[irishtenor]

I have never doubted that Mathias was “counted” as one of the new twelve. I just believe that Peter was in error in doing what he did. That’s all. God had Paul in mind if there were going to be any replacement.

That brings out another question. If Apostolic Succession was to be infered because of Peter’s actions... where are the OTHER eleven apostles now? Assuming, of course, that the Pope is the apostle of this era. Shouldn’t there be twelve at ALL TIMES? In other words, Apostolic Succession never happened after Acts 1, did it?

[jnwest]

Actually, we are probably on the same side. I don’t believe in “Apostolic Succession” as the RCC teaches. However, I do believe that it was the fulfillment of scripture that Matthias be chosen, and that Paul was an apostle “born out of due time”.

Acts 1:20  For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

I personally believe that there are no apostles today b/c there are no eyewitnesses of the resurrection. Also, they were used of God to give us the NT scriptures and that was the end of “divine inspiration”.

[thefrankbaum]

If Apostolic Succession was to be infered because of Peter’s actions... where are the OTHER eleven apostles now? Assuming, of course, that the Pope is the apostle of this era. Shouldn’t there be twelve at ALL TIMES? In other words, Apostolic Succession never happened after Acts 1, did it?

I don't follow your point - why does Apostolic Succession have to be limited to 12 men? Further, Apostolic Succession means that one is the successor of the Apostles, not an Apostle themselves. The Apostles were Bishops, but Bishops are not Apostles.

Let me ask you a question in response. If there was no need of Apostolic Succession, why did Paul receive the laying on of hands - the same rite the Church uses to ordain men today? Why would Paul exhort Timothy to be patient in deciding to lay hands upon men, if it is merely a blessing?

[Campion]

If Apostolic Succession was to be infered because of Peter's actions... where are the OTHER eleven apostles now? Assuming, of course, that the Pope is the apostle of this era. Shouldn't there be twelve at ALL TIMES?

"Apostolic succession" means that bishops get their office and authority from the Apostles through a series of valid ordinations, not that the bishops themselves are Apostles.

The last Apostle was St. John, who died around AD 92. There haven't been any since then, but there is a continuous succession of bishops in the church since that time.

(This is of course the Catholic/Orthodox/trad Anglican view. The Mormon view is entirely another thing.)