Re John 15:16 Jesus said I CHOSE YOU but with the apostles choosing Matthias with LOTS (Acts 1:26) is that why Jesus chose Paul (Acts 9:15)?

Mathias was the disciple selected by lot to replace Judas Iscariot as an Apostle. After Jesus' ascension to heaven, Peter, noting that not only had the Psalmist David foretold Judas' deflection (psalm 41:9) but David had also written (Psalm 109:8) "his office of oversight let someone else take," proposed to the approximately 120 disciples gathered together that the vacancy of office be filled. Joseph Barsabbas and Matthias were put up for selection; after prayer, lots were cast, and Matthias was chosen. Occurring just a few days prior to the outpouring of Holy Spirit, this is the last instance reported in the Bible of the lots being resorted to in determining Jehovah's choice in a matter.  Acts 1:15-26

According to Peter's words (Acts 1: 21,22), Matthias had been a follower of Christ throughout Jesus' three and a half year ministry, had been closely associated with the Apostles, and was quite likely one of the seventy disciples or evangelists Who Jesus sent out to preach. (Luke 10:1)

After his selection, he was "reckoned along with the eleven apostles" by the congregation (Acts 1:26), and when the book of Acts immediately thereafter speaks of "the apostles" or "the twelve," Matthias was included.

Although Paul is referred to as an "Apostle", he is not counted in as one of the twelve.

Instead, Paul was chosen by Christ to become an apostle to the nations. Romans 11:13; 1 Corinthians 15: 4-8. Paul had not followed Jesus during His earthly ministry, so he did not qualify for the privilege of becoming one of the twelve.

Incidently, although lots were cast and Matthias was chosen by that means, it doesn't mean that Matthias' choosing was left to chance. Proverbs 16:33 states: "The lot is cast into the lap, But every decision by it is from Jehovah.

Jesus sent the Apostles to minister to the lost sheep of the tribes of Israel. The first Council of Jerusalem was called to elect the successor of Judas. Saint Paul was called to be the Apostle to the Gentiles.

They choose Matthias because Judas has just committed suicide.

Contrary to the popular religious belief that Judas hung himself shortly after returning the 30 pcs of silver. Judas was around up until the time of Jesus ascension.

The first chapter of Acts gives the account of Jesus giving instruction to His apostles. By following the pronouns, it is clearly apparent when Judas left to commit suicide.

Acts 1:1 The former treaties [scrolls of Luke] have I made O theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach.

2. Until the day in which He was taken up after that He through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He {Jesus} had chosen:

3. To whom He shewed himself alive after his passion [death] by many infallible proofs, being seen of them [the 12 apostles whom he had chosen] forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

4. And being assembled together with them commanded them [the 12] that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father which saith he, ye have heard of me.

5. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

6. When they [the 12] therefore were come together they [the 12] asked of Him, saying, “Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom if Israel?”

7. And He said unto them, [the 12] “it is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power.

8. But ye shall receive power after [or, when] that the holy ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Judaea, and in Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.

9. And when He had spoken these things, while they [the 12] beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10. And while they [the 12] looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel.

11.Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which was taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Sometime between verse 10 and verse 11, Judas Iscariot left to commit suicide. We know this by following the pronouns from verse three to verse 10, speaking of the apostles whom Jesus had chosen in verse two.

In verse eleven it changes from “them” to “ye men of Galilee”, Judas Iscariot was the only non-Galilean, {he was from Kerioth, a town in Judea.

We don’t know the time span between the two verses, it could have two minutes …5 minutes… the Bible doesn’t say, but it obviously was enough time for Judas to walk away.

Even after seeing Jesus at least three times, and having been forgiven by the Lord, it must have been too much for him to cope with. Through his agonizing grief he opened himself up to being possessed with the spirit of suicide, impaling himself on a sharp instrument, possibly a sharp stake but most likely a sword (dagger) 

Some misunderstanding as to the death of Judas has been caused from the scripture in Matthew 27:5. This account has been used to place the death of Judas much earlier than it actually occurred. 

This would contradict the records of Judas being present after the resurrection in ……..I Corinthains 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of "all" the apostles.

Luke 24:33-36

33: And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven {minus Thomas} gathered together, and them that were with them,

34: Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

35: And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

36: And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

And John 20:19-24

19: Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

20: And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

21: Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

22: And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

23: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

24: But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came

In addition to the fact that if Judas did kill himself before the ascension, wouldn’t Jesus be the likely candidate to select a new apostle? And if he did commit suicide prior to the ascension…. and Jesus did not feel it necessary to replace him ….why would Peter think it necessary???

Matthew 27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

The word translated hanged himself in the King James version is “apanchomai” from the Greek word “apanchô” it is used only once in the New Testament. In classic literature it means to “strangle” or “to choke” and is used figuratively to mean “to choke with anger” or “grief”. 

The Expositor’s Greek Testament suggests that “apanchô” points to death by grief rather than literal choking.. 

This is correct only to the extent that Judas did not die immediately in Matthew 27, but he was extremely grieved over the betrayal. 

This figurative usage is also verified in the classical writings Aristophanes (Aristophanes Vespae 686)

This seems to be what this word hanged himself suggest, and would fit with the emotional torment and grief that Judas would be going through.

But we can be certain of two things; we know that the Word does not contradict itself, and that Judas only literally died one time; after Jesus ascended.

Bottom line:  Matthias was selected, period.

Jesus had Paul ordained by the remaining apostles.  Apparently one had died before Paul was ordained.  There were always supposed to be twelve apostles.

When Paul arrived at Damascus

he was not an apostle.

That is: he was not YET an apostle.

Matthias was chosen to fulfill the tradition of twelve apostles established by Jesus.

Later in Acts we see both Paul and Barnabas described as apostles. (Acts 14:14)

This was AFTER the apostle James brother of John was killed (Acts 12:2)

and

we don't know if any other apostles died before Paul and Barnabas were made apostles.

SO

it seems likely

that Paul and Barnabas were also selected to be apostles

possibly in the same way as Matthias

or possibly by a different method

but in any case

**probably** AFTER the deaths of two other apostles

**probably** STILL intentionally keeping the total number of apostles at twelve.

Yes, that is why Jesus chose Paul (Acts 9:15) for the 12th apostle.

Yes, the apostles chose Matthias.

Yahoo is not a Bible chatroom or religious study message board.

apostle means one sent forth.

Paul was predestined (ELECT).

he was sent forth but not of the 12. 

he also had a three fold ministry.

you need a teacher.

you are not a teacher.

No. That’s why you need to have teaching instead of trying to teach. You have clearly not been called.