Daily Bread

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

¹² Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem^(A) from the hill called the Mount of Olives,^(B) a Sabbath day’s walk^[a] from the city. ¹³ When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room^(C) where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.^{(D) 14} They all joined together constantly in prayer,^(E) along with the women^(F) and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.^(G)

¹⁵ In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) ¹⁶ and said, “Brothers and sisters,^[b](H) the Scripture had to be fulfilled^(I) in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas,^(J) who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. ¹⁷ He was one of our number^(K) and shared in our ministry.”^(L)

¹⁸ (With the payment^(M) he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field;^(N) there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. ¹⁹ Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language^(O) Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

²⁰ “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:

and,

²¹ Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, ²² 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.”

²³ So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. ²⁴ Then they prayed,^(T) “Lord, you know everyone’s heart.^(U) Show us^(V) which of these two you have chosen ²⁵ to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” ²⁶ Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.^(W)