Hello Daniell,
Well I have some issues about the several explanations of choosing Matthais.
It is noteworthy that the conditions, who God could choose from and the fact they went ahead and determined all this PRIOR to asking God if this was the direction they should or not go in.
It reminds me of church boards who make their plans, determine the conditions and then when all is set asking the Lord to bless their plans. Oftentimes without seeking Gods plans to begin with.
Jesus hand selected the Deciples...He did not confer with the Deciples His choices rather it was His alone. I have no problem believing Paul was His selection to fill the position. They all saw Jesus face to face and so did Paul....and Jesus instructed Him the way to go from that encounter.
God does oftentimes work with the natural flow of our world, but He also intervenes in the ways of men and moves where He will and chooses, often in unexpected ways. We hear very little further of Matthias...yet Paul steps into view, after a direct encounter with Christ Himself, and we know the rest of the story from then on..... It was as if God said He understood the Deciples were only doing what they believed was the right thing, but God had His own plan coming in His time, Christ would appoint and make the selection just as He had done with the other Deciples from the beginning.
Acts 1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) 16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. 17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
This entire course of events was done in accordance of Old Testament prescribed methods, not of men's own will and confusion on what to do.
God did not step in because of Peter's confusion to install Paul over Matthias. Matthias was counted among the 12 Apostles. Paul was raised up at an entirely different time to be a minister and apostle unto the gentiles.
I understand the concerns about the validity of Matthias being the replacement for Judas, and thanks for the input, but i do not think there is enough substance to reject the selection of Matthias as an another apostle. While the choosing of the latter does lack the evident manner of confirmation given Paul, if Matthias was a wrong choice i believe the Holy Spirit would have made that known, considering the weight of the issue, and although the choosing of the latter may seem like a board meeting doing what was pragmatic, they were engaged in much prayer before this, (Acts 1:14) and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit followed this action. And as in 1Kg. 8:1-11, things were set in order before the glory fell.
We today have much to do to make things decent and in order.