Bible Study
November 4, 2025
“They Prayed, Then Decided”
Acts 1:21 – 25 (NKJV)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.”
The disciples were going to replace Judas and they determined that they must select someone who “had went it and out among them.” That meant someone who had participated in the earthly ministry of Jesus.
The second requirement was that He had to have seen the resurrected Jesus. Why should that have been required? I believe it was he could testify to all the things that had occurred during Jesus earthly reign in other words he was a witness to what Jesus had done and taught.
They chose Matthias whose name means “gift of God.” Eusebius an ancient historian claimed tht Matthias was with the seventy from Luke 10:1. “After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.” Judas’ successor was Matthias.
“He might go to his own place” was meant that Judas had chosen to go to hell. Judas as with all of us choose where we will spend eternity.
What is interesting is the process by which they made their selection – they cast lots. We might call it drawing straws. This is the last time there is any mention of “casting lots” is was no longer necessary with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
God Bless.
Asbury Chapel 