We ask this question because it confronts us with the options: Matthias or Paul? Debating the options, however, misses the point of what John writes. The term “twelve apostles” denotes the fullness of the apostolic message as initially given by Jesus Christ himself. We need to hold on to the fundamental message: this city is characterized by Jesus’ own words and works.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.