15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, 16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; 17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. 19 And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’ 21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” 23 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” 26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Commentary
Now it was during those days, that is those days between the Lord Jesus Christ’s Ascension and the Holy Spirit’s outpouring, that the Apostle Peter being chosen by Christ to be a leader amongst them, stood up in the midst of the disciples which had then grown to be about one hundred twenty people and recalled the Holy Spirits Scriptural Word written by David in the Book of Psalms concerning Judas Iscariot (i.e. Psalm 41:9), who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver and thus became guide to those who arrested Him (vs. 15-16), and who later died by his own hand. And so, Peter understanding these things and seeing that Judas Iscariot had taken part in the ministry in fulfillment of the Word of God, will after declaring Judas Iscariots own demise (vs. 18-19), and now recalling the Word of God written in the Psalms which said of him, ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’ (vs. 20 citing Psalm 69:25; Psalm 109:8), will now propose a replacement for him, saying, “Therefore, of these men now ho have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” Vs. 21-22
Thus in seeking to obey the Will of God in the Word of God the Apostle Peter now states that whoever is chosen as the Apostle to replace Judas Iscariot must have been with them from the time of John the Baptists baptism, to the Day of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Ascension, thus they had to have been an eye witness to the Lord Jesus Christ from the beginning of His Ministry Life to His Ascension back to God the Father in heaven. For they must also bear witness to the Lord Jesus Christ’s Resurrection along with the original eleven chosen individually by Jesus Christ Himself.
Vs. 23-26 23 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” 26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Therefore, having understood the Will of God in the Word of God, two men are now proposed by the eleven. First is a man named Joseph called Justus whose surname was Justus, and another man named Matthias. Having then proposed these two men the apostles now present them to the Lord in prayer saying, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” Having then committed the choice to the Lord they now cast lots by which the Will of the Lord could be revealed to them. Now the casting of lots was a well-established and commanded O.T. Scriptural practice amongst the Jews. Seen early on as the means by which the sacrificial scapegoat was chosen (i.e. Lev. 16:8-10). And later God specifically commanded through Moses that this was how the land of Canaan was to be divided amongst the tribes of Israel, by casting lots for each tribe’s territory, (Num. 26:55; Joshua 14-21), and then amongst each tribes’ families (Num. 33:54. 34:14 etc.). By doing so there could be no just grounds for complaints by anyone of being “wronged” (consider Prov. 18:18). Now in terms of offices this was how key Levitical offices were filled in the Kingdom era (1 Chr. 24:1-5, 31; 25:8-9; 26:13-14 etc.), and so the casting of lots was a well-established practice that the apostles choose to seek out the Will of the Lord’s there. However, after the Holy Spirits outpouring this practice amongst them clearly ceased; again, this was done by them only in that instance; for we are all now to be guided by the Spirit of God into the will of God for us. Therefore, with the Lord’s choosing Matthias he was numbered amongst the twelve apostles as an Apostle and living witness to the Lord Jesus Christ’s Resurrection. The early church now has their leadership foundation and purposes laid forth, what it does not have though is power to execute the Will of the Lord in regards to this. That then comes with the Holy Spirits Outpouring into the world!
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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