The disciples—and the 120 followers of Jesus—gather together to pray and wait for insight and guidance from the Holy Spirit. But something needs to be done first. There is an opening in their leadership that needs to be filled.
You see, Judas is no longer one of them. As Peter so delicately, even charitably, puts it, “Judas turned aside to go to his own place” (Acts 1:25b). So they need to fill that position, and they have some guidelines for what is needed in a candidate to fill that position. It can’t just be anyone. It needs to be “one of the men who have accompanied us throughout the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection” (Acts 1:21-22). There were requirements for the position, and there was a clear task for someone in the position.
This isn’t a new thing. Most of us have interviewed for jobs, or something else we need to be interviewed for. Some of us have probably been on the other end of that—interviewing someone for a job or a position or a program. We know certain qualifications are called for when we apply; we know certain qualifications are required for those applying for what we have responsibility for. I have been on both sides of that—I have been “examined” by the Board of Ordained Ministry, after meeting the educational requirements and experience requirements and “call” requirements. I have also, for a number of years, served on the Pittsburgh District Board of Ordained Ministry where I have been part of deciding whether candidates who have meet the requirements at that stage of the process meet what is called for to continue in the process. Life involves these processes. They are affirmations of fitness for what the position involves, and we don’t question that these processes are important to confirming someone’s fitness to do it—or our own fitness to do it. But then the decision needs to be made, sometimes between candidates who are pretty much equally qualified and equal “fits” for the position.
That is what is happening here, as two are chosen for consideration of filling this position—the position of witnessing to the resurrection of Jesus, and spreading throughout the known world the message of the Kingdom of God and the grace and love of the risen Christ. And part of what guides the decision, determining whether it will be “Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus” or “Matthias” (Acts 1:23), is prayer: “Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles” (Acts 1:24-26).
We should always pray about the big decisions in life—particularly when they are about what God would have us do.
NEW TESTAMENT Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred and twenty people) and said, 16 ‘Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus— 17 for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.’ . . 21 So one of the men who have accompanied us throughout 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 must become a witness with us to his resurrection.’ 23 So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us 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 added to the eleven apostles.