Meaning of the Name Matthias
The name Matthias is generally explained as meaning "gift of the Lord" or "gift of Yah" from Hebrew. The Greek form Matthias is the New Testament spelling of that Hebrew name. Its etymology is widely accepted.
Origin
The name Matthias is of Hebrew in origin, transmitted in Greek form origin.
Who is Matthias in the Bible?
Matthias is the man chosen in Acts to take the place of Judas Iscariot among the Twelve apostles. Before Pentecost he is selected by lot from among those who had witnessed Jesus' resurrection ministry. The text does not go on to describe his later work in detail.
The story of Matthias in the Bible
Matthias appears only in the first chapter of Acts, yet the scene told there stands at the very threshold of the church's story. After Jesus' ascension, while a group of about a hundred and twenty believers was gathered in Jerusalem, Peter rose and said that the place left empty by Judas Iscariot had to be filled. The one chosen had to be a man who had accompanied them the whole time the Lord Jesus lived among them, from the days of John's baptism until the day he was taken up, so that he could bear witness to the resurrection. Two candidates were put forward: Joseph called Barsabbas, also known as Justus, and Matthias. The community prayed to the Lord who knows every heart to show which one he had chosen, and then they cast lots. The lot fell to Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven as the twelfth apostle. Scripture says nothing further about his ministry; his story remains that of a quiet, faithful witness called into apostleship.
Is Matthias mentioned in the Quran?
The name Matthias does not appear in the Quran; in the New Testament book of Acts he is the man chosen to replace Judas Iscariot among the twelve apostles.
Verses where Matthias appears
- Acts 1:23 —
They put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.
- Acts 1:26 —
They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
- Acts 1:21 —
“Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,