You remember that after Christ arose, he told the apostles to wait for the Holy Spirit.   Acts 1:4b,  "…but wait for the promise of the Father," and Acts 5:b  "…ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."   And while they were waiting,  Peter decided to hold an election.  To replace Judas.  Peter gave a long speech about why they needed to do this and Peter was a very pursuasive kind of fella'.  The rest of the apostles all agreed so they cast lots and chose Matthias.  And we never hear from Matthias again.

Expanding on this subject--the election--the scripture tells us in Acts 2:1a, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come…," and Acts 4a,  ".. they were all filled with the Holy Ghost…"   I have always wondered why they held the election before they received the Holy Spirit.  Since Christ had returned to heaven, and the Spirit hadn't yet come, where did they get their direction?  I think this gives further credence to what Paul claimed concerning his apostleship--that Jesus Christ himself had personally chosen Paul.

Obviously Paul counted himself an apostle.  In Timothy 2:7b Paul says, "…I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle…".

I personally am of the opinion that there were twelve, and Paul was God's choice for the twelfth.  It is interesting to note that the number of apostles that Christ chose is the same number as the tribes of the Israelites,  (Jacob had twelve sons).

It has taken two blogs to get through the first three verses of First Timothy.  Mercy!!