So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
Acts 1, 21-26

The text from Acts 1:21-26 highlights a critical moment in the early Church, where the apostles are seeking to choose a successor to Judas Iscariot to restore the group of apostles to twelve. This passage highlights the significance of apostolic witness and continuity in the Church’s mission. In the Catholic context, this passage underscores the concept of apostolic succession, which is foundational for the Church’s authority and teaching. Apostolic succession refers to the uninterrupted transmission of spiritual authority from the apostles through successive bishops, which the Church believes ensures the authenticity of the Church’s teachings and sacramental life.

The requirement that a successor must be a witness to Jesus’ ministry and resurrection emphasizes that the teachings and leadership of the Church are rooted in the firsthand experience of Christ. This is vital for maintaining the integrity of the faith. The apostles were chosen directly by Jesus to spread the Gospel and establish the Church. By selecting someone who had been with them throughout Jesus’ ministry, the early Church was committed to maintaining a direct link to that original witness.

This event is crucial for understanding how leadership has been maintained in the Church throughout history. Historically, the apostles played a vital role in establishing a foundation for the early Church by appointing successors to continue their work. Today, bishops are recognized as the successors of the apostles, embodying their mission to spread the Gospel and uphold the teachings of Christ. They carry the responsibility of not only preserving doctrinal integrity but also fostering the Church’s unity in faith and governance. By maintaining a direct line of apostolic succession through the sacrament of Holy Orders, bishops ensure the continuity of leadership and the faithful transmission of spiritual authority, which is essential for guiding congregations and addressing contemporary challenges within the Church.

Apostolic succession is fundamentally linked to the sacramental life of the Church, serving as a vital foundation for its spiritual framework. This doctrine asserts that bishops, as direct successors to the original apostles, possess the divinely ordained authority to confer sacraments, which are essential for nurturing the spiritual well-being and growth of Catholics. These sacraments—including Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick—are not merely rituals but are considered channels of grace that facilitate a deeper relationship with God. Through apostolic succession, the Church ensures that the teachings and leadership established by Christ through his apostles are preserved and passed down through generations, thus maintaining the integrity and continuity of the faith.

This succession provides not only theological continuity but also fosters a profound sense of unity among believers, reinforcing the Church’s identity as one body of Christ, united in faith, mission, and purpose. Grounded in the historical witness of the original apostles, apostolic succession underscores the Church’s commitment to upholding its foundational beliefs while adapting to the contemporary world, thereby safeguarding the authenticity of its mission to evangelize and serve all humanity.

In short, Acts 1:21-26 is more than a historical account; it establishes a theological foundation for the Catholic understanding of apostolic succession, emphasizing the importance of witness, continuity, and the sacramental authority within the Church. This continuity ensures that the Church remains faithful to the teachings of Christ and is guided by the Holy Spirit in its mission to the world until the Lord returns in glory at the end of this age (Mt 28:18-20).

In John 16:14-15, Jesus emphasizes the unity and continuity of authority within the Godhead, specifically within the Trinity. He says that the Holy Spirit will take what is from Him (the Son) and declare it to the apostles. This establishes that the apostles are receiving divine revelation directly from the Son, who shares what He has received from the Father. The assurance that what the Father possesses, the Son also possesses, signifies the full transfer of authority and teachings to the apostles. Thus, their authority to teach and lead the Church is rooted in this divine endorsement, affirming that it is not diminished but rather empowered by their connection to Christ.

In John 17:18, Jesus offers a fervent prayer to the Father, stating, “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” This passage underscores the deep connection between the Father’s mission for the Son and the subsequent mission entrusted to the apostles. Just as the Father commissioned Jesus with clear objectives and divine authority to reveal God’s nature and bring salvation, Jesus likewise empowers the apostles to carry forward this sacred mission. This parallel not only highlights the apostles’ pivotal role in the early Church but also emphasizes the continuity of Jesus’ work through them.

