And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
After the ascension the vacancy left by the apostasy of Judas was filled when Matthias was numbered with the eleven as a witness with them of the resurrection of Jesus. Two men who had companied with the disciples from the baptism of John to the ascension were put forward as qualified, and in earnest prayer the believers asked the Lord who knows the hearts of all to show which He had chosen, and by lot Matthias was selected. God has certain men to fill certain positions of responsibility, so the choice must be made with careful, wise and guarded discretion and with every case presented to God in earnest prayer rather than daring to trust imperfect human judgment. Candidates for ministry and service must be carefully considered and examined under God's guidance, since putting forward those not capable of the work burdens the church and harms its cause, while organizing all church work under the Holy Spirit's guidance brings responsible help to neglected places. The use of lots here does not establish casting lots as the proper way to choose church officers; responsible people should select them.
Context and Selection
Acts 1:26 belongs to the account of Jesus' ascension and the events surrounding it. It records the putting of the early church in order when the place left vacant by Judas's transgression and apostasy had to be filled by another ordained to that ministry and apostleship as a witness with the others of the resurrection of Jesus. The history shows the vacancy in the ranks of the apostles being filled by Matthias being numbered with the eleven, and its lessons apply to organizing a special work and appointing workers.
Two men who had companied with the disciples from the baptism of John to the ascension were put forward for the place as men considered qualified and worthy. Distrusting their own judgment to know what was in each heart, the believers would not rely on limited human discernment of who was suitable. In earnest prayer they asked the Lord who knows the hearts of all men and the hidden secrets of the heart to show which of the two He had chosen.
By the lot the Spirit of God selected Matthias to fill Judas's place, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. The recording of the use of lots to choose Matthias does not establish casting lots as the proper way to choose church officers; responsible people should select them.
Choosing Church Leaders
God has certain men to fill certain positions of responsibility in the church, and the filling of the vacancy left when Judas by transgression fell from the apostleship shows how He directs it. Another had to be ordained to take part in that ministry and apostleship as a witness with the others of the resurrection of Jesus. After two men who had companied with the disciples from the baptism of John to the ascension were put forward, prayer was offered to the Lord who knows the hearts of all men to show which of the two He had chosen, and Matthias was selected and numbered with the eleven apostles.
The choice teaches moving carefully and with great discretion in wise, guarded selection of men who will not betray sacred trusts. As believers then needed to be guarded in choosing men for responsibility, there is even greater need now to move with discretion than there was in Christ's day. Every case is to be presented before God, and in earnest prayer He is to be asked to choose.
Human judgment is imperfect and cannot know what is in each heart or the hidden secrets of the heart, so men chosen of God did not dare to risk it but made selection a solemn subject of prayer for God to indicate by His Spirit His evangelists. The same careful, prayerful seeking is needed now instead of rushing unfitted men recklessly into the ministry. Candidates for ministry and service must therefore be carefully considered and examined with God's guidance rather than trusting own judgment to discern who is suitable. Putting forward people who are not capable of the work can burden the church and harm its cause and work.
The history of putting the early church in order belongs to the setting of things in order now, applying its lessons to organizing a special work and appointing workers and organizing church work under the Holy Spirit's guidance, so that neglected places receive responsible help. Joined with Christ's commission to His disciples and the promise of the Holy Spirit and the message of the angels to the waiting disciples, the choosing of Matthias teaches the necessity of being educated to believe the Word of God and to show faith by works, with practical godliness as the burden.
After the ascension the vacancy left by the apostasy of Judas was filled when Matthias was numbered with the eleven as a witness with them of the resurrection of Jesus. Two men who had companied with the disciples from the baptism of John to the ascension were put forward as qualified, and in earnest prayer the believers asked the Lord who knows the hearts of all to show which He had chosen, and by lot Matthias was selected. God has certain men to fill certain positions of responsibility, so the choice must be made with careful, wise and guarded discretion and with every case presented to God in earnest prayer rather than daring to trust imperfect human judgment. Candidates for ministry and service must be carefully considered and examined under God's guidance, since putting forward those not capable of the work burdens the church and harms its cause, while organizing all church work under the Holy Spirit's guidance brings responsible help to neglected places. The use of lots here does not establish casting lots as the proper way to choose church officers; responsible people should select them.
Context and Selection
Acts 1:26 belongs to the account of Jesus' ascension and the events surrounding it. It records the putting of the early church in order when the place left vacant by Judas's transgression and apostasy had to be filled by another ordained to that ministry and apostleship as a witness with the others of the resurrection of Jesus. The history shows the vacancy in the ranks of the apostles being filled by Matthias being numbered with the eleven, and its lessons apply to organizing a special work and appointing workers.
Two men who had companied with the disciples from the baptism of John to the ascension were put forward for the place as men considered qualified and worthy. Distrusting their own judgment to know what was in each heart, the believers would not rely on limited human discernment of who was suitable. In earnest prayer they asked the Lord who knows the hearts of all men and the hidden secrets of the heart to show which of the two He had chosen.
By the lot the Spirit of God selected Matthias to fill Judas's place, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. The recording of the use of lots to choose Matthias does not establish casting lots as the proper way to choose church officers; responsible people should select them.
Choosing Church Leaders
God has certain men to fill certain positions of responsibility in the church, and the filling of the vacancy left when Judas by transgression fell from the apostleship shows how He directs it. Another had to be ordained to take part in that ministry and apostleship as a witness with the others of the resurrection of Jesus. After two men who had companied with the disciples from the baptism of John to the ascension were put forward, prayer was offered to the Lord who knows the hearts of all men to show which of the two He had chosen, and Matthias was selected and numbered with the eleven apostles.
The choice teaches moving carefully and with great discretion in wise, guarded selection of men who will not betray sacred trusts. As believers then needed to be guarded in choosing men for responsibility, there is even greater need now to move with discretion than there was in Christ's day. Every case is to be presented before God, and in earnest prayer He is to be asked to choose.
Human judgment is imperfect and cannot know what is in each heart or the hidden secrets of the heart, so men chosen of God did not dare to risk it but made selection a solemn subject of prayer for God to indicate by His Spirit His evangelists. The same careful, prayerful seeking is needed now instead of rushing unfitted men recklessly into the ministry. Candidates for ministry and service must therefore be carefully considered and examined with God's guidance rather than trusting own judgment to discern who is suitable. Putting forward people who are not capable of the work can burden the church and harm its cause and work.
The history of putting the early church in order belongs to the setting of things in order now, applying its lessons to organizing a special work and appointing workers and organizing church work under the Holy Spirit's guidance, so that neglected places receive responsible help. Joined with Christ's commission to His disciples and the promise of the Holy Spirit and the message of the angels to the waiting disciples, the choosing of Matthias teaches the necessity of being educated to believe the Word of God and to show faith by works, with practical godliness as the burden.