not One Of The Twelve Apostles
By Pastor Cornelius R. Stam
Occasionally the Lord’s apostles are charged with acting arbitrarily in choosing Matthias to take Judas’ place. It is said that they first chose two candidates and then asked God which of these two He would have to fill the vacant position. Paul, according to some, was actually God’s choice for Judas’ place. But this charge is not based upon the record of Scripture.
- The apostles, with Peter as their chief, had been given authority to act officially in Christ’s ab-sence (Matt.16:19; 18: 18,19).
- They acted upon the Scriptural declaration that another apostle should be chosen to fill Judas’ place (Psa.109:8; cf. Acts 1:20).
- Their action was bathed in many days of united prayer (Luke 24:49; cf. Acts 1:12-15), and when two candidates were found they again prayed and left the final choice in the hands of God (Acts 1:24-26).
- Probably only two (Matthias and Joseph Barsabas) were eligible, for only those could qualify who had followed Christ continuously from the day of His baptism by John until His ascension to heaven (Acts 1:21,22; cf. Matt.19:28, “Ye which have followed Me”).
- Paul would not have been eligible, for he had not even seen Christ during His earthly ministry (ICor. 15:8).
- The conclusive proof that the eleven acted in the will of God in this matter is found in the fact that the Scripture clearly states that Matthias “was numbered with the eleven apostles” (Acts 1:26) and that “THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT” (Acts 2:4). Men out of the will of God are not filled with the Holy Spirit.
Thus Paul stands separate and distinct from the twelve as the apostle of the present dispensation of grace (Eph.3:1-3).
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