Sunday 24 May 2009

Background

This passage reports the only event we know about that tookplace between the ascension of Jesus, celebrated last Thursday, andthe coming of the Holy Spirit ten days later. It also tells us, inverse 15, the size of the group who continued to meet together asfollowers of Jesus before its explosion to some 3,000 on the day ofPentecost (see Acts 2:41).

Judas had been one of the 12 men Jesus had chosen as Apostles towork alongside him during his lifetime. The other 11, includinganother Judas, are named in verse 13. Peter, who had sometimesacted as an unofficial representative for the group to Jesus duringhis lifetime, now takes a lead among them. He argues that the factthat Judas had betrayed Jesus can be seen as fulfilling a prophecymade by David in the Psalms.

Another psalm (109:8) suggeststhat a betrayer should be replaced and Peter proposes such a courseof action. The person specification for the job boils down to tworequirements: it has to be someone who has been part of Jesus'company throughout his ministry, and someone prepared to be awitness to his resurrection. Almost certainly that ambiguous word'witness' needs both its senses: the candidate must have seen Jesusalive from the dead, and must be willing to commit himself toproclaiming the message of resurrection. The word 'apostleship',deliberately used in verse 25, refers to the idea of being sent fora purpose.

We are told the name of the two candidates that the whole groupsuggested - in the case of Joseph we are also told his Jewishfamily name, and his alternative Roman name - but we know nothingelse about them from the Bible, although there is a tradition thatMatthias, who was elected, ministered in Judea and was eventuallystoned to death by the people.

The selection process involved prayer and then casting lots,probably by a dice throw. This latter method of making a decisionwas often used earlier in the Bible - see for example Numbers26:55, Proverbs16:33 and Luke 1:9 -although there is no biblical reference after this one to its usein the Christian Church.

To Ponder

Did the coming of the Holy Spirit a few daysafter this event render the use of lots an unnecessary andinappropriate method for Christians to make decisions? Why do youthink this way?

How do you make important decisions when thereare two equally appropriate actions you might make?

How should the right person be chosen for any jobvacancy that the modern Church needs to fill?