Ματθίας, Μαθθίας (Matthias, Maththias)
Matthias, Maththias
Matthias
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Matthias, derived from the Hebrew Mattithyah meaning "gift of God," appears in the New Testament exclusively within the Book of Acts. It identifies the man chosen by lot to replace Judas Iscariot among the Twelve Apostles after Jesus’ ascension.
This selection process is recorded in Acts 1:23 and 1:26, where two candidates were nominated from those who had accompanied Jesus throughout his ministry. The community prayed for divine guidance before casting lots, a practice reflecting their reliance on God’s sovereign choice rather than human preference to restore the number of apostles to twelve.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Matthias means "gift of God," a fitting title for someone chosen to restore the group of Jesus' closest followers. In Acts 1, the early believers faced a difficult moment after Judas Iscariot left. They did not rely on their own preferences or political maneuvering. Instead, they prayed and cast lots, trusting that God would guide their decision.
This story reminds us that God values faithfulness over fame. Matthias had been with Jesus from the beginning, witnessing His ministry closely. His selection shows that God often chooses those who have remained steady in their walk with Him. It is a quiet example of how divine guidance works through prayer and community discernment.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Matthias.1×
- Matthias1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Μαθθίαν.1×
- Μαθθίαν1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 1:23
They put forward two: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.
This verse lists Matthias alongside Justus, showing that both candidates were qualified witnesses who had accompanied Jesus throughout His ministry.
-
Acts 1:26
They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was counted with the eleven apostles.
Here the lot falls on Matthias, demonstrating the early church's reliance on prayer and divine selection rather than human voting to fill the apostolic role.