A NEW APOSTLE SELECTED

#756/835                               A NEW APOSTLE SELECTED

Scripture  Acts 1:12-26, NIV                                                                                 Orig. 9/27/1979

                                                                                                                             Rewr. 10/15/1986

Passage: Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk[a] from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters,[b] the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”

18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:

“‘May his place be deserted;
    let there be no one to dwell in it,’[c]

and, “‘May another take his place of leadership.’[d]

21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Purpose: To use the Book of Acts in sermon series to direct the minds and hearts of my people in the consideration of what the early church had, and was.

Keywords:                  Bible Study                 Holy Spirit                 Dedication

Timeline/Series:         Acts

Introduction

            An  old spiritual raises a somber and searching question.

“Were you there when they crucified my Lord? . . . Repeat

O, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord.”

            Well, the fact is, we were not there.  At least not in the sense in which the question is asked.  But in another way we were there.  In the sense that in this secular world we always live in the environment of crucifixion.  Change the elements.  See it unfolding today, in our time and place, the result would have been the same, and, yes, we were there.  Had His coming been contemporary to us, the result have been the same, whether He had come to Palestinian, or Norwegian, or American.  He would have been a threat to any, and therefore His removal necessary.

            The two men, Judas and Pilate, who were most responsible for Jesus’ death, were not inordinately bad men; they were simple men sold out to a secular age.  Rome demanded two things: peace and revenue.  Judas could not have cared less about Rome.  Pilate could not have cared more.  Jesus was perceived by both to be central to their agendas for success.  Neither understood, nor cared to understand, the will of God.

            I Peter 2:24, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that, though we, being dead to sins, should  live unto righteousness.”

            Judas thought the threat of death would force Jesus to assert His messianic power, useful to him (Judas).  Pilate saw Him (Jesus) as a cause of political dissention.  His death would satisfy Rome.  Judas chose betrayal; Pilate, appeasement. Jesus was to be their scapegoat.

I.          Look with Me for a Moment at these Early Followers in the Environs of Jerusalem.  V12, “Then they returned unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet.”

            Use a couple of slides to project.  Sabbath (day of rest)—journey restricted to 2000 cubits (3,000 feet)—re ½ mile.  Olivet’s importance centered in Christ:

·         Nehemiah (8) sent for booth fronds.

·         David’s route (2 Samuel 15) fleeing Absalom.

·         Dean Stanley called it “park” of Jerusalem.

·         May have been a regular place of prayer.

·         Route of travel from Galilee to Bethany.

            Considerations relative to how few there were.  We are given the number (120, v15).  There were about 4 million Jews  in Palestine.  So one in 3,000 were Christian.  Their mission is to the ends of the earth.  Have you ever had the sensation of being the only believer around? In office, or business, or neighborhood?  Like being the only one in Union, 1/50 in New Orleans, 1/100 in Louisiana.

            We are told that Jesus’ brothers are not among His followers.  See Mark 3:31 “without.”  Also, John 7:5 “For neither did his brethren believe in him.”  Same word adelphoi all three listings.  Thus, this magnificent, epochal event that would change the world began with 120 people.  Don’t be discouraged with small beginnings.  Work against small faith and token dedication.

            What made the difference here is that they knew Jesus to be alive.  He was dead, but he is back.  He is alive, as real as ever.  A power asserting His presence was felt by all.

            There must be those who are chosen as leaders.  The basis for their being chosen.  With Jesus from His baptism, v21.  Witness of the resurrection, v22. Had the appointment from the Lord, v24.  This helps us to understand the difficulties faced by Paul in being recognized as one.  Hebrew equivalent—shaliach/from shalach—“to send,” emphasis upon the sender/the sent. Had no power to delegate.

            The prominence of Peter:  V15, “Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren.”  It declared prominence, not preeminence.  Peter had no Jerusalem apostle/see Galatians 2:11f.  But held in deep respect/see Galatians 1:18.

