They replace Judas with Matthias as an Apostle - 1:15-26

Acts 1:15-26
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’ 21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Let's look at Three elements of what is going on here: (1) The death of Judas (2) The fulfillment of Scripture (3) The choice of Matthias.

1) The Death of Judas (1:18-19) - Luke is outspoken in calling Judas' betrayal of Jesus an act of wickedness, adikia, which means infamy or or crime - betraying Jesus is a crime! Calvin said, "Judas may not be excused on the ground that what befell him was prophesied, since he fell away not through the compulsion of the prophecy but through the wickedness of his own heart." For the sake of consistency lets marry two passages that seem to tell one story two very different ways: Only Matthew records what happened to Judas, in that he committed suicide. However Luke writes, "this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out." These two incidents do not contradict each other, but more than likely what we have in these two different stories is that Judas hanged himself, and his dead body either fell headlong because the rope or the branch broke. Second there is a question as to who bought the field. Matthew says that Judas gave the money back and that the priests bought the potters field. However Luke says in most translations that Judas 'bought it' but the ESV, which is what I'm using, says, "this man acquired a field." So how do we reconcile this? The priest bought the field with money that belonged to Judas. Edersheim said, "by a fiction of law the money was still considered to be Judas', and to have been applied by him in the purchase of the well-known 'potter's field'."

2) The Fulfillment of Scripture (1:15-17, 20) - The warrant for replacing Judas was Old Testament Scripture. What we read, if we glance back up through Acts 1:15-17, 20 is that this was Peter's conviction. We need to recall that, according to Luke, the risen Lord had both opened the Scriptures to his disciples and opened their minds to understand the scriptures. Since the resurrection they had begun to have a new grasp of how the OT foretold the sufferings and glory, rejection and reign of the Messiah. Peter goes on to quote from two Psalms, the first explaining what had happened (Judas' betrayal and death) and secondly what they should do about it-replace him. Psalm 69 is applied to Jesus several times in the New Testament. Here Peter individualizes this text and applies it to Judas on whom indeed God's judgment had fallen. So, that's great, but why can't we just go with 11 disciples instead of 12. Jesus drew a parallel between the twelve apostles and the twelve tribes of Israel. If the ealry church was to be accepted as being a direct continuity with, indeed as begging the fulfillment of, Old Testament Israel, the number of its 'leaders/tribes' must not be less, even by one.

3) The Choice of Matthias (1:21-26): I don't so much want to go into a history of Matthias, and for that matter, I'm not sure I can. But would rather focus on the factors that contributed to the discovery of God's will in this matter. First came the general leading of Scripture that a replacement should be made. Then they ALL participated in the decision making. Next, they used their common sense that if Judas' substitute was to have the same apostolic ministry he must also have the same qualifications, including an eyewitness experience of Jesus and a personal appointment by him. Third, they submersed the decision in prayer. And finally they cast lots, trusting the Spirit of God would guide the lots. After this we do not see this mode of decision used again after the coming of the Holy Spirit. This was an OT method, and was replaced with the belief that the Holy Spirit could move us as we are now guided by scripture, counsel, prayer, and the common sense he has given us!

HOW DOES THIS APPLY:

Betraying Christ: In the first point I said, "Judas' betrayal of Jesus an act of wickedness, adikia, which means infamy or or crime - betraying Jesus is a crime!" How often do you, how often do I, how often do we seperate what Judas did from what we do? I mean after all, we would never deny Christ, or would we? Well, let me ask, how many times have we gone against his will for the sake of our own? Have you ever sought your own glory when His glory could have been shouted? Have you ever acted in a way that seeks your own safety or security rather than the being selfless and seeking the good of those who are broken at your expense? Here is the thing, we are saved by Christ's NAME (revealed nature of God)! David said, in the 23rd Psalm that God leads us into righteousness for his name's sake! God always acts "according to his name." And as God's people if we claim to reflect God then our conduct is seen as a slander/betrayal against his name or a promotion of it. So when we act inconsistent with his NAME, are not betraying him to those who are watching. Do not those who see an inconsistency in our lives, look the other way, because they would not want to serve a God like ours. Why do they not want to worship a God like ours? Because they watch how we act and assume if that is how Jesus' followers act, then that must be how Jesus is. When we ignore injustice, are we not betraying the name of Jesus. When we lie are we not betraying the God of all truth. When we fail to show grace and mercy, are we not acting iconsistantly with the God of all grace and mercy. So, ask God to search your heart and reveal to you, how you betray his name whether it is by ommission or commission.

Being a Self-Feeder: Back up in point 2, we read that Peter wanted to replace Judas with another disciple based off of Acts 1:15-17,20 because it was Peter's conviction based on scripture. Why did Peter do this? Because We according to Luke, Jesus had both opened the Scriptures to his disciples and opened their minds to understand the scriptures. What we need to realize and live like we truly believe is that this same Jesus who did this for Peter and the other apostles is the same Jesus who desires to do this for us. The truth is, we will continually live lives that betray the NAME of Jesus if we are not loves of Jesus' word. Peter made a decision based on his conviction of scripture. In todays world, and no less, today's church world, we make decsions based on pop-psychology, our feelings, our personalities, and then we look for scriptures to back up what we already want to do. But this was not Peter's method! In fact, the word of God was the foundation and filter of the the decisions he made, as it should be ours. Let us not, be babies and seek to 'go' to church to get fed, but let us be self-feeders so that we can 'be' the church and feed the broken of our culture, trusting that Jesus will meet us in the scriptures and do as he did to his disciples and open our minds up to those same scriptures.

Figuring out God's will: In my third point of the text we see a method that the disciples used to figure out the will of God. In that method the one thing that is lacking that usually tops our list of "how to figure out God's will" is "my selfish ambition." So, how can apply this same method for our own lives? (1) we need to be self-feeders through scripture, and because I went into that in the above application, I won't go into that one again. (2) We need to surround ourselves with Godly counsel. It is easy for us to sorround ourselves with people who are going to tell us what we want to hear. This is not Godly counsel! Godly counsel is when we are willing to take the advice of those who are willing to disagree with us, who put scripture over feelings and ambition, and who themselves seek to live by the Scriptures and the Spirit's leading. (3) We need to use the common sense God has given us, within the context of Godly Counsel and scripture. It is easy to get caught up in thinking we don't need all of that, God will guide me not matter what. It is easy to get caught up in the trap that we know what is best for us, but the truth is we all have regrets in our lives that come from making decsions based on us 'knowing what is best for us.' So, use your common sense, but use it in light of being a self-feeder and other Godly counsel who won't just tell you what you are wanting to hear. (4) Prayer: verse 24 says they submersed all they did in prayer. Even though I put prayer as the last on the list, let me say, that I do NOT believe this is last, but rather the bookends of the other three steps. When we are seeking the will of God, let us bathe everything in prayer.

So, how do these three fit together. The Bible says, to pray, "Our father who is in heaven, glory to your name, your kingdom come, your will be done..." So, how does that work? When God's will is being done, his kingdom is coming, and when his kingdom is coming, his name is being glorified... When our life is postured toward seeking and living the will of God then God's name is not betrayed...have a great weekend!