Yes, Matthias was God's choice to replace Judas, as the lot fell on him and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Acts 1:24-26 records that after prayer, the disciples gave forth their lots and the lot fell on Matthias, who was then numbered with the eleven. Les Feldick teaches that Peter was right to fill the immediate vacancy because Paul could not have met the qualifications—he was an opposer of Christ and had not been a follower from the beginning of Jesus' ministry.
Acts 1:21-26 — This passage records the qualification for Judas' replacement and shows that Matthias, not Paul, was chosen and numbered with the eleven.
Acts 1:21-22 records Peter's statement about the qualification for replacing Judas: "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." The disciples appointed two men: Joseph called Barsabas (surnamed Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, "Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen." After giving forth their lots, the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles (Acts 1:23-26). Scripture therefore presents Matthias as the one divinely selected for the vacancy.
Les Feldick directly disagrees with Bible teachers who think Peter was presumptuous and should have waited for Paul. He says Paul could not fit the qualifications "any more than a square peg in a round hole." The replacement had to have been a follower of Christ from John's baptism, through the three years of ministry, and up to the ascension. Paul was an opposer of Christ and had called Jesus of Nazareth a blasphemer, so he would never have fit. Les also notes that Paul had no connection to the twelve and that Matthias was put in Judas' place so that the twelve men could rule the twelve tribes of Israel as promised.
Scripture says the replacement had to be a man who had accompanied the apostles during all the time Jesus went in and out among them, beginning from the baptism of John until the day He was taken up—a witness of His resurrection (Acts 1:21-22). Les Feldick stresses that this ruled out Paul, who did not have that history. From the 120 gathered, only two men met that standard.
Les Feldick is emphatic that Paul never could have been the twelfth apostle in Acts 1. Paul was an opposer of Christ and called Jesus of Nazareth a blasphemer. He lacked the qualifying history of following Christ from John's baptism to the ascension. Les says, "You couldn't drive Paul into that slot with a sledgehammer." He also points out that Paul had no connection to the twelve whatsoever.
Les Feldick answers no. He says Peter was right on and "in perfect accord to the will of God" when he immediately took steps to fill the twelfth slot. Peter expected the Lord's return in short order and did not see 1900-plus years down the road. Though good Bible teachers have criticized Peter, Les says those criticisms are mistaken.
Les Feldick connects Matthias' selection to the promise that the twelve apostles would sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. He says this is why Matthias has to take Judas' place in Acts 1. Jesus had been speaking to the twelve about the kingdom for forty days, and they remembered the promise that they would rule the twelve tribes.
Acts 1:23 says they appointed two men—Joseph called Barsabas, surnamed Justus, and Matthias. After prayer for God to show which one He had chosen, they gave forth their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. The text then says he was numbered with the eleven apostles. This is the biblical record of how the vacancy was filled.
Paul Failed the Qualifications
Les points out that Paul could not qualify because he was an opposer who called Jesus a blasphemer, and the replacement had to be a follower from the beginning of Christ's ministry.
Peter Acted in God's Will
Les defends Peter's immediate action to fill the twelfth slot, saying Paul was like a square peg in a round hole and that Peter expected Christ's return soon.
The Biblical Qualifications
Les quotes Acts 1 to show the replacement had to be a follower from John's baptism through the resurrection and the forty days before the ascension.
Paul Had No Connection to the Twelve
Les stresses that Paul had no connection to the twelve and could never have replaced Judas, contrary to what some theologians claim.
Matthias Was Put in Judas' Place
Les recalls that Matthias was put in Judas' place, while Saul later was commissioned by God on the Damascus road and sent to the Gentiles.
Matthias Not Yet Added
Les notes a moment in John 21 when Judas is gone and Matthias has not yet been chosen, showing the timing before Acts 1.
Why the Jews Called Jesus Accursed — 1 Corinthians 12:3 Explained
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, "...we ought to be God rather than men." Now verse 30, "...the God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew, and hanged on a tree." What's that got to do with it? Come back to Matthew 27. Matthew 27, Judas. In verse 5. Matthew 27, verse 5. Matthew 27, now verse 5.
Twelve Thrones for Twelve Apostles
Les explains why Judas' vacancy had to be filled: the twelve are promised thrones to rule the twelve tribes, so Matthias takes Judas's place.
Acts 1:21-22: 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.
This verse states the essential qualification for Judas' replacement—a witness from John's baptism through the ascension.
Acts 1:23: And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
Of the 120 gathered, two men were identified as meeting the qualification.
Acts 1:24: And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
The disciples asked God to make His choice known between the two qualified candidates.
Acts 1:25: That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
The prayer shows the purpose of the selection: to fill the ministry and apostleship that Judas lost.
Acts 1:26: And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
This is the decisive biblical statement that Matthias, not Paul, became the twelfth apostle.
Yes. Acts 1 records Matthias being numbered with the eleven before Saul's conversion. Les Feldick notes that Paul had no connection to the twelve and was later commissioned by God after being saved on the Damascus road.
No. Les Feldick explains that Paul was not a follower of Christ during His earthly ministry; he was an opposer who called Jesus a blasphemer. The qualification was to have accompanied Jesus from John's baptism through the ascension.
Les Feldick says no. Peter was in perfect accord with the will of God and expected the Lord's return in short order, not seeing 1900-plus years down the road.
Watch the Teaching: What Really Happened at Pentecost? Acts 2 Explained