II.         Now Look at a Major Decision that had to be Made.  V16, “. . . concerning Judas, which was . . . numbered with us, . . . his bishopric (office) let another take.

            His office—Biblical concept from Greek “overseer.”  Episcopate—interchangeable with presbyters/elders.  Denotes duties.  Elder—suggests dignity of office.  It is not Judas’ death that brings this appointment, but his apostasy. 

            We will try to reconcile accounts of his death.  Is there an answer to “Why he did it”?  Iscariot—man of Kerioth/Galilean, v11.  Betrayed to save himself; because of secular, greedy (v18); to force Jesus to act—wrong Messianic ideal.

            Do Acts 1:18-19 and Matthew 27:3-10 agree?

Matthew 27:3-10.  Judas . . . cast down the silver . . . and departed and went and hanged himself.  The priests . . . bought a potter’s field, . . . called the field  of blood.  Thus was fulfilled that spoken by Jeremiah, the prophet, saying, they took the 30 pieces of silver . . . and gave them for the potter’s field.

Acts 1:18-19. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong he burst asunder  in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. . . .  That field is called, Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood. 

Three problems are raised.  Who bought the field?  How did Judas die?  What prophecy was fulfilled?

            The problem of the purchase.  Acts—Judas purchased a field. Matthew—the priests took counsel and bought.

Comment by scholar Daniel Hutto, 9/13/2025:

This seems to be two complementary accounts on the same event focused on different details.  Judas betrays Jesus, receives 30 pieces of silver from the chief priests, then Judas had remorse, returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests, then killed himself by hanging.  The chief priests then purchased the field with Judas's money as if Judas himself purchased the field.  Judas indirectly purchased the field as it was his money even though he did not live to actually do the purchase.  Judas is then buried there after a gruesome hanging, then his body falling.

            They were independent purchases.  Acts—chōrion/farm + ktaomai/acquire for self.  Matthew—agros/field + ēgorasan/buy on open market.

            Judas made his purchase before he received silver and independent of it.  30 pieces returned.  No time for Judas to shop for a farm.  Judas was a known thief.  He had the funds.  John 12:6, “This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief.”

            The problem relative to his suicide. Acts—“Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; falling headlong.”  Matthew—“He went and hanged himself.”  Judas bought his farm with money taken from the bag.  There he killed himself.  It was a farm of blood, purchased with ill-gotten gain.  Later, the priests took the silver, the blood money, and sometime later bought a potter’s filed, called Field of Blood because of this money.

            The problem relative to prophecy.  Easy to pinpoint.  Jeremiah doesn’t mention such a thing.  Some English Bibles direct us to Jeremiah 18:1-4, The Potter’s house.  Others to chapter 32 where Jeremiah buys a field.

            A statement in Zechariah comes close, but that really doesn’t solve our problem, it compounds it.  Zechariah 11:13, “And I took the 30 pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.”  Later and better translations see this as “treasury” rather than “potter.”  Words are close.  Several good commentaries accuse Matthew of error.  The answer is obviously that there was at least one other writing of Jeremiah, of which we know little, but in Jesus’ day it was well known.  Matthew 28:9 doesn’t say “Jeremiah wrote,” but rather, “Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet.”  The reference was simply to one of the oral traditions which was well known.

III.       Now, One Further Word Relative to Replacement.  V23f, “And they appointed two, . . .  and they prayed . . . and they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias.”

            The means of selection.  The ordinary custom was the use of stone upon which the choices were written.  These were placed in a small urn and shaken vigorously until one fell out.  People who are chosen to serve must do so because they love Jesus.  If we don’t serve for Him, we will certainly teach, deacon, minister for lesser reason.

            Now, the Holy Spirit has principal counsel .  Lots cease.  But most have not removed “chance.”  We should view our deliberations as these followers viewed theirs.  “Lots” will be used twice more.  Acts 8:21/13:19, neither involving believers.  Clearly, the Holy Spirit has become the repository of wisdom and counsel openly available to the family of faith.