Acts 1:15-26 (NRSV)
Read Acts 1:15-26 on biblegateway.com
Verse 15In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, Verse 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- Verse 17for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry." Verse 18(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. Verse 19This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) Verse 20"For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his homestead become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it'; and 'Let another take his position of overseer.' Verse 21So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Verse 22beginning 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." Verse 23So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Verse 24Then they prayed and said, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen Verse 25to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." Verse 26And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
Devotion
In his high priestly prayer, Jesus prayed for his disciples, “I protected them … I guarded them, and not one was lost except the one destined to be lost.” Then he prayed to his Father, “I ask you to protect them from the evil one” (John 17:12, 15).
Judas became the lost one. There are some things in the scriptures I don’t understand. This is one of them. Defections continue from the church, but they do not cancel the Lord’s mission. When Judas betrayed the Lord and took his life in his grief, the disciples chose Matthias as a replacement from among those who had accompanied the apostolic band since the ministry of John the Baptist.
The Lord still prays to the Father for the church. The mission will continue despite our failures, but we pray that we will not be among those whose faith falters.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, send your Holy Spirit to keep us faithful to your mission, for the sake of the world. Amen.