Matthias (I)

Acts i. 21, 22.I. MATTHIAS. St. Matthias the Apostle was first in the Rank of our Saviour’s Disciples, and he is one of those that continued with him from the Baptism of St. John Baptist, to his Ascension. ‘Tis very probable he was of the Number of the Seventy Disciples, as Clemens Alexandrinus, and some other Ancients¹ inform us. We have no Particulars of his Youth or Education, for we may reckon as nothing what is read in Abdias (or Obadiah) concerning this Matter. After the Ascension of our Lord, the Apostles retiring to Jerusalem in Expectation of the Effusion of the Holy Ghost, as had been promised, Peter stood up in the Midst of the Acts i. 15, 16, &c.Brethren, being in Number about an Hundred and twenty, and spoke to this Effect. “What had been foretold by the Holy Ghost in Scripture, by the Mouth of the Prophet David, concerning this Judas, who was the Leader of those that took Jesus, ought necessarily to have been fulfilled. He was in the same Condition as we are, and had a Share in the same Ministry. But having betrayed his Lord and Master, he has obtained a Possession with the Recompence of his Iniquity, that is, he has supplied the Priests with the Money they had given him, as the Reward of his Treachery, wherewith to buy a Field. The Sence of his Crime has driven him to Despair, he has been his own Executioner, and has hanged himself, his Belly is burst, and his Bowels have tumbled out.

“‘Twas of him that the Psalmist spoke, when he said, let his Habitation become a Desart, let there be none to inhabit it, and let another take his Place in the Episcopate², or in the Superintendance, the Inspection, the Employment that has been committed to him. Therefore of the Number of those who have been in our Company, during the whole Time that the Lord Jesus has lived among us, from the Beginning of John’s Baptism to the Time of our Lord’s being received into Heaven, let one be chosen that may be with us a Witness of the Resurrection.” Then they presented two, Joseph called Barsabas and surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And betaking themselves to Prayers, they said: “Thou, O Lord, that knowest the Hearts of all Men, shew us which of these two thou hast chosen, that he may enter into this Ministry, and into the Apostleship from whence Judas by his Wickedness has fallen.” Then they drew Lots, and the Lot falling upon Matthias, he was from that Time associated to the eleven Apostles. We have discoursed on the Question concerning Elections by Lot, in a Dissertation printed before our Comment on the Acts of the Apostles.

The Greeks believe that St. Matthias preached and died at Colchis³. His Life was published by a Monk of St. Matthias of Treves, who says he had the original Hebrew from a Jew, who explained it to him in the vulgar Tongue, in the twelfth Century.

⁴ This Life expresses, that St. Matthias was of Bethlehem, of the Tribe of Judah, of an illustrious Family; that in his Youth he was very well instructed by an excellent Man called Simeon, that after Pentecost he had Palestine for his District, where he preached with great Success, and did many Miracles. That thirty three Years after our Lord’s Passion, Ananus the Younger having put to Death James the Lesser at Jerusalem, St. Matthias at the same Time was apprehended in Galilee, and brought before Ananus, who seeing him persist to confess Christ, he condemned him to be stoned. This was presently executed upon him, and afterwards his Head was cut off. But this History is not regarded as very authentick, and there are several of the Learned that look upon it as no better than a pious Fable. They think they have his Relicks at Rome; but the famous Abbey of St. Matthias near Treves, boasts of the same Advantage, and perhaps with something more Reason. The Greeks place his Feast on August the 9th, and the Latins on February the 24th.

The ancient Hereticks have trumpt up a false Gospel of St. Matthias, and the Fathers⁵ have mentioned it only to reject it, and to testify that the Church does not receive it. Clemens Alexandrinus⁶ quotes something of the Traditions of St. Matthias. There is great Probability that the Basilidæans, the Marcionites, and the Valentinians were the Hereticks, that were the Contrivers of these Forgeries; they always boasting that they followed the Sentiments of St. Matthias⁷. Here is something that has been quoted from this Apostle. “If the Neighbour of the Elect sins, the Elect himself sins; for if he had behaved himself as Reason (or as the Word) prescribes, his Neighbour would have had such Respect for his Life, that he would not have sinned.” And elsewhere⁸, “A Man must so subdue his Flesh, and use it in such a Manner, as to make no Concessions to it for Sensuality or Pleasure; but must improve his Soul by Faith and Knowledge.” And again⁹, “Admire present Things: This is a Step to arrive at more exalted Knowledge.” The same Clemens tells us, that some confounded St. Matthias with Zaccheus the Publican¹⁰. But this Opinion can by no Means be supported, since Zacheus was converted but a Luke xix 2, 3. Acts ii. 21, 22.few Days before our Saviour’s Passion, and St. Matthias, as we have seen already, was one of the first Disciples of Jesus Christ.

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