We generally believe that Jesus chose Twelve Apostles because of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, signifying that the whole people were called to receive the gift of salvation. Judas deserted Jesus to betray Him and eventually committed suicide. It is significant that Jesus Himself did not choose anyone to take the place of Judas. Thus the group of Apostles that Jesus sent out into the world was no longer the ideal group of Twelve that He had originally desired. It was a broken group. Jesus did not need an ideal unblemished group of Apostles to send out into the world. He sent the community as it now was. From one perspective, we can say that Jesus' sending this broken community serves as a reminder to the Church that on a human level it may frequently fall short of the ideal. It may frequently experience itself as a broken community.

It is significant that Peter showed his authority by suggesting that the community should elect another Apostle to take Judas' place. This did not happen when the other Apostles died. In this way, Peter restores the significance of Jesus' original intention.