YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES, Sarah Barry
THEY JOINED CONSTANTLY IN PRAYER
Passage: Acts 1:12~26  
Key verse: 14
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)
Footnotes
Cross references
- Acts 1:12 : Lk 24:52
- Acts 1:12 : S Mt 21:1
- Acts 1:13 : Ac 9:37; 20:8
- Acts 1:13 : Mt 10:2-4; Mk 3:16-19; Lk 6:14-16
- Acts 1:14 : Ac 2:42; 4:24; 6:4; S Lk 18:1; S Ro 1:10
- Acts 1:14 : Lk 23:49, 55
- Acts 1:14 : S Mt 12:46
- Acts 1:16 : Ac 6:3; 11:1, 12, 29; 14:2; 18:18, 27; 21:7; S 22:5; S Ro 7:1
- Acts 1:16 : ver 20; S Mt 1:22
- Acts 1:16 : S Mt 10:4
- Acts 1:17 : Jn 6:70, 71
- Acts 1:17 : ver 25
- Acts 1:18 : Mt 26:14, 15
- Acts 1:18 : Mt 27:3-10
- Acts 1:19 : S Jn 5:2
- Acts 1:20 : Ps 69:25
- Acts 1:20 : Ps 109:8
- Acts 1:22 : S Mk 1:4
- Acts 1:22 : ver 8; S Lk 24:48
- Acts 1:24 : Ac 6:6; 13:3; 14:23
- Acts 1:24 : Ac 15:8; S Rev 2:23
- Acts 1:24 : 1Sa 14:41
- Acts 1:26 : Ac 2:14
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. They all joined together in prayer (12-14)
The apostles obeyed the direction of Jesus to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. They returned to the upstairs room where they were staying and joined together in united prayer with the women, Mary, and his brothers. (Verse 15 tells us there were about a hundred and twenty present). They must have praised God, giving thanks for Jesus' resurrection and waiting on God's will in obedience, fellowship and prayer.
May another take his place (15-26)2.
Though they were united, they still felt the gap that Judas' betrayal had left. His death was wretched, but Peter was not sentimental. He knew it was the will of the Holy Spirit to fulfill Scripture concerning Judas. Now it was necessary for another to take his place. Just as God had established the 12 tribes for Israel, so Jesus had designated twelve apostles for the church. It was important that the person who replaced Judas had been present from the beginning of Jesus' ministry, to be able to testify to his life, death and resurrection. After proposing two, they prayed further, asking God to show them whom he had chosen.
Prayer: Lord, help us to seek your will in prayer through obedience and fellowship
One Word: Pray together