The apostle chosen by lot: why the identity of Matthias remains a historical mystery

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Matthias is the only apostle selected through a divine lottery rather than a direct call from Jesus. Despite his pivotal role in replacing Judas Iscariot, his life, ministry, and final resting place are shrouded in contradictory traditions that span from Jerusalem to the distant coasts of the Caspian Sea.

According to the Acts of the Apostles, Matthias was chosen to restore the original number of twelve apostles after the death of Judas Iscariot. Peter proposed that the group of 120 disciples nominate two candidates: Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias. The group prayed for divine guidance and cast lots, which fell to Matthias. While he is absent from the synoptic gospels and the Gospel of John, Acts claims he had been a witness to Jesus's ministry from the baptism by John until the Ascension.

Historical records regarding his later life are remarkably inconsistent. Some traditions suggest he preached in Judaea and Ethiopia, while others place his ministry in Cappadocia or near the Caspian Sea. His death is equally debated; accounts range from him being stoned and beheaded in Jerusalem to dying of old age or being crucified in Aethiopia. Even his identity is contested, with various early writers confusing him with figures like Zacchaeus, Barnabas, or Nathanael.

The physical legacy of Matthias is similarly fragmented. Relics attributed to him are claimed by locations as diverse as Rome, Trier, and the Gonio-Apsaros fortress in Georgia. Scholars like Bollandus have suggested that some of these relics may actually belong to a different Matthias, a Bishop of Jerusalem who lived around the year 120. This confusion highlights how the historical figure of the apostle has been obscured by centuries of overlapping hagiography and conflicting ecclesiastical traditions.

Liturgical practices reflect this ambiguity. The Roman Catholic Church moved his feast day from February to May in 1969 to align it with the Easter season, yet many Anglican and Lutheran denominations retain the traditional February date. This divergence mirrors the broader historical struggle to pin down the life of an apostle whose canonical presence is limited to a single, brief selection process in the New Testament.

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