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B -- In Matthew 10:2 -4 the names of the twelve are given, and Paul is
not among the number.
A -- No, but I have been given to understand that when Judas fell and
left the number, Paul was divinely chosen to take his place, the appointment
of Matthias (Acts 1) being a hasty attempt on the part of the apostles, and
done erroneously.
B -- There are a good many of the actions of the apostles which certain
teachers today call `apostolic mistakes', but which are not so called in the
Scriptures. Look at the state of affairs at the time of the appointing of
Matthias.
(1)
The risen Christ has spent a large portion of forty days
instructing the apostles (Acts 1:3).
(2)
Not only did the Lord open the Scriptures, but He also opened the
apostles' understanding (Luke 24:45). This settles for ever the question of
whether the apostles `understood' His meaning.
(3)
The Lord declared that the things written in the books of Moses,
the Prophets, and the Psalms concerning Himself must be fulfilled.
(4)
Peter, whose understanding had been opened, and who had been
taught the prophetic meaning of the Messianic Psalms, stood up after forty
days' instruction and said, `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 guide to them that took Jesus ... it is written
in the book of the Psalms ... his bishoprick let another take' (Acts
1:16,20). Peter had evidently been taught by the risen Christ the meaning of
the Psalms that spoke of His betrayal, and acting upon that teaching he said
that it was necessary that another should take the forfeited place of Judas.
A -- Would not the apostle Paul have filled that place?
B -- No, there was one qualification which Paul did not possess.
A -- What was that?
B -- He had never been associated with Christ and the eleven from the
beginning.
A -- But was that essential?
B -- Listen to Peter:
`Wherefore of these men which have companied with us All the Time that
the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of
John, unto that same day that He was taken up from us, must one be
ordained to be a witness with us of His resurrection' (Acts 1:21,22).
This limited the number of possible candidates to two, and as the Lord
had done many times during Israel's history, He did again; He used the lot to
convey His choice.