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Judas’ Successor (Acts 1:15-26)

During those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons in the one place). He said, 16 “My brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled which the holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus.  17 He was numbered among us and was allotted a share in this ministry.  18 He bought a parcel of land with the wages of his iniquity, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle, and all his insides spilled out.  19 This became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem, so that the parcel of land was called in their language ‘Akeldama,’ that is, Field of Blood.  20 For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his encampment become desolate, and may no one dwell in it.’ And: ‘May another take his office.’  21 Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection.”  23 So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.  24 Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.”  26 Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.'

The Apostles, who were to “sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Lk.22:30), were now without a leader.  Peter addressed about 120 brothers who were of one mind.  The Evangelist could have used the number 120 to indicate to his community that the twelve apostles were leaders in the OT tradition; “So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and reputable, and set them as leaders over you, commanders over thousands, over hundreds, over fifties and over tens (Deut. 1:15).”  Peter addressed the assembly as “brothers” which was a characteristic of the early Christian community.  Jesus had referred those whom Peter would shepherd as brothers (Lk. 22:32).  

The Scripture had to be fulfilled, therefore God was in control.  There was a tradition about Judas’ death which occurred between Jesus’ ascension and Pentecost.  Judas, as foretold in the Scriptures, betrayed Jesus; “Even my trusted friend, who ate my bread, has raised his heel against me (Ps. 41:10).”  Judas died a terrible death after he betrayed Jesus and Luke quoted from Scripture; Let his encampment become desolate, and may no one dwell in it (v. 20; Ps. 69:26).  Verse 20 also drew from the Psalms to indicate a divine foretelling of another apostle taking Judas’ place; "May another take his office (Ps. 109:8)."  Peter described to the assembly the type of person that should take Judas’ place.  The assembly prayed and Matthias was selected by God. 

Almighty God, preserve us in this foreign land that we may adhere to the teaching of your Son and walk upright in his ways so that by our words and actions we may lead others to your kingdom.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

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References

Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.

Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.


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