Matthias Is Chosen

After leaving the mountain called Olivet, Jesus’ followers returned to Jerusalem. They went to the upstairs room where they were staying. The eleven apostles were there, and they kept gathering with one purpose in prayer. The women were there too, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus’ brothers.

At that time about one hundred and twenty disciples were together. Peter stood up among them and spoke about Judas. Judas had once shared in this ministry, but he had guided the people who seized Jesus. Peter said the Holy Spirit had spoken beforehand in the Psalms, and that another person should take Judas’s place.

Peter also spoke about Judas’s wicked reward and his terrible death. Everyone in Jerusalem came to know about the field connected with it, and in their language it was called Akeldama, which means Field of Blood. This was a solemn moment for the believers.

Then Peter explained who could be chosen. It had to be a man who had been with them through the years of Jesus’ ministry, beginning from John’s baptism until the day Jesus was taken up from them. This new apostle needed to become, with the others, a witness to Jesus’ resurrection.

So the group put forward two men: Joseph called Barsabbas, also called Justus, and Matthias. They prayed, asking the Lord who knows every heart to show which one he had chosen for this ministry and apostleship. Then they cast lots. The lot fell to Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.