Peter Calls a Meeting – a New Apostle is Named 

Simon Peter had John Mark and others call the leading disciples to the home of Mary Mark. One hundred and twenty, living in Jerusalem, came, as did Mary and James, Jesus’ mother and brother. This was the first conference of the Master’s disciples to be called after his ascension to the Father and the end of his planetary career.

Peter touchingly portrayed the Master’s final farewell and related when Jesus simply disappeared before their eyes. Peter’s description made the scene come alive, as if they had all been there. Peter then explained that they wished to choose a successor to Judas Iscariot. Two names rose prominent, Matthias and Justus. Peter requested a recess so the apostles could choose. As the candidates were well-matched, they decided to cast lots, and Matthias won.

Matthias was duly inducted and appointed treasurer. Around noon, the apostles returned to the upper chamber of the Mark home, where Peter announced that Matthias had been chosen as the new apostle. Peter then summoned everyone to engage in prayer to prepare for the bestowal of the Spirit of Truth that Jesus promised he would send to them.

Though Matthias was officially chosen as the new apostle, he had little involvement in the group’s later activities. Following Pentecost, the apostles gradually began to disperse. The Alpheus twins, James and Judas, returned to their homes in Galilee, and Simon Zelotes retired for a time before resuming his gospel preaching. Thomas, after a brief period of worry, also returned to his teaching. However, a significant rift developed between Nathaniel and Peter, centered on whether their preaching should emphasize the original gospel of the kingdom or focus more on proclaiming Jesus himself. Peter wanted to focus more on Jesus. This disagreement grew so intense that by mid-June, Nathaniel left for Philadelphia to visit Abner and Lazarus. After staying there for over a year, Nathaniel traveled beyond Mesopotamia to continue his missionary work.

As the apostles went their separate ways, only six of the original twelve remained actively involved in the early proclamation of the gospel in Jerusalem: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, and Matthew. With growing persecution and the absence of a formal leader, following Jesus' release of Andrew from leadership, the group became less unified, and individual apostles spread out to continue the work in different regions.