The book of Acts provides very little information about the two men proposed to replace Judas: Joseph called Barsabbas, surnamed Justus, and Matthias (Acts 1.23). This silence shows that Luke's interest lies not in their biography but in the fact that they met the criteria set by Peter (Acts 1.21-22).
1- Joseph Barsabbas, surnamed Justus
Joseph is referred to by three names:
- Joseph, his personal name;
- Barsabbas, an Aramaic name probably meaning "son of the " or "son of Sabbas";
- Justus, a Latin name very common in the world (Acts 1.23).
Several commentators have tried to identify him with other figures of the New Testament, notably Joses, the brother of Jesus (Mark 6.3), or Judas Barsabbas (Acts 15.22), but no evidence allows these hypotheses to be confirmed.
The fact that he is presented as a candidate shows that he had accompanied Jesus throughout His ministry, from the baptism of John to the Ascension (Acts 1.21-22). He was therefore part of the wider circle of disciples, without belonging to the Twelve.
2- Matthias
Matthias is chosen by after the disciples' prayer (Acts 1.24-26). His name is the Greek form of a Hebrew name meaning "gift of God."
Like Joseph Barsabbas, he must have followed Jesus since the beginning of His ministry and have been a witness of the resurrection (Acts 1.21-22).
After his election, Matthias disappears completely from the account in Acts. No writing of the New Testament mentions him again.
3- The Ancient Traditions
Later Christian traditions have attempted to fill this silence:
- Eusebius of Caesarea reports that Matthias was among the seventy disciples sent out by Jesus (Luke 10.1).
- Some traditions have him evangelizing Judea, Cappadocia, or Ethiopia.
- Others claim that he died as a martyr.
However, these accounts are late and sometimes contradictory. They cannot be regarded as established historical facts.
4- Did They Belong to the Seventy Disciples?
This is a plausible hypothesis. Jesus had sent out seventy (or seventy-two) disciples on mission (Luke 10.1-20). Given that Peter requires the replacement to have accompanied Jesus throughout the entire duration of His ministry (Acts 1.21-22), it is likely that Joseph Barsabbas and Matthias belonged to this wider group of faithful disciples.
5- A Revealing Detail
The choice between these two men shows that a much larger circle of disciples gravitated around the Twelve. As Pentecost approaches, about one hundred and twenty believers are gathered in Jerusalem (Acts 1.15). Among them were men who had followed Jesus for years and had witnessed His miracles, His death, and His resurrection, but whose names the Gospels have preserved only in very small numbers.
Thus, the election of Matthias reveals that beyond the Twelve there already existed a community of experienced and faithful disciples, ready to take part in the spread of the Gospel from the very first days of the Church.