Since Jesus called the Twelve as an identifiable group (Luke 6:12–16) to signal the reorganization and restoration of Israel (Luke 22:29–30) that the prophets had predicted for the last days, the election of Matthias is a necessity and key event before the Twelve begin their preaching ministry.1 Twelve apostles are thus necessary, not for pragmatic reasons, but to symbolize that Jesus is leading a reorganization of Israel.2 There were twelve tribes of Israel and so there must be twelve apostles to symbolize and represent the restored Israel.3
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,