Matthias was born in Bethlehem. According to Acts of the Apostles, Matthias was one of the seventy-two disciples and had been with Jesus from His baptism by John in the Jordan River to His ascension. Matthias was witness to the many miracles Jesus performed during the three years of His ministry:
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Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
Matthew 9:18-26
18 While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
23 When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, 24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.”But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26 News of this spread through all that region.
Touching the hem of Jesus’ garment, by Heidi Daynes Darley
H.D. DARLEY—Fine Art Portraiture http://heididarley.com/
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Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
John 9:1-12
1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.
“I don’t know,” he said.
Matthias was there when Jesus gave The Sermon on the Mount….
Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount
Matthew Chapter 5
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Sermon on the Mount by Carl Heinrich Bloch, c. 1859-66
Beatitudes
Matthew 5:3-11
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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Choosing the 12th Apostle to replace Judas Iscariot
Sometime in the fifty days between the Resurrection and Pentecost, the day of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, Matthias was chosen by the other apostles as the 12th apostle. Matthias replaced Judas Iscariot, following Judas’ betrayal of Jesus and suicide.
In the days following, Peter proposed that the assembled disciples, who numbered about one hundred and twenty, nominate two men to replace Judas Iscariot.
Acts 1:15-26
15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”
18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out.19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:
“‘May his place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in it,
and,
“‘May another take his place of leadership.’
21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
Choosing of Matthias or Justus
(as the 12th Apostle)
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Matthias fulfilling The Great Commission
Matthias preached the Gospel in Jerusalem and in Judea together with the other apostles. (Acts 6:2, 8:14) From Jerusalem he went with Peter and Andrew to Syrian Antioch. He preached in Turkey, Ethiopia and Macedonia, converting many to Christianity.
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Martyrdom of Saint Matthias
Matthias returned to Jerusalem. The Jewish High Priest, Ananus ben Ananus, hated Christ and earlier had commanded the Apostle James the lesser, to be flung down from the heights of the Temple, and now he ordered the Apostle Matthias to be arrested and brought for judgment before the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem. Matthias was sentenced to death by the Sanhedrin, stoned and then beheaded.
Saint Matthias the Apostle
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Remains of Saint Matthias
Saint Matthias’ remains are in the Benedictine Monastery of Saint Matthias’ Abbey in Trier, Germany, brought there by Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine.
Saint Matthias’ Abbey, Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Statue of Saint Matthias at the Abbey in Trier where his remains are kept
The grave of Saint Matthias in Saint Matthias’ Abbey
The feast day of Saint Matthias is May 14.
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