In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, “Brothers and sisters,^h the Scripture had to be fulfilledⁱ in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas,^j who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was one of our number^k and shared in our ministry.”^l

(With the reward^m he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field;ⁿ there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language^o Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

“For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:

“ ‘May his place be deserted;

let there be no one to dwell in it,’^p

and,

“ ‘May another take his place of leadership.’^q

Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism^r to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness^s with us of his resurrection.”

So they proposed the names of two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed,^t “Lord, you know everyone’s heart.^u Show us^v which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.^w

Read in Logos

Acts 1:24: And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen …”

Cross references

e Ac 2:42; 4:24; 6:4; Lk 18:1; Ro 1:10
f Lk 23:49,55
g Mt 12:46
h Ac 6:3; 11:1,12,29; 14:2; 18:18,27; 21:7; 22:5; Ro 7:1
iver 20; Mt 1:22
j Mt 10:4
k Jn 6:70,71
lver 25
m Mt 26:14,15
n Mt 27:3–10
o Jn 5:2
p Ps 69:25
q Ps 109:8
r Mk 1:4
sver 8; Lk 24:48
t Ac 6:6; 13:3; 14:23
u Rev 2:23
v 1Sa 14:41
w Ac 2:14