Single lesson
Matthias Is Chosen
Acts 1:12–26
In this lesson, students will trace how the group in Jerusalem prayed together, recognised the need for another apostle, and saw Matthias counted with the eleven. They will examine the decisions made in the passage and the outcome described.
Before you teach
After returning to Jerusalem from Olivet, the apostles went to the upper room and continued steadfastly in prayer with others, including women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. Peter then spoke among about one hundred and twenty disciples about Judas, Scripture, and the need for another witness of Jesus’ resurrection.
Students will be able to sequence Acts 1:12–26, identify the qualifications named for the replacement apostle, and explain how Matthias was counted with the eleven.
Welcome: Notice the group and their shared action
6 minAsk students to listen for where the group is, who is present, and what they are doing. Read Acts 1:12–14. Note that the apostles return to Jerusalem, go to the upper room, and continue steadfastly in prayer with one accord. Also notice that the group includes women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Acts 1:12, Acts 1:13, Acts 1:14
Read and explain: Peter speaks about Judas and Scripture
9 minRead Acts 1:15–20. Explain that Peter speaks in the middle of about one hundred and twenty disciples. He says Scripture spoke concerning Judas, who had been counted in the ministry. Handle Acts 1:18 briefly and soberly as a graphic death detail in the text, then return to Peter’s main point that another should take his office.
Acts 1:15, Acts 1:16, Acts 1:17, Acts 1:18, Acts 1:19, Acts 1:20
Discuss the qualifications: Who could be considered?
8 minRead Acts 1:21–23 and list the qualifications straight from the passage. The person had to have accompanied the group all the time the Lord Jesus went in and out among them, from the baptism of John to the day he was received up. This person also had to become a witness of the resurrection. Then two men were put forward.
Acts 1:21, Acts 1:22, Acts 1:23
Make and respond: Build the sequence and decision path
11 minIn pairs, students create a sequence strip or set of cards for the passage: return to Jerusalem, gather in the upper room, pray together, Peter speaks, qualifications named, two men put forward, prayer for the Lord’s choice, lots drawn, Matthias counted with the eleven. Have pairs check each step against the verses and identify the choices and outcomes named in the text.
Acts 1:12, Acts 1:14, Acts 1:15, Acts 1:21, Acts 1:23, Acts 1:24, Acts 1:25, Acts 1:26
Closing: What does the ending emphasise?
6 minRead Acts 1:24–26 again. Ask students to summarise the final steps in two sentences. Emphasise that the group prayed to the Lord who knows the hearts of all men, asked him to show which one he had chosen, then drew lots. The lot fell on Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.
Acts 1:24, Acts 1:25, Acts 1:26
Questions to explore
What does the passage show the group doing together before Peter addresses them?
Look closely at the shared action in the upper room and the wording about being with one accord.
Acts 1:14
According to Peter, what qualified a man to become a witness with the apostles?
Find the exact time span named in the passage and the specific role connected to Jesus’ resurrection.
Acts 1:21, Acts 1:22
What steps did the group take before Matthias was counted with the eleven?
Trace the order from putting forward two men, to prayer, to the drawing of lots, and then the result.
Acts 1:23, Acts 1:24, Acts 1:26
Make, think or respond
Acts 1 Decision and Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pens or markers
- Bible
- scissors
- tape or blu-tack
Try it together
- Write nine key moments from Acts 1:12–26 on separate cards or strips of paper.
- Work in pairs to place the cards in order using the passage to check each step.
- Mark which cards show a group action, which show Peter’s explanation, and which show the final outcome.
- Share the finished sequence and explain why Acts 1:21–22 mattered for the choice.
This activity helps students follow the order of the account and see how prayer, stated qualifications, and the final result are presented in Acts 1:12–26.
Adapt for your group
- For younger teens, provide the event cards already written and focus discussion on matching each card to its verse.
- For older students, ask them to add exact verse references to each card and explain which actions belong to the whole group and which words belong to Peter.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: "Lord, thank you for this passage. Please help us pay attention to your word, pray thoughtfully, and learn from what this group did together. Amen."
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Acts 1
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
13 When they had come in, they went up into the upper room where they were staying, that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
14 All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
15 In these days, Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said,
16 “Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus.
17 For he was counted with us, and received his portion in this ministry.
18 Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness; and falling headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines gushed out.
19 It became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that field was called ‘Akeldama,’ that is, ‘The field of blood.’
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his habitation be made desolate. Let no one dwell in it;’ and, ‘Let another take his office.’
21 “Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 beginning from the baptism of John to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
23 They put forward two: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.
24 They prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen
25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.”
26 They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was counted with the eleven apostles.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.