Ellen Gould White
What does Ellen White write about...
Ellen Gould White über: "When Judas died, the 12th apostle had to be chosen. It was Matthias, because it had to be someone who could testify to the whole time, also with Jesus and his resurrection. There is apparently a statement that Ellen White wrote that it should actually have been Paul who became the 12th apostle. This is not understandable to me, because Paul directly persecuted the new congregation and at that time was not converted and he was not a witness of the resurrection."
Answer
In the existing writings of Ellen White there is no statement that Paul should have become the twelfth apostle instead of Matthias. Rather, she confirms the biblical account, according to which the selection of Matthias was made by lot and prayer, to fill the gap created by Judas.
Paul is indeed described in the texts as a directly God‑called apostle, but with a specific missionary assignment for the Gentile peoples. His calling occurred later and independently of the re‑nomination of the twelfth apostle in the first chapter of Acts.
The Selection of Matthias as Apostle
»In the first chapter of Acts, instructions are also given regarding the selection of men who are to bear responsibility in the church. Judas's fall had left a vacancy in the ranks of the apostles, and it was necessary that another be chosen to fill this place. Peter said concerning this: “Now it is required that one of these men who have been with us the whole time, as the Lord Jesus has gone in and out among us... become a witness of his resurrection with us.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas... and Matthias. And they prayed... and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. From these writings we learn that the Lord has certain men to fill certain positions.«
Paul as a Called Apostle for the Gentiles
»As he reflected on these matters in his heart, Paul increasingly understood the significance of his calling, “to be an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.” His calling had come, “not from men, nor through a man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father.” ... As Paul studied the Scriptures, he learned that through the ages “not many wise according to the flesh, not many powerful, not many noble have been called: but God has chosen the foolish of the world to shame the wise.”«
The Ordination of Paul and Barnabas
»The circumstances surrounding the separation of Paul and Barnabas by the Holy Spirit for a specific ministry clearly show that the Lord works through appointed organs in His organized church. ... Now, as the divine commission given at that time was to be fully carried out, the Holy Spirit placed upon the church the task of ordaining him and his companion. ... The Holy Spirit said: “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”«
- Calling of Paul Ellen White
- Selection of Matthias Acts of the Apostles commentary
- Paul as apostle for the nations
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
EGW Vision helps you find topics, statements, and quotes faster, especially when many original sources are not yet fully available in your language. The tool searches semantically, groups relevant content by topic, and presents matching results as clearly as possible in your language.
My hope is that this tool supports personal Bible study, strengthens trust in the original sources, and helps more people discover the message of these writings with clarity, depth, and joy.
