Acts 1:17 kjv
For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
Acts 1:17 nkjv
for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry."
Acts 1:17 niv
He was one of our number and shared in our ministry."
Acts 1:17 esv
For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry."
Acts 1:17 nlt
Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us."
Acts 1 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 1:16 | ...concerning Judas, who was guide to them... | Context: Peter introduces Judas's situation. |
| Lk 6:13-16 | When it was day, He called His disciples...and chose twelve of them...Judas Iscariot, who also became a traitor. | Judas's original calling and inclusion. |
| Mt 10:1-4 | And when He had called His twelve disciples...Simon, who is called Peter...and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. | Jesus's selection of the twelve, including Judas. |
| Mk 3:13-19 | And He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach...and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. | Jesus appoints the twelve for ministry. |
| Lk 9:1-2 | Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority...and He sent them to preach the kingdom of God... | Judas's participation in early ministry. |
| Mt 10:5-8 | These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: ...Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead... | Judas's share in apostolic commission. |
| Acts 1:18 | (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity...) | Judas's demise described. |
| Mt 27:3-5 | Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful...and hanged himself. | Account of Judas's repentance and death. |
| Ps 41:9 | Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me. | Prophecy of betrayal by a trusted companion. |
| Jn 13:18 | "I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.'" | Jesus foretells Judas's specific betrayal. |
| Ps 69:25 | Let their dwelling place be desolate; Let no one live in their tents. | Prophecy for replacing one in a position. |
| Ps 109:8 | Let his days be few; And let another take his office. | Specific prophecy referenced for Judas's replacement. |
| Acts 1:20 | "For it is written in the book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’" | Peter explicitly quotes scripture to justify replacement. |
| Acts 1:21-22 | Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us...one must become a witness with us of His resurrection." | Criteria for Judas's replacement as an apostle. |
| Acts 1:26 | And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles. | The chosen replacement, Matthias. |
| Jn 6:70-71 | Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" He spoke of Judas Iscariot... | Jesus's awareness of Judas's spiritual state. |
| 1 Cor 9:1-2 | Am I not an apostle?...If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. | Emphasizes the legitimate role of an apostle. |
| Eph 2:19-20 | Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners...having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. | Apostles as a foundational part of the Church. |
| Lk 10:1-2 | After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also...The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few... | Need for more laborers, highlighting the task ahead. |
| 1 Jn 2:19 | They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us... | Principle of false converts falling away. |
| Jude 1:4 | For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness... | Those marked for ungodliness and treachery. |
| 2 Pet 2:1 | But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies... | Warnings against those who betray true teaching/faith. |
Acts 1 verses
Acts 1 17 Meaning
Acts 1:17 clarifies that Judas Iscariot, before his betrayal, was genuinely counted among the twelve apostles and had truly received and shared in their designated apostolic service and mission. This verse provides the essential rationale for the subsequent process of selecting a replacement for him, underscoring his authentic past inclusion in the foundational group.
Acts 1 17 Context
Acts 1:17 is part of Peter's address to the approximately 120 disciples gathered in Jerusalem after Jesus's ascension. The broader context of Acts chapter 1 focuses on Jesus's final instructions, His ascension, the promise of the Holy Spirit, and the subsequent gathering of the believers. Specifically, verses 15-26 detail Peter's initiative to replace Judas Iscariot, arguing for the necessity based on Old Testament prophecy and the functional requirement for a full complement of twelve apostles. This particular verse lays the groundwork by emphasizing Judas's authentic standing and participation in the original apostolic commission before his fall, justifying why his vacated position needed to be filled for the integrity of the Twelve. Historically, the number "twelve" held significant theological weight, representing the twelve tribes of Israel and symbolizing the spiritual reconstitution of God's people around a new foundation laid by Christ and His apostles.
Acts 1 17 Word analysis
- For (γάρ - gar): A conjunction introducing an explanation or reason. It links this statement directly to the preceding discussion about Judas’s downfall, providing the justification for the apostles’ actions.
