Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
After Judas fell from his ministry and apostleship, one place stood empty in the ranks of the apostles that had to be filled by another taking his place. The man ordained had to be one who had stayed with the disciples through the whole public life and work of Jesus among them, from the baptism of John until He was taken up, so he could stand with them as a witness of His resurrection. The first apostolic brotherhood was made up of men who had so accompanied Jesus, while Paul, who had not seen Jesus in His earthly life, was numbered among the apostles by a distinct divine choice. The account gives instruction for choosing men to bear responsibility in the church, that the Lord has certain men for certain positions and His people must be guarded, move carefully, and make wise choice of those who will not betray sacred trusts. The disciples set forward two men they knew to be upright and worthy, yet knowing human judgment could not reveal the heart they laid the case before God in earnest prayer for Him to choose, and Matthias was selected, teaching care and prayer in placing people in positions of trust rather than putting workers forward without weighing their fitness.
Setting and Qualification
Judas by transgression fell from ministry and apostleship, leaving one place vacant in the ranks of the apostles that had to be filled with another to take his place. Peter required that the one ordained be a man who had companied with the disciples all the time the Lord Jesus went in and out among them. That meant one who had stayed with them through the whole time Jesus lived and worked among them, throughout His public ministry and active life and work among them.
That companionship had to run from the baptism of John until He was taken up. Its purpose was that the man could be ordained a witness with them of His resurrection. The original apostolic brotherhood was made up of men who had so accompanied Jesus from His baptism until His ascension. Paul, who had not seen Jesus during His earthly life, was numbered among the apostles through a distinct divine choice.
The verse belongs to the account of Christ's commission to His disciples and the promise of the Holy Spirit, with the message of the angels to the waiting disciples. It describes the men considered for the place left vacant among them as those who had accompanied the disciples throughout the time Jesus lived and worked among them.
Guidance for Choosing Leaders
The verse gives instruction about choosing men to bear responsibilities in the church when a vacancy must be filled in the ranks of leadership. Its chapter and the early-church history around it, including the events surrounding Pentecost, is a lesson book to be studied for instruction. That history teaches lessons about setting things and the work in order and the need for special work, and the experiences of the apostles provide an example of experiences God's people in later times must also face.
The verse means the Lord has certain men to fill certain positions, and His people must be guarded, move carefully, and make wise choice of men who will not betray sacred trusts. In filling the vacancy the disciples considered two men they knew to be upright and worthy, but recognized that their own human judgment could not reveal the heart. They presented the case before God and in earnest prayer asked Him to choose, and Matthias was selected.
The account teaches care and prayer in choosing people for positions of trust, rather than putting forward workers without properly considering their fitness. If believers in Christ's day needed to be guarded in their choice of men for positions of responsibility, those living in this time need to move with great discretion. Joined to the word, Let not your heart be troubled, the account of Christ's commission to His disciples and the promise of the Holy Spirit with the message of the angels to the waiting disciples teaches the necessity of being educated to believe the Word of God and to show faith by works in practical godliness.
After Judas fell from his ministry and apostleship, one place stood empty in the ranks of the apostles that had to be filled by another taking his place. The man ordained had to be one who had stayed with the disciples through the whole public life and work of Jesus among them, from the baptism of John until He was taken up, so he could stand with them as a witness of His resurrection. The first apostolic brotherhood was made up of men who had so accompanied Jesus, while Paul, who had not seen Jesus in His earthly life, was numbered among the apostles by a distinct divine choice. The account gives instruction for choosing men to bear responsibility in the church, that the Lord has certain men for certain positions and His people must be guarded, move carefully, and make wise choice of those who will not betray sacred trusts. The disciples set forward two men they knew to be upright and worthy, yet knowing human judgment could not reveal the heart they laid the case before God in earnest prayer for Him to choose, and Matthias was selected, teaching care and prayer in placing people in positions of trust rather than putting workers forward without weighing their fitness.
Setting and Qualification
Judas by transgression fell from ministry and apostleship, leaving one place vacant in the ranks of the apostles that had to be filled with another to take his place. Peter required that the one ordained be a man who had companied with the disciples all the time the Lord Jesus went in and out among them. That meant one who had stayed with them through the whole time Jesus lived and worked among them, throughout His public ministry and active life and work among them.
That companionship had to run from the baptism of John until He was taken up. Its purpose was that the man could be ordained a witness with them of His resurrection. The original apostolic brotherhood was made up of men who had so accompanied Jesus from His baptism until His ascension. Paul, who had not seen Jesus during His earthly life, was numbered among the apostles through a distinct divine choice.
The verse belongs to the account of Christ's commission to His disciples and the promise of the Holy Spirit, with the message of the angels to the waiting disciples. It describes the men considered for the place left vacant among them as those who had accompanied the disciples throughout the time Jesus lived and worked among them.
Guidance for Choosing Leaders
The verse gives instruction about choosing men to bear responsibilities in the church when a vacancy must be filled in the ranks of leadership. Its chapter and the early-church history around it, including the events surrounding Pentecost, is a lesson book to be studied for instruction. That history teaches lessons about setting things and the work in order and the need for special work, and the experiences of the apostles provide an example of experiences God's people in later times must also face.
The verse means the Lord has certain men to fill certain positions, and His people must be guarded, move carefully, and make wise choice of men who will not betray sacred trusts. In filling the vacancy the disciples considered two men they knew to be upright and worthy, but recognized that their own human judgment could not reveal the heart. They presented the case before God and in earnest prayer asked Him to choose, and Matthias was selected.
The account teaches care and prayer in choosing people for positions of trust, rather than putting forward workers without properly considering their fitness. If believers in Christ's day needed to be guarded in their choice of men for positions of responsibility, those living in this time need to move with great discretion. Joined to the word, Let not your heart be troubled, the account of Christ's commission to His disciples and the promise of the Holy Spirit with the message of the angels to the waiting disciples teaches the necessity of being educated to believe the Word of God and to show faith by works in practical godliness.