This page is a study of Acts 1:15-26. These verses tell of how Judas the betrayer, who had committed suicide, was replaced by Matthias as the 12th apostle.
"And in those days Peter stood among the disciples, around 120 names altogether, and said,"(Acts 1:15).
Here, as in Revelation 3:4, the term "names" means "persons" but signifies the enrollment and registration of those persons in Heaven (Heb 12:23). Christians have their "names written in the book of life" (Php 4:3, Rev 20:12,15, 21:27).
" 'Men, my brothers! This scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit predicted by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who turned guide to those who captured Jesus...' "(Acts 1:16).
"This scripture" to which Peter refers, is quoted by him in Acts 1:20, and is found in Psalms 69:25 and 109:8. Another prophecy was spoken (an oral prophecy) by Jeremiah (Mtt 27:9-10). A similar prophecy is recorded in Zechariah (Zec 11:12-13).
There were two apostles named Judas. The first was "Judas of James"(Acts 1:13). He is also called Thaddaeus (Mtt 10:3). The Judas "who turned guide" and betrayed Jesus was Judas Iscariot (Lke 6:16).
" '...for he was numbered among us and was allotted this ministry...' "(Acts 1:17).
Peter says that Judas Iscariot had been "allotted this ministry" of apostleship (Acts 1:17). The Greek for "allotted" is kleeros the same word used for drawing "lots"(Acts 1:25-26). Apostleship was regarded as one's "lot" from God, so the prayerful casting of lots was an appropriate method by which another apostle might be "chosen" by God and "allotted"the ministry.
" 'This man then in fact got a field with the wages of injustice, and he had swollen up, split in the midst, and everything poured out of his bowels...' "(Acts 1:18).
Judas "got a field" not by buying it personally, but by throwing his thirty pieces of silver into the sanctuary. The field that was bought by the officials technically remained as Judas's estate, since it was blood money (Mtt 27:5-10).
The "wages of injustice" or unrighteousness were used to buy a field for the burial of strangers. This has a symbolic irony to it. Hell is a place for strangers to God, and everyone has a choice to make just as Judas had a choice. "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is life everlasting in Christ Jesus"(Rom 3:26).
The Greek for "swollen up" is not clearly understood. Possibly Luke as a doctor is using terms in a technical sense. However we know that Judas "went and hanged himself"(Mtt 27:5). Subsequently he either swelled up for some reason, or fell headlong from where he had hung himself. Whichever was the case, it resulted in a massive rupture and Judas's death was as horrible as Herod's (Acts 12:21-23).
" '...And everyone living in Jerusalem came to know of this, so in their own language the field was called Hakeldama, "the Field of Blood." ' "(Acts 1:19).
The name of the field, "Field of Blood" has reference to the blood of Jesus, rather than to the blood of Judas.
The 30 pieces of silver were blood money. The chief priests viewed the money as "the price of blood", referring of course to the blood of Jesus. They deemed the money unfit for the temple treasury, so they acted as executors in purchasing the field (Mtt 27:1-8).
It was "for that reason" that the field acquired its name (Mtt 27:7-8).
" 'For it is written in the book of Psalms, "Let his house be desolate, and let no one dwell there", and "let another take the oversight he had." ' "(Acts 1:20).
Judas Iscariot had the ministry of apostleship, an important place as an overseer of the church, but he "blew it" so to speak and so forfeited and vacated his place, perversely exchanging it for another place.
Peter is quoting prophetic passages from the Psalms as his authority for replacing Judas (Psa 69:25, 109:8).
" 'So one of these men who were our companions all the time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us...' "(Acts 1:21).
The 12th apostle had to be qualified, and one qualification was that he had been a companion of Jesus and the apostles duing the whole time of Jesus's ministry.
The expression "all the time" signifies that any candidate for apostleship must not have been among those disciples who deserted Jesus towards the end, but must have stayed and remained faithful (Jhn 6:66-68).
" '...beginning from his immersion by John until the day that he was taken up from us, one of these should join us as a witness of his resurrection.' "(Acts 1:22).
Here the time required for constant companionship with Jesus and his apostles is defined. It had to have gone from Christ's baptism through to his ascension.
One of the important and special functions of the twelve, was their testimony, based on their personal and constant witnessing of Christ's activities from his baptism until his ascension. This especially included their being eye-witnesses of "his resurrection".
"And they put forward two: Joseph (who was called Barsabas surnamed Justus) and Matthias."(Acts 1:23).
Because of the strict qualifications, it is perhaps not surprising that among more than 100 persons there were apparently only two who filled the requirements.
What is a little surprising, is that these two men are not mentioned previously, and this is the first and last time we encounter them in the scriptures.
"And they said in prayer, 'You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which of these two you have chosen...' "(Acts 1:24).
Whilst the group put forward the two men who were qualified, it was left to Christ to make the choice.
It is interesting that Peter seems to acknowledge that he did not "know the hearts" of these two men as the Lord did. After he received the power from on high, however, Peter was able to discern the hearts of men, and on that basis he did not hesitate to cut off the lives of Ananias and Saphira (Acts 5:1-11).
" '...that he may take as his lot this ministry and
apostleship, from which Judas walked away to go where he belongs.' "(Acts 1:25).
Judas "walked away" or "turned aside" from his apostleship. This was his decision, God did not compel him to do it.
The expression "where he belongs" or "to his own place" does not signify that Judas was born to be a traitor destined for hell. On the other hand, one belongs in hell if one chooses the path to destruction, just as one belongs in heaven if one chooses the path of life (Mtt 7:13-14).
In fact, human beings do not belong in hell. It was never intended as a place for them. It was "prepared for the devil and his angels"(Mtt 25:41) not for the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. However those who do not follow the path of Christ make themselves "accursed" and make hell the place where they belong. But this was never meant to be their destiny.
"And they cast their lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was accordingly counted among the apostles with the eleven."(Acts 1:26).
Was the Election of Matthias Legitimate?
Some people say that the disciples were premature and presumptive in choosing Matthias, because God wanted Paul to fill Judas's place. There is nothing to support this claim, and a few facts against it:
Peter was obeying the scriptures and showed the act to be scriptural,
properly interpreting the prophetic scriptures.
Peter limited the choice of candidates to those properly qualified, and may well have been previously instructed in this by Jesus.
The matter was taken to God in prayer. The result is represented as God's answer to the prayer.
The casting of lots was not "gambling", but an appropriate ceremony for determining God's choice. The apostleship itself is spoken of as a "lot" so it is proper for Matthias to have been "counted" (the Greek signifies election by casting lots) among the apostles.