As we have noted, the concept of apostolic succession is central to understanding how the Church perpetuates this divine mission across generations. Apostolic succession holds that the leadership and authority established by Christ are passed down through the laying on of hands and the consecration of new leaders. This ongoing process ensures that the teachings and mission of Jesus are faithfully preserved and handed down, allowing the Church to remain a vital instrument of God’s grace and truth in the world. Hence, the act of sending new leaders is not merely organizational but carries profound theological significance, reinforcing the idea that the Church is called to actively engage in the world, just as Jesus did.

After His resurrection, as recorded in John 20:21, Jesus appears to the apostles in a moment that is both significant and transformative. He greets them with the words, “Peace be with you!” This greeting not only conveys reassurance but also sets the tone for the mission that follows. Jesus continues by stating, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” This powerful declaration reinforces the concept of apostolic authority, highlighting that the commissioning of the apostles is both intentional and sacred, reflecting the divine will. By sending his apostles, Jesus conveys a profound transfer of authority, indicating that they are now entrusted with continuing his work on Earth. This act of commissioning is pivotal in the establishment of the Church, as it marks the beginning of its role as leaders and teachers within the Christian community.

Furthermore, this passage aligns closely with the doctrine of apostolic succession. The authority given to the apostles by Christ is passed down through an unbroken chain to their successors—bishops and church leaders throughout history—who are seen as inheritors of that divine mission. Thus, the original apostles serve as the foundation for an ongoing tradition, ensuring that the teachings and practices of the faith remain connected to the original message imparted by Jesus. This succession underscores the continuity of the Church and its mission across generations, reinforcing a sense of legitimacy and divine purpose within the Christian tradition. For this reason, it was imperative that Matthias replace Judas Iscariot.

Hence, these NT texts collectively highlight the powerful notion of apostolic authority, rooted in the divine nature of the Father and the Son, which is passed on to the apostles. This provides a foundational understanding of apostolic succession, where the authority to teach, govern, and sanctify within the Church is viewed as a continuous presence of Christ’s mission throughout the ages. The apostles’ unique role and authority, thus, establish a lineage that is maintained and perpetuated through their successors, exemplifying the ongoing work of the Church guided by the Holy Spirit until the end of time.

Early Sacred Tradition

[Pope] Clement of Rome, Epistle to Corinthians, 42, 44 (A.D. 98)

“And thus preaching through countries and cities, they appointed the first-fruits [of their labors], having first proved them by the Spirit, to be bishops and deacons of those who should afterwards believe. Nor was this any new thing, since indeed many ages before it was written concerning bishops and deacons. For saith the Scripture, a certain place, ‘I will appoint their bishops in righteousness, and their deacons in faith.’… Our apostles also knew, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that there would be strife due to the office of the episcopate. For this reason, therefore, inasmuch as they had obtained a perfect fore-knowledge of this, they appointed those [ministers] already mentioned, and afterwards gave instructions, that when these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry…For our sin will not be small, if we eject from the episcopate those who have blamelessly and holily fulfilled its duties.”

Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 4:33:8 (A.D. 180)

“True knowledge is [that which consists in] the doctrine of the apostles, and the ancient constitution of the Church throughout all the world, and the distinctive manifestation of the body of Christ according to the successions of the bishops, by which they have handed down that Church which exists in every place, and has come even unto us, being guarded and preserved without any forging of Scriptures, by a very complete system of doctrine, and neither receiving addition nor [suffering] curtailment [in the truths which she believes]; and [it consists in] reading [the word of God] without falsification, and a lawful and diligent exposition in harmony with the Scriptures, both without danger and without blasphemy; and [above all, it consists in] the pre-eminent gift of love, which is more precious than knowledge, more glorious than prophecy, and which excels all the other gifts [of God].”

Clement of Alexandria, Who is the rich man that shall be save?, 42 (A.D. 210)

“And that you may still be more confident, that repenting thus truly there remains for you a sure hope of salvation, listen to a tale? Which is not a tale but a narrative, handed down and committed to the custody of memory, about the Apostle John. For when, on the tyrant’s death, he returned to Ephesus from the isle of Patmos, he went away, being invited, to the contiguous territories of the nations, here to appoint bishops, there to set in order whole Churches, there to ordain such as were marked out by the Spirit.”