Editing Matthias the Apostle (section)

==Biography==
There is no mention of a Matthias among the lists of disciples or followers of Jesus in the three [[synoptic gospel]]s, but according to [[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]], he had been with Jesus from his [[Baptism of Jesus|baptism]] by [[John the Baptist|John]] until his [[Ascension of Jesus|Ascension]]. In the days following, [[Saint Peter|Peter]] proposed that the assembled disciples, who numbered about 120, nominate two men to replace Judas. They chose [[Joseph Barsabbas|Joseph called Barsabbas]] (whose surname was Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, "Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all [men], shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place."<ref>{{bibleverse|Acts|1:24–25|9}}</ref> Then they [[Cleromancy|cast lots]], and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was numbered with the eleven apostles.<ref name="Jacquier">Jacque Eugène.  [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10066a.htm Jacquier, "St. Matthias."] ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia|The Catholic Encyclopedia]]''. Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 10 August 2014</ref>

No further information about Matthias is to be found in the [[Biblical canon|canonical New Testament]]. Even his name is variable: the Syriac version of [[Eusebius]] calls him throughout not Matthias but "Tolmai", not to be confused with [[Bartholomew the Apostle|Bartholomew]] (which means Son of Tolmai), who was one of the twelve original Apostles; [[Clement of Alexandria]] refers once to [[Zacchaeus]] in a way which could be read as suggesting that some identified him with Matthias;<ref>[[s:Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume II/CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA/The Stromata, or Miscellanies/Book IV|Stromata]] Book 4 Ch 6 The New Advent Translation says "It is said, therefore, that Zaccheus, or, according to some, Matthew, the chief of the publicans, on hearing that the Lord had deigned to come to him, said, Lord, and if I have taken anything by false accusation, I restore him fourfold;" but the [http://khazarzar.skeptik.net/pgm/PG_Migne/Clement%20of%20Alexandria_PG%2008-09/Stromata.pdf Greek] has 4.6.35.2 Ζακχαῖον τοίνυν, οἳ δὲ Ματθίαν φασίν, ἀρχιτελώνην, ἀκηκοότα τοῦ κυρίου καταξιώσαντος πρὸς αὐτὸν γενέσθαι, ἰδοὺ τὰ ἡμίση τῶν ὑπαρχόντων μου δίδωμι ἐλεημοσύνην φάναι, κύριε, καὶ εἴ τινός τι ἐσυκοφάντησα, τετραπλοῦν ἀποδίδωμι. ἐφ' οὗ καὶ ὁ σωτὴρ εἶπεν· can just about be read as "by some said to be Matthias")</ref> the ''[[Clementine literature|Clementine Recognitions]]'' identify him with [[Barnabas]]; [[Adolf Bernhard Christoph Hilgenfeld]] thinks he is the same as [[Nathanael (follower of Jesus)|Nathanael]] in the [[Gospel of John]].