THE LOT FELL UPON MATTHIAS

Acts 1:20-26 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishopric 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, show 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.

Verses preceding the lesson text tell us that immediately after the eleven apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet (the Mount of Olives), they went up into an upper room (Vs. 13), and ...continued with one accord in prayer and supplication (Vs. 14). Accompanying them were the women, (probably those that were mentioned at the crucifixion of Jesus and at His tomb), as well as Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren (the other sons that were born to the union of Joseph and Mary) (Vs. 14). Along with other disciples of Christ, the total number assembled in the upper room was about one hundred and twenty (Vs. 15).

Verse 15 also tells us that Peter stood up in the midst of all that were assembled, and, citing the meaning of an Old Testament prophesy, he said: this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was (the) guide to them that took Jesus, ...for he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry (Vss. 16-17). No doubt, Peter was referring to Psalm 41:9, which is the same passage by which Jesus identified Judas as He that eateth bread with Me hath lifted up his heel against Me (John 13:18b). In verses 18 and 19 we find Peter's brief account of Judas' gruesome death.

Then, in the first verse of the lesson text, Peter said to the assembly, For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishopric let another take. This sets forth the essence, rather than the exact words found in the first few verses of Psalm 109, noting in particular verse 8. The office, or the apostleship once held, and made vacant by the death of Judas Iscariot, now needed to be filled by another qualified follower of Jesus. Verses 21 and 22 tell us what qualifications were necessary for one to be appointed as an apostle of the Savior, Christ Jesus. They must 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. To be qualified as an apostle a man must have been a constant companion of Christ, accompanying Him during His earthly ministry, sitting at His feet in order to hear, believe, and trust in His New Testament gospel messages, and witnessing His miraculous works confirming Him as the Son of God, and Savior of the world.

Two men filled these qualifications - Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. Going to God in prayer, they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show 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. What is involved in giving forth their lots is not fully understood. However, we are sure that it was a method of "voting," that was scripturally authorized, whereby God's will was imposed, with the outcome having His righteous approval. By this, the number of apostles was increased to the original number of twelve. This we are assured of because in Acts 6:2 we find the apostles referred to as the twelve. By the providential will of God, ...the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.