- he (αὐτὸς - autos): Refers directly to Judas Iscariot. The emphasis is on his person, signifying his specific individual standing.
- was numbered (συναριθμέω - synarithmeō): Means "to be counted together with, to be reckoned with, to be enumerated among." It emphasizes a genuine and official inclusion within the apostolic body, not a casual association. This verb signifies formal membership and recognition among the Twelve.
- with us (ἡμῶν - hēmōn): Refers to the other eleven apostles, highlighting Judas’s fellowship and co-equality in status and function.
- and (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunctive, linking two statements about Judas's prior legitimate position.
- had obtained part (ἔλαχε τὸν κλῆρον - elache ton klēron):
- ἔλαχε (elache): From "λαμβάνω" (lambanō), meaning "to receive," or "to obtain." Here, it carries the sense of receiving by lot or by divine appointment/allotment.
- τὸν κλῆρον (ton klēron): Literally "the lot" or "the portion." "Klēros" (κλῆρος) denotes a share, an inheritance, an assigned lot, or a part. It signifies a divinely given allotment or portion of service, which was legitimately assigned to Judas. It emphasizes the genuine, divine appointment of his share in the ministry.
- of this (ταύτης - tautēs): Points specifically to the unique, foundational "ministry" shared by the apostles, distinguishing it from general Christian service.
- ministry (διακονίας - diakonias): From "διακονία" (diakonia), meaning "service," "ministration," or "office." In this context, it refers to the specific, divinely ordained service and function of an apostle, which included bearing witness to Jesus's resurrection, preaching, teaching, and laying the foundation for the Church.
- "For he was numbered with us": This phrase underscores Judas's full and recognized inclusion among the initial circle of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus. It highlights his genuine legitimacy as one of them, counteracting any suggestion that his apostleship was nominal or external.
- "and had obtained part of this ministry": This expands on the previous point, detailing not just his inclusion, but his active and legitimate share in the specific tasks and responsibilities unique to the apostolic office. It emphasizes that he had been allotted a significant role in the foundational work entrusted by Jesus to His inner circle. The "lot" or "portion" here implies a divine appointment or assignment, which he received.
Acts 1 17 Bonus section
The number "twelve" held profound symbolic significance in Jewish thought, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus's choice of twelve apostles, therefore, symbolized the re-establishment of the true Israel and the inauguration of God's new covenant people. For one of these twelve foundational pillars to be missing due to betrayal posed a significant spiritual and symbolic breach, which needed restoration according to divine intent. Peter's reliance on Scripture, particularly Psalm 109:8 ("Let another take his office"), shows the early Church's conviction that Judas's actions, while arising from his own will, nevertheless fulfilled divine prophecy. This points to the paradoxical interplay between human free will and God's sovereign plan, where even an act of ultimate evil can serve to fulfill scriptural declarations, ensuring the overall divine purpose is maintained. The filling of the "office" (or "oversight," episkopēn in the Septuagint) also prefigures the establishment of the early Church's organizational structure, emphasizing continuity and succession within sacred leadership.
Acts 1 17 Commentary
Acts 1:17 serves as the foundation for Peter’s argument regarding Judas’s replacement. It directly asserts Judas's legitimate apostolic status and participation, emphasizing that his inclusion among the Twelve and his share in their specific "ministry" was genuine. This was not a temporary or honorary position; he was divinely called and truly operated alongside the other apostles in their unique, foundational work of witnessing to Jesus and proclaiming His kingdom. His subsequent betrayal and demise, therefore, created an absolute vacancy in a divinely appointed number (the twelve), which, according to prophetic scripture (Ps 109:8), needed to be filled for the apostolic body to remain whole and fulfill its purpose. This highlights the seriousness of both the apostolic calling and the consequences of apostasy, affirming that even one initially chosen can fall from a privileged position.