Knowing The Word: A New Apostle, Acts 1:12-26

This section in Acts focuses on two points: the gathering of the Apostles before Pentecost and the replacement of Judas. Jesus had told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the sending of his Spirit to empower them to fulfill the great commission he gave them in Galilee. The group, led by Peter, decided to select another to replace Judas, meaning there would be twelve Apostles as there had been twelve tribes of Israel. The man who was selected had to be someone who had been with Jesus since he was baptized by John. The group then decided they would leave it to the Lord to make the selection.

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

“‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’;

and

“‘Let another take his office.’

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

O God, whose blessed Son, our great High Priest, has entered once for all into the holy place, and ever lives to intercede on our behalf: grant that we, sanctified by the offering of his body, may draw near with full assurance of faith by the way which he has dedicated for us, and evermore serve you, the living God; through the same your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

Church of South India