Acts 1:22
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. 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.
The place left vacant among the apostles by the apostasy of Judas had to be filled, and Peter set the requirement for the one to be ordained. The man chosen had to have companied with the apostles all the time the Lord Jesus went in and out among them, beginning from the baptism of John until the day He was taken up, to be ordained a witness with them of His resurrection. The span from John's baptism to Jesus being taken up marks the period of Jesus' ministry from which the witness must have known Him.
Two men were regarded as worthy and qualified for the position, but knowing their own judgment was imperfect the believers prayed for the Lord, who knows every heart and its hidden secrets, to choose the one best suited to the important trust. Matthias was selected by the Spirit. The account gives instruction for choosing men to bear responsibilities in the church and shows that the Lord has certain men to fill certain positions. The verse belongs with Christ's commission to His disciples, the promise of the Holy Spirit, and the angels' message to the waiting disciples, in teaching the gospel commission and carrying forward God's work.
Paul was not one who had been with Jesus from John's baptism until the ascension, though he later became a defender and herald of the gospel. Choosing people for sacred ministry calls for guarded care, wise judgment, and earnest prayer presenting every case before God for Him to guide the choice, putting forward only capable people who will not betray sacred trusts. If guardedness in choice was needed in Christ's day, still greater discretion is needed now.