Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Closing a replacement for Judas, one who met the requirements of Scripture.533-1 - 1 - 1

Saul, later known as Paul, has been suggested as a possible replacement for Judas. What of the other authors of the Gospels? Mark recorded Peter’s journeys with Jesus and compile them into the Book of Mark. Luke was a physician and an able researcher and recorded his findings in the Book of Luke.
To be selected as an apostle one had to meet three basic requirements. The apostles were to have been baptized by John the Baptist, have traveled with Jesus and have had to be a witness to the resurrection of Jesus.
These requirements are spelled out in Act 1:21-22, “Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.”
At the time a replacement was being selected for Judas Paul was actively persecuting believers. Also, Paul would not have met any of the three criteria as he was not baptized by John the Baptist, he didn't travel with Jesus and he did not witness the resurrection of Jesus.
Paul later met the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus and possibly spent three years in Arabia under the tutor-age of Jesus. Rather than being an apostle to the Jews, Paul was to carry the gospel to the Gentiles and carry it he did.
It is possible that Mark would have met the three criteria to become an apostle, however, I understand that he was just a boy at the time.
Luke was not present until years later when he became a physician and sometimes traveling companion with Paul.
Matthias was selected by casting lots, likely with the approval of Jesus. According to Fox's “Book of Martyrs,” Matthias was stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded. 

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