Choosing Matthias
TRANSLATION
(12) Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. (13) When they arrived, they went up into the upper room where they were staying. Those present included Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. (14) They all joined together constantly in prayer along with the women, with Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
(15) One day Peter stood up among the brothers (a large number was gathered together, about a hundred and twenty) and said, (16) “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture which the Holy Spirit spoke by the mouth of David concerning Judas who guided those who arrested Jesus had to be fulfilled. (17) For he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.” (18) (With the payment Judas received for his wickedness, he purchased a field where he fell headlong. His body burst open and all his bowels gushed out. (19) This became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem so that the field was called in Aramaic, “Akeldama,” that is, “field of blood.”) (20) “For it is written in the Psalms, ‘May his place be abandoned, and let no one live there,’ and ‘May another take his place of leadership.’ (21) Therefore, it is necessary for us to choose one of those who have been with us the whole time that the Lord Jesus was living among us, (22) beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us, to become a witness with us of his resurrection.” (23) And they nominated two: Joseph, called Barsabbas and surnamed Justus, and Matthias. (24) And they prayed, “Lord, you know all our hearts. Show us which of these two you have chosen (25) to take Judas’ place in this apostolic ministry from which he fell away to go to his own place.” (26) And when they cast lots, the lot fell to Matthias who was then added to the eleven apostles.
OBSERVATIONS
These verses describe what took place between Jesus’ ascension into heaven (Acts 1:1-11) and the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). Repeated words include “Jerusalem” (three times in vss. 12 & 19), “Peter” (vss. 13 & 15), “prayer/prayed” (vss. 14 & 24), “Jesus” (vss. 14, 16, & 21), “brothers” (vss. 14, 15, & 16), “Judas” (vss. 16 & 25), “field” (three times in vss. 18 & 19), “Matthias” (vss. 23 & 26), and “place” (twice in vs. 25).
OUTLINE
I. The disciples returned to Jerusalem to the Upper Room and devoted themselves to prayer. (12-14)
II. Led by Peter, the disciples chose Matthias by lot to take Judas’ place as the twelfth apostle. (15-26)
IDEA STATEMENT
While waiting in the Upper Room and devoting themselves to prayer, the disciples, led by Peter, chose Matthias to take the vacated place of Judas as the twelfth apostle.
APPLICATION
Both Matthew and Luke recorded the promise Jesus made to his disciples who had left everything to follow him that, when enthroned as king over his kingdom, he would grant to them the reward of sitting on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Mt. 19:28 and Lk. 22:30). This promise helps us understand why the eleven apostles, whose number had been reduced by Judas’ betrayal and defection, felt compelled to replace him with a twelfth. Peter, citing two verses from the Psalms (Ps. 69:25 & 109:8), guided them through the process of selecting Matthias to take Judas’ place.
That the coming Kingdom of God was on the disciples’ minds during these days of waiting for the promised Holy Spirit was evident from the only question the disciples asked of Jesus before his ascension into heaven in verse 6: “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” At this point they could hardly have grasped that God would delay the coming of the Kingdom for such an extended period, nearly two thousand years at this point. They were expecting the Lord to return within a few months or years, certainly within a generation.
The question of when the Lord will return was never answered in the New Testament. Instead, Jesus specifically told his disciples, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Mt. 24:36). Then he warned them, “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Mt. 24:44). In other words, Christ may return at any time, and we are to be prepared to welcome him when he comes. Such anticipation motivates us to serve him faithfully, looking forward to the moment when we shall see him face to face and hopefully be told by him, “Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your master” (Mt. 25:21).