Week 3: The Church Founders: The Choosing of Matthias

Day 1

Acts 1:15-26 (New International Version)

¹⁵In those days Peter stood up among the believers^a]">[a] (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) ¹⁶and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus— ¹⁷he was one of our number and shared in this ministry."

¹⁸(With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. ¹⁹Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

²⁰"For," said Peter, "it is written in the book of Psalms,
" 'May his place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in it,'^b]">[b] and,
" 'May another take his place of leadership.'^c]">[c] ²¹Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²²beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection."

²³So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. ²⁴Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen ²⁵to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." ²⁶Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

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Scripture doesn't record anything about Matthias outside of today's passage. But even in these few verses we find out a lot. We know Matthias had been traveling with Jesus from the beginning. He was an eyewitness to Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection.

Would you have stuck with Jesus even if you hadn't been on of the chosen few? Matthias wasn't part of the 12 that Jesus originally picked, but he followed Jesus anyway. That says a lot. Remember, this was before Pentecost: the Holy Spirit hadn't arrived yet. Matthias was signing on to an almost certain death. These are the kind of people God built the Church upon.


If Jesus gave you a chance to serve today, would you do it?

Will you follow Jesus no matter where he calls you?