Chosen

There’s a lot of debate about whether the choosing of Matthias was a mistake by Peter or not. Was Paul meant to be the twelfth Apostle? The Bible never explicitly says, but we can learn so much about God’s sovereignty and our responsibility before Him who knows all things and decides all things from the beginning. Matthias is a beautiful example of a faithful and largely anonymous servant of God being rewarded for His faith.

Scripture

Acts 1:12-26 ESV  Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.  [13]  And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.  [14]  All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.  [15]  In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said,  [16]  “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.  [17]  For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”  [18]  (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.  [19]  And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)  [20]  “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’  [21]  So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,  [22]  beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”  [23]  And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.  [24]  And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen  [25]  to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”  [26]  And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Bible Study Questions

Patient, joyful, obedient disciples are never alone

Acts 1:12-26 takes place during the ten days between the Ascension of Jesus and the day of Pentecost. After spending every waking hour with Jesus for three years, the disciples were separated from their Lord and had to wait patiently for His promise. What was their mood like, despite having seen Jesus return to Heaven, and were they now alone?

Acts 1:12-26 ESV  Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.  [13]  And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.

Luke 24:49-53 ESV  And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”  [50]  And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.  [51]  While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.  [52]  And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,  [53]  and were continually in the temple blessing God.

John 20:19-22 ESV  On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”  [20]  When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.  [21]  Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”  [22]  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Faithful followers devoted to Prayer and Worship together

There is an intense unity between the eleven, the women who followed Jesus and His family. Did His family always follow Him, what do you think changed His family and drew them so close to the disciples and the women who followed Him?

Acts 1:14 ESV  All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Luke 8:1-3 ESV  Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him,  [2]  and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,  [3]  and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

Mark 3:20-21 ESV  Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat.  [21]  And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

John 7:3-5 ESV  So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing.  [4]  For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.”  [5]  For not even his brothers believed in him.

Learning that Scripture has to be fulfilled

Peter addressed the greater group of disciples and spoke to them about the fact that Scripture has to be fulfilled. He was able to testify that the betrayal of Judas never took Jesus by surprise and didn’t have any negative effect on His plans and purposes. When did Peter first learn the lesson that Scripture is always fulfilled even when it looks like everything around us is out of control?

Acts 1:15-16 ESV In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said,  [16]  “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

Matthew 26:52-54 ESV  Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.  [53]  Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?  [54]  But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”

The choice and reward of not believing

While Jesus knew what Judas would choose, and that His choice was even prophesied in Scripture, Judas still had every opportunity to make his own choice. Judas also followed Jesus from the beginning of His ministry, what opportunities did Judas have to believe that Jesus was the Son of God?

Acts 1:17-19 ESV For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”  [18]  (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.  [19]  And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

John 6:64-66 ESV  But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)  [65]  And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”  [66]  After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

Matthew 26:24 ESV  The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

The proof of God’s sovereignty is in Scripture

Peter needed to prove to all the followers of Jesus that Judas betrayal was no catastrophe to the mission of Jesus Christ. How did He go about proving this, and how did He justify selecting another man to take Judas place?

Acts 1:20 ESV  “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’  

Psalms 69:21-28 ESV  They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.  [22]  Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap.  [23]  Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually.  [24]  Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them.  [25]  May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents.  [26]  For they persecute him whom you have struck down, and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.  [27]  Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you.  [28]  Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.

The choice and reward of believing

Judas chose not to believe despite all the evidence, Mattias chose to believe despite not initially being chosen as one of the twelve. How did someone who was last become someone who was first?

Acts 1:21-23 ESV  So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,  [22]  beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”  [23]  And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.

Matthew 19:27-30 ESV  Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”  [28]  Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  [29]  And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.  [30]  But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Chosen from the beginning

Was Matthias chosen after the Ascension of Jesus, or was his election only made known then? What have you been chosen for, whether you know it or not?

Acts 1:24-16 ESV  And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen  [25]  to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”  [26]  And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Mark 3:13-19 ESV  And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him.  [14]  And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach  [15]  and have authority to cast out demons.  [16]  He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter);  [17]  James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder);  [18]  Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot,  [19]  and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Ephesians 1:3-5 ESV  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,  [4]  even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love  [5]  he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,