The apostolic ministry: For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection. Acts 1:22

Jesus during his life established 5 ministries, to administer the spiritual life of the church, which Paul describes in his letter to the Ephesians: "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up" Ephesians 4:11-12.
The gospel explains to us the meaning of the apostolic ministry instituted by Jesus, in a strict sense an apostle is a witness of the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 1:21-22), and this is why the disciples necessarily lived at the time of Jesus. The apostolic ministry was a temporary and necessary ministry for the early days of the church, when the testimony about the life of the Lord was of decisive importance, thence the importance of the apostolic churches, the churches founded by the apostles.
The disciples chosen by Jesus were twelve, because the number twelve represents perfection and totality, twelve were the tribes of Israel, twelve are the doors of the new Jerusalem in the Book of Revelations.
After the suicide of Judas, the disciples must elect a new apostle, to keep the amount of 12, and the election falls on Matthias and thus they are twelve again in total:
"Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.
So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, ´Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs. Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles" Acts 1:21-26.

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