Matthias the apostle

Matthias was present as a witness to Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, but he was not one of the apostles present when Jesus breathed on the disciples immediately after the resurrection (the event described in Luke 24:36 or John 20:22), because he was not yet officially numbered among the Twelve at that time.

Matthias was chosen after Jesus’ ascension to replace Judas Iscariot, meaning he was not part of the group of the eleven apostles gathered in the Upper Room between the resurrection and the ascension when Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on them. The Gospels never mention his name during that early post-resurrection period, though he had followed Jesus from the beginning of His ministry and witnessed all of His earthly work, including the resurrection and ascension.

The key point is timing:

- Jesus breathed on the disciples after the resurrection but before the ascension (Luke 24:36–49; John 20:19–23).

- Matthias was chosen after the ascension, when the apostles gathered to replace Judas (Acts 1:15–26).

Thus, while Matthias was a witness to the resurrection and was later counted as one of the Twelve, he was not present as an apostle during the specific moment when Jesus breathed on the disciples immediately after rising from the dead. He was already a follower of Jesus and witnessed the resurrection, but he was not yet an apostle at that time.