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Acts: Matthias is Chosen
May 14, 2016

Last week we concluded the study of the Book of Nehemiah by reviewing the reading of the Book of Moses. Just like the Book of Nehemiah recorded the rebuilding of the wall and restoration of Jerusalem, the Book of Acts records the earliest days of the church. Because both the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts reference a person by the name of Theophilus, the thought is that Luke was also the author of Acts. Luke begins by establishing the premise for the Book of Acts.

Acts 1:1-8
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Luke shows that the church was to preach the gospel in Jerusalem, the surrounding countries, and throughout the world, but that they were instructed by Jesus to wait in Jerusalem until the gift of the Holy Spirit was given.

Acts1:9-14
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Jesus the ascended into a cloud and the disciples returned to Mount Olivet where the disciples were living and together with Mary and the brethren, they prayed and asked God for guidance and favor during these difficult days.

Acts 1:15-26
And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. 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. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Peter, who had been singled out by Jesus to feed the flock, addressed the group of one hundred twenty and explained that how the betrayal of Judas was a fulfillment of prophecy given in the Book of Psalms. He explained that it was their duty to replace Judas with another. After consideration, both Joseph and Matthias were offered as individuals who would both be worthy of consideration. They prayed asking God for guidance and then cast lots. Today we vote; back then they cast lots; a more random act. Today each participant might write down a name of their selection; back then they would do something like flip a coin, to make it an unbiased choice. The thought was this practice showed divine intervention. In the end, Matthias was chosen to replace Judas.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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