Replacing Judas Iscariot With New Apostle
After Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus and subsequently died, the remaining apostles moved to select a replacement to restore their number to twelve [6, 9]. This event is recorded in the book of Acts.
Judas Iscariot, whose name likely means "man of Kerioth" [1], was one of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus [3, 4]. He is consistently listed last among the apostles in the Synoptic Gospels, a position that may reflect the unfolding evil of his nature [2]. John's Gospel notes that Satan entered him before he betrayed Jesus [2]. Following his betrayal, Judas expressed remorse, casting down the money he received, and then died [2].
The impetus for replacing Judas came from Peter, who addressed the gathered disciples, citing scripture that prophesied Judas's fate and the need for another to take his office [8]. Peter referenced Psalm 69:25 ("May his dwelling be desolate; may there be no one to live in it") and Psalm 109:8 ("May another take his office") [6]. The early Christian community understood the number twelve to be significant, mirroring the twelve tribes of Israel and representing the designated leaders of the new people of God [6].
The qualifications for Judas's replacement were specific: the individual had to have been a companion of Jesus and the apostles "all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us" [6]. This ensured the new apostle could bear witness to Jesus's resurrection [6]. Two men were proposed: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. The disciples prayed, asking the Lord to show them which of the two He had chosen, and then cast lots. The lot fell to Matthias, and he was added to the eleven apostles [6].
The office of an apostle, as described in the New Testament, carried unique qualifications and responsibilities. Apostles were those directly sent by Jesus [5]. Their authority stemmed from supernatural revelation, infallibility in communicating truth, and divine attestation through signs, wonders, and miracles [7, 10]. Paul, in defending his apostleship, emphasized that his appointment was not by human means but directly by God, and his ministry was validated by success in preaching and miraculous signs [10].
The replacement of Judas with Matthias is seen by some as fulfilling the requirement for the twelve designated leaders of God's people, ensuring the symbolic and functional integrity of the apostolic band [6]. This event highlights the early church's concern for continuity and divine order in its leadership, even in the face of betrayal and loss.
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Judas Iscariot — (Judas of Kerioth). He is sometimes called "the son of Simon," (John 6:71; 13:2,26) but more commonly ISCARIOTES. (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:19; Luke 6:16) etc. The name Iscariot has received many interpretations more of less conjectural. The most probable is from Ish Kerioth, i.e. "man of Kerioth," a town in the tribe of Judah. (Joshua 15:25) Of the life of Judas before the appearance of his name in the lists of the apostles we know absolutely nothing. What that appearance implies, however, is that he had previously declared himself a disciple. He was dra”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Judas — The Graecized form of Judah. (1.) The patriarch (Matt. 1:2, 3). (2.) Son of Simon (John 6:71; 13:2, 26), surnamed Iscariot, i.e., a man of Kerioth (Josh. 15:25). His name is uniformly the last in the list of the apostles, as given in the synoptic (i.e., the first three) Gospels. The evil of his nature probably gradually unfolded itself till "Satan entered into him" (John 13:27), and he betrayed our Lord (18:3). Afterwards he owned his sin with "an exceeding bitter cry," and cast the money he had received as the wages of his iniquity down on the floor of the s”
- Matthew “Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, -- Matthew 26:14”
- Luke “Luke 6:16 (Rotherham) — and Judas Iscariot, who became betrayer;—”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Apostle — A person sent by another; a messenger; envoy. This word is once used as a descriptive designation of Jesus Christ, the Sent of the Father (Heb. 3:1; John 20:21). It is, however, generally used as designating the body of disciples to whom he intrusted the organization of his church and the dissemination of his gospel, "the twelve," as they are called (Matt. 10:1-5; Mark 3:14; 6:7; Luke 6:13; 9:1). We have four lists of the apostles, one by each of the synoptic evangelists (Matt. 10:2-4; Mark 3:16; Luke 6:14), and one in the Acts (1:13). No two of these lists”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 1:20: 1:20-21 ‘Let someone else take his position’: It was imperative that a replacement be found for Judas so that his position as the twelfth apostle would not remain empty. The new people of God, like Israel, were to have twelve designated and appointed leaders (see Matt 19:28; Luke 22:29-30).”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 38: The world has never seen or suffered a greater imposture than that weak, ignorant, and often immoral men, should claim the same authority to teach and rule that belonged to men to whom the truth was supernaturally revealed, who were confessedly infallible in its communication, and to whose divine mission God himself bore witness in signs and wonders, and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost. The office of the Apostles as described in the New Testament, was, therefore, from its nature incapable of being transmitted, and has not in f”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. XII. --DOCTRINE OF THE REST OF THE (part 1): APOSTLES. 1. The Apostle Peter, therefore, after the resurrection of the Lord, and His assumption into the heavens, being desirous of filling up the number of the twelve apostles, and in electing into the place of Judas any substitute who should be chosen by God, thus addressed those who were present: "Men [and] brethren, this Scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of David, spake before concerning Judas, which was made gu”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 1:13: 1:13-26 While the apostles waited for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit (1:4-5), the whole company of 120 disciples in Jerusalem engaged in earnest prayer (1:13-14) and then appointed an apostle to replace Judas Iscariot (1:15-26). 1:13 All eleven of the remaining apostles were present (cp. Matt 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:13-16). Judas Iscariot is omitted from this list on account of his betrayal and death (Acts 1:18-19).”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 38: adherence to the true gospel, by success in preaching (Paul said to the Corinthians that they were the seal of his apostleship, 1 Cor. ix. 2 ); and by signs and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost. Such were the gifts and qualifications and credentials of the original Apostles; and those who claimed the office without possessirig these gifts and credentials, were pronounced false apostles and messengers of Satan. When Paul claimed to be an apostle, he felt it necessary to prove, (1.) That he had been appointed not by m”