Acts 1:23 kjv
And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
Acts 1:23 nkjv
And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
Acts 1:23 niv
So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.
Acts 1:23 esv
And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.
Acts 1:23 nlt
So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.
Acts 1 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Apostolic Replacement & Number of Apostles | ||
| Acts 1:15 | In those days Peter stood up among the brethren... (about 120 people) | Context of community action in replacement. |
| Acts 1:20 | "For it is written in the Book of Psalms, 'Let his dwelling become desolate...' and 'Let another take his office.'" | Peter's biblical justification for replacement. |
| Ps 69:25 | May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents. | Prophecy of Judas's ruin cited by Peter. |
| Ps 109:8 | May his days be few; may another take his office. | Prophecy of judicial replacement cited by Peter. |
| Acts 1:24-25 | And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen... that he may take the place..." | Immediate follow-up prayer for divine choice. |
| Acts 1:26 | And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. | Outcome of the selection process. |
| Rev 21:14 | And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. | Significance of the number 12 for the Church. |
| Leadership Selection Principles | ||
| Acts 6:3 | Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. | Principles for selecting deacons: community involvement, character. |
| Num 27:16-17 | "Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation... that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep without a shepherd." | God's role in appointing leadership. |
| Deut 1:13 | Choose for yourselves among your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads. | Moses instructs selection by the people. |
| Qualifications for Ministry/Apostleship | ||
| Acts 1:21-22 | So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us... become with us a witness to his resurrection. | Qualifications for apostolic candidates (eyewitness). |
| 1 Cor 9:1 | Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? | Paul's emphasis on seeing the resurrected Lord. |
| Lk 24:48 | You are witnesses of these things. | Jesus commissioning disciples as witnesses. |
| Jn 15:27 | And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. | Disciples chosen to bear witness due to presence. |
| Acts 4:33 | And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. | Apostles' core function as resurrection witnesses. |
| Seeking Divine Guidance/Role of Lots | ||
| Prov 16:33 | The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. | Biblical understanding of lots for divine guidance. |
| Lev 16:8 | And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats... one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel. | Use of lots in Levitical priestly decision. |
| 1 Sam 10:19-22 | And you said, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us.’ ... So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near... when the lot fell on Benjamin... | Saul chosen as king by lot (divine will). |
| Jonah 1:7 | They said to one another, "Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us." | Sailors cast lots to discern guilt/cause. |
| Phil 2:3 | Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. | Humility in selection, valuing God's choice. |
| 1 Pet 4:11 | Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking actual words of God; whoever serves, is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies. | God's provision and guidance in service. |
Acts 1 verses
Acts 1 23 Meaning
Acts 1:23 details the practical step taken by the gathered disciples in selecting candidates to fill the vacant apostolic position left by Judas Iscariot. It specifically names the two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias, whom the community put forward as potential replacements for the twelve, ensuring the full complement of eyewitnesses to Jesus' resurrection. This action highlights the early church's commitment to maintaining the divinely ordained number of apostles as foundational witnesses.
Acts 1 23 Context
Acts 1:23 sits at a pivotal juncture for the nascent Christian community after Jesus' ascension and before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Peter, having cited Old Testament prophecies regarding Judas's defection and replacement (Acts 1:16-20), establishes the necessary qualifications for the new apostle: a personal eyewitness of Jesus' entire public ministry, from His baptism by John to His resurrection (Acts 1:21-22). The verse, therefore, represents the practical outworking of Peter's exposition, showcasing the community's proactive, unified, and prayerful approach to fulfilling what they understood as God's will. It directly precedes their collective prayer for divine guidance and the subsequent casting of lots to discern God's chosen successor. Historically, this action also underscores the importance the early Jewish-Christian believers placed on numerical continuity and divinely ordained representation, reminiscent of the twelve tribes of Israel, reinforcing their identity as the new people of God.
Acts 1 23 Word analysis
- And they put forward (καὶ ἔστησαν - kai estēsan):
- "They": Refers to the collective body of approximately 120 disciples mentioned in Acts 1:15, indicating a communal, rather than autocratic, process of selection.
- "put forward": The Greek verb histēmi (from which estēsan derives) literally means "to cause to stand" or "to appoint." Here, it signifies the act of presenting or nominating individuals for consideration. It's a deliberate, active nomination by the assembly, not just casual suggestion.
- two:
- The specific number highlights that multiple suitable candidates were available who met the stringent qualifications previously laid out by Peter (Acts 1:21-22). It implies a careful consideration by the group and provides an option for divine discernment rather than just rubber-stamping one pre-selected choice.
- Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus:
- "Joseph": A very common Hebrew name, meaning "He [God] will add." It connects him to revered figures in Israel's history (e.g., Joseph, son of Jacob; Joseph, husband of Mary).
- "Barsabbas" (Βαρσαββᾶς - Barsabbas): A patronymic Aramaic name, likely meaning "son of Sabbas" or "son of an oath" or potentially "son of rest/Shabbat." This indicates his Jewish identity and background. Having multiple names or a surname was common, especially for Jews living in a Hellenistic-Roman world.
- "Justus" (Ἰοῦστος - Ioustos): A Latin cognomen meaning "just" or "righteous." This Latin name suggests that he either lived in or was familiar with Roman culture, or perhaps had a reputation for righteousness even among Gentiles. The common practice of individuals having both a Hebrew/Aramaic name and a Greek/Latin name reflects the multicultural context of the time. (Note: A different "Jesus called Justus" is mentioned in Col 4:11, who is a fellow worker with Paul, indicating this was a relatively common Latin name, and these are two distinct individuals).
- and Matthias (Ματθίας - Matthias):
- This name is a shortened form of Mattathias, meaning "gift of Yahweh." This name holds significance, expressing divine favor or gifting. Unlike the others who have multiple names listed, Matthias is presented simply with one, potentially emphasizing his well-known identity within the community.
- Joseph called Barsabbas... and Matthias:
- Both men were among the "120" disciples who had followed Jesus throughout His earthly ministry. They were men of good reputation and met the experiential qualifications (Acts 1:21-22), indicating the quality of candidates available to the early church. Their very existence as qualified candidates demonstrates the broad impact and growth of Jesus' ministry beyond the initial twelve.
Acts 1 23 Bonus section
The act of putting forward "two" individuals for a single vacant position indicates that the community was confident in having at least two equally qualified individuals among them, having vetted them against the criteria established by Peter (Acts 1:21-22). This process demonstrates a robust internal assessment within the community of disciples. It also implicitly sets up the method of "casting lots" that follows (Acts 1:26), which traditionally required distinct choices to be presented. The community, through presenting these two, showed faith that God would make the ultimate selection from their capable nominees, combining human diligence with trust in divine revelation. This method highlights the distinct historical period of the apostles, chosen uniquely by direct divine revelation or divine-guided means, prior to the fuller empowering of the Spirit that would enable clearer spiritual discernment in later leadership appointments.
Acts 1 23 Commentary
Acts 1:23 highlights the early church's method of leadership selection as both deliberate and prayerful, preceding divine intervention. It demonstrates their understanding of apostolic office as fundamental, necessitating a replacement for Judas to restore the prophetic "twelve." The community actively participated by nominating two qualified individuals who had been eyewitnesses to Christ's ministry. This step underscores human responsibility in discernment and preparation, setting the stage for God's ultimate choice through prayer and lots, reflecting a blend of congregational involvement and divine sovereignty in church governance. It shows the nascent church immediately valuing integrity and divine guidance in its most crucial leadership roles.