Bible Study - Acts 1: 12-26

Read Acts chapter 1 verses 12-26

Of course! Jesus must have had more than twelve followers. Now was the time for one of the 120 (v15) to step forward to replace Judas. The story of Judas is a sad one; he got it horribly wrong and his life ended in tragedy (v18-19). Whatever his motives were in betraying Jesus, he was haunted by it every minute of the short time left to him. Here the remaining disciples meet to pray (v14); this is a time of waiting for God to fulfil his promise.

The method used to "make up the numbers" might seem strange to us; a kind of "holy lottery". Of course there was no prize money! This was done in the context of prayer (v24) and when the lot fell to Matthias he was understood to be God's choice.

In the New Testament we hear nothing of Matthias either before or after this moment even though the passage implies that he had been a follower of Jesus since the very beginning (v21-22). There are various contradictory church traditions about his subsequent life. He was either crucified in Ethiopia or stoned and beheaded in Jerusalem (or neither!) depending on who you believe!

What we can be sure of is that Matthias was a faithful and true follower of Jesus. He may not be one of the superstars of the early church, his work went mainly unnoticed. I rejoice in him! We live in a celebrity culture today which sits uncomfortably with a Christian ethic. Like Matthias, Christians throughout the world are called to live quietly and faithfully as witnesses to the truth of the Gospel sustained by a life of prayer (v14, 24). Christians don't seek glory, instead they simply seek to serve - that is all that God asks.

To think about

What does prayer mean to me? What difference does prayer make to my daily life?

In what practical ways do I seek to serve God? Is there something more he is asking of me?

Prayer

Lord, your servant Matthias was your true and faithful servant. May we, like him, only seek to do your will and to serve you day by day. Amen.

Norbury Parish Church, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire. Telephone: 0161-483 8640