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 the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, 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 These all with one accord were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.
15 And in those days, Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (a crowd of about 120 persons was there together), and said, 16 “Men, brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his unrighteousness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. 19 And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms,
‘Let his residence be made desolate,
And let no one dwell in it’;
and,
‘Let another man take his office.’
21 Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us— 22 beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen 25 to take the place of 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 to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. Acts 1: 12-26 LSB
Acts 1: 12-26
V.12 A Sabbath day's journey away - This became synonymous with 2,000 cubits, about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile. The Jews believed this to be the distance of the farthest tents from the tabernacle to the tabernacle, during the time of their early fathers wandering in the wilderness. We don't see that distance recorded in Scripture, but it became part of their tradition.
VS. 15-16 The Scripture had to be fulfilled - Christ being born of a Virgin and later dying for the sins of His people was foretold in the OT. See links below
The OT also foretells the betrayal leading up to His crucifixion. God was sovereign even in this; Judas was only a surprise to the other disciples.
…8“A vile disease has been poured into him; he will never get up from where he lies!” 9Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. 10But You, O LORD, be gracious to me and raise me up, that I may repay them.… Psalm 41:8-10
…12For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide. 13But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend. 14We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.…
15Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes.… Psalm 55: 12-15
V. 17 For he was counted among us and received his share in the ministry - Jesus originally chose these 12, same number as the tribes of Israel, and the number was right, but Judas was not born again. He was physically with the twelve, with Christ, taught by Jesus, and we see this even today, people, even preachers, who come to the physical call. They come to the title, Christian, pastor, deacon, deaconess, elder, Sunday School teacher, but they trade Jesus in for something shiny. Some are about money, like Judas, some are for power, fame, the respect of men, others turn aside for their sexual perversions, or for their comforts and hobbies.
For he was counted among us - Yes, Judas was of the 12 physically, but not spiritually, for he was never saved by grace through faith, even as Jesus Himself testified, John recording "But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was (JUDAS) that would betray Him." (John 6:64). Later, Jesus added "Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?” Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him." (John 6:70-71). And in His high priestly prayer Jesus prayed "While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition (JUDAS), so that the Scripture would be fulfilled." (Jn 17:12)
Counted (2674)(katarithmeo from kata = + arithmeo = to number) means to be numbered with or counted as a member of a group (in this the only NT use referring to the group of the apostle who followed Jesus). Used 3x in the Septuagint - Ge 50:3; Nu 14:29; 2 Chr. 31:19 - Precept Austin
Vs. 18-20 This man acquired a field - This is what the 30 pieces of silver purchased. Judas tried to give it back by throwing it on the floor of those who gave it to him. They in turn purchased the field where he hung himself. Apparently the rope gave or the branch broke, and he fell head long upon some rocks where his bowels burst.
…12Then I told them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” So they weighed out my wages, thirty pieces of silver. 13And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”— this magnificent price at which they valued me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD. 14Then I cut in two my second staff called Union, breaking the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.… Zechariah 11: 12-14
Vs. 21 It is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us - The number 12 was important, tied to the twelve tribes of Israel, and tied to prophecies with a future historical fulfillment, at a place that could be physically measured. It is difficult to be an eye witness to the miracles, teaching or resurrection if you weren't there, so they had to find a man who met that criteria. These men are the pillars of the church, Christ being the foundation. Those that call themselves apostles today, who try to bring new revelation, are not, so just rebuke them and move on.
…26When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me. 27And you also must testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning. John 15: 26-27
Constable - Why did Peter believe it was “necessary” to choose someone to take Judas’ place? Evidently he remembered Jesus’ promise that the 12 disciples would sit on 12 thrones in the messianic kingdom judging the 12 tribes of Israel (Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:30; cf. Rev. 21:14). To be as qualified for this ministry as the other 11 disciples the twelfth had to have met the conditions Peter specified. (Acts 1 Expository Notes) - Precept Austin
…7When he is tried, let him be found guilty, and may his prayer be regarded as sin. 8May his days be few; may another take his position. 9May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.… Psalm 109: 7-9
…27“Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.… Matthew 19: 27-29
…29And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father has bestowed one on Me, 30so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Luke 22: 29-30
…13There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15The angel who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and walls.… Revelation 21: 13-15
V. 22 Beginning with the baptism of John - To witness this was also part of the criteria, so the pope does not make the grade, even though Roman Catholic dogma insists this is the case, that he is in a long procession that started with Peter, but theirs is an unbiblical teaching. You had to be there, and being there you would have heard the Father's testimony and seen the sign of the Holy Spirit. You also had to have seen the risen Christ.
13 Then Jesus *arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he *permitted Him. 16 And after being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon Him, 17 and behold, there was a voice out of the heavens saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” Matthew 3: 13-17
V. 23 Justus and Matthias - Two met the outward criteria.
V. 24 You, Lord, know the hearts of all men - They couldn't see that, and I think the lesson of Judas was seared into their minds, how someone so close to them could be such a traitor. So they go where we all should go, always, to prayer. They ask God to show them. We often choose based on what people say, how they dress, how well we hit it off with them, and in many cases we miss out, or choose wrong. It is hard to assess a man's character at times, especially when he knows what you are looking for, but also it is easy for us to overlook someone who doesn't fish, or have the same humor, or their personality is a bit different. Sometimes it is our opposite in personality that is most like us in our character and love of Christ.
V. 25 To go to his own place - If one is not born again then he will only will to choose according to his sinful nature. Pay attention, Judas did not want Christ though he followed him on foot. So ask yourself, where is the proof that I want Christ and not this world? Do you love Him, and how can I tell, how do you tell, where is the fruit? When did you last speak with Him? How close are you to His words?
Pritchard applies this tragic story of Judas to the modern church noting that "If Judas were alive today, the best place to find him would be in church on Sunday morning. He would come early, sit near the front, sing the hymns with gusto, clap during the choruses, and say "Amen" during the sermon!" - PA
V. 26 And they cast lots for them - They trusted that God would answer them in this way. Later this would be replaced by guidance of the word and prayer when it comes to the choosing of elders and other offices in the church. The New Testament gives grand and thorough instruction to those who aspire to such roles.
And they drew lots for them - Casting lots was an accepted OT practice for determining God's will, but before you cast lots to determine God's will, you need to realize that this was the last occurrence of this practice in the Bible. Now we have the full revelation of God's Word and God's indwelling Spirit to guide our discernment of God's will. Wise counsel and circumstantial occurrences can help some but our primary mode of determining God's will needs to be His Word, His Spirit and prayer using the Word and in the Spirit. - PA
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