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I actually am convinced that Paul, not Matthias, was chosen by God to replace Judas.

The problem with this is that the 12 Disciples are to reign with Christ over the 12 Tribes of Israel in the Millenial Kingdom. In order to be one of those 12, they had to 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." Acts 1:21,22.

That automatically ruled out Paul, as he saw Christ after His ascension, in Heaven. He never companied Christ while Christ walked on this earth. There were two men that could have met the requirement to replace Judas, Joseph called Barsabas, and Matthias.

Paul's commission from the risen Christ had to do with forming the Church the Body of Christ and the Gospel of the Grace of God, not the Kingdom Gospel. He was called by the risen Christ for something other than replacing Judas and judging one of the twelve tribes.

Thank you for sharing your view, dear smvoice!

Nevertheless, I perceive that Paul is the last of the twelve Apostles because he was chosen and directly taught by Christ, like the other Apostles. Also, the lots were cast for Matthias before Pentecost.

For me, it is a matter of Who did the choosing. But one day we'll know for sure.

And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. - Revelation 21:14

And the foundations of the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation [was] jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. - Revelation 21:19-20

God's Name is I AM.

That automatically ruled out Paul, as he saw Christ after His ascension, in Heaven. He never companied Christ while Christ walked on this earth. There were two men that could have met the requirement to replace Judas, Joseph called Barsabas, and Matthias.

The greek meaning of the word is simply one sent by a messenger ..Paul was sent by Christ..

The only reference to the definition you chose is found in Acts 1:21 before the church was founded, before there was an indwelling Holy Spirit.. It is Peters parameters for picking a replacement for Judas.

As has been pointed out, there is no biblical president for Apostolic succession.. Christ never gave them directions or permission to replace Judas.. This was Peters idea and Peters rules we see here, not Christs..We have no right to impose Peters rules on Christ..

Christ called Paul to be an apostle .. unless the word of God if wrong and Paul a liar