Acts 1:26 kjv

And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:26 nkjv

And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:26 niv

Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:26 esv

And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:26 nlt

Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.

Acts 1 verses

Acts 1 26 Meaning

This verse details the immediate act following prayer for divine guidance in choosing a replacement for Judas Iscariot among the apostles. It specifically records the method used—casting lots—and reveals that the lot definitively fell upon Matthias, signifying his divine selection. Consequently, Matthias was fully incorporated into the authoritative group of the twelve apostles, restoring their symbolic number essential for the nascent Church's foundation and mission.

Acts 1 26 Context

Acts chapter 1 immediately follows the ascension of Jesus into heaven. Before His ascension, Jesus commanded His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-8). While waiting, Peter addresses the gathering of about 120 disciples (Acts 1:15), drawing attention to the prophecy regarding Judas Iscariot's betrayal and his subsequent demise (Acts 1:16-19), and citing biblical prophecies from Psalms that foreshadow the necessity of a replacement for his office (Acts 1:20). Peter then outlines the criteria for the new apostle: he must have accompanied them throughout Jesus' earthly ministry, from John's baptism to Jesus' ascension, and specifically must be a witness of Jesus' resurrection (Acts 1:21-22). Two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias, meet these qualifications. The community then prays for God to reveal which of the two He has chosen (Acts 1:24-25). Verse 26 directly narrates the outcome of this prayer and selection process, indicating the divine answer to their petition just prior to the empowering event of Pentecost.

Acts 1 26 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): A common conjunction, here linking the prayer of the previous verse to the action of casting lots and the subsequent outcome.
• they gave forth (ἔδωκαν - edōkan): From the verb δίδωμι (didōmi), meaning "to give." It implies that the assembled disciples, after prayer, took action in the process of casting the lots. This was a communal act based on their discernment and faith.
• their lots (κλήρους - klērous): The plural of κλῆρος (klēros), meaning "lot," "portion," "inheritance." In this context, it refers to small objects (perhaps stones or pieces of wood) that were marked and used in a specific way to determine a decision, widely recognized in ancient biblical tradition (e.g., Prov 16:33). Its use here signifies a reliance on divine direction, a common method in Israel to discern God's will before the full indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
• and the lot fell upon (ἔπεσεν ὁ κλῆρος ἐπὶ - epesen ho klēros epi): "Fell" (ἔπεσεν - epesen) implies a random physical action of the lot being drawn or landing in a particular way. Combined with "the lot," it conveys that the outcome was not by human manipulation but by an unseen force guiding the selection, perceived as God's will.
• Matthias (Ματθίαν - Matthian): A name of Hebrew origin meaning "Gift of Yahweh" or "Gift of God." Beyond this verse and the preceding selection process, the New Testament records nothing further about Matthias. He met the qualifications, was among the earliest followers of Christ, and was chosen to fill the twelfth apostolic place.
• and he was numbered with (συνκατεψηφίσθη μετὰ - synkatesēphisthē meta): The Greek verb συνκαταψηφίζω (synkatapsēphizō) is a strong compound, meaning "to vote along with," "to be counted among," or "to be officially added to the number." The use of this specific term emphasizes Matthias' full and formal integration into the core apostolic group, indicating that he was not merely an auxiliary but held the full status and authority of an apostle.
• the eleven apostles (τῶν ἕνδεκα ἀποστόλων - tōn hendeka apostolōn): Refers to the original chosen twelve, now reduced to eleven after Judas's death. "Apostles" (ἀποστόλων - apostolōn) means "those sent out," specifically those commissioned by Jesus Himself (Lk 6:13, Mk 3:14). The term signifies their unique foundational role in proclaiming the gospel and establishing the Church (Eph 2:20). The re-establishment of the number "twelve" carried profound symbolic significance, echoing the twelve tribes of Israel and signifying the completion and representation of the new covenant people of God.

Acts 1 26 Bonus section

The method of casting lots for apostolic selection, occurring just before the full descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, often invites discussion. Some biblical scholars propose that this method, while valid and biblically attested for discerning God's will in the Old Covenant and the transitional period of early Acts, was superseded by the direct leading and empowerment of the indwelling Holy Spirit following Pentecost (e.g., the Spirit directly commissioned Barnabas and Saul in Acts 13:2-3). The unique pre-Pentecost context might explain its use here, signifying a reliance on traditional divine revelation before the new mode of Holy Spirit indwelling and guidance became the norm for the Church. The act reinforces the critical numerical symbolism of "twelve," representing the continuity from the twelve tribes of Israel to the foundational structure of the New Covenant Church (Rev 21:14), emphasizing God's orderly establishment of His kingdom.

Acts 1 26 Commentary

Acts 1:26 presents the critical act of Matthias' selection to complete the number of the twelve apostles, demonstrating the early disciples' earnest desire to restore the apostolic foundational group prior to the Pentecost outpouring. Guided by Peter's understanding of scripture concerning Judas's office, and a prayer for divine revelation, the community employed casting lots—a divinely sanctioned method in the Old Covenant (Prov 16:33)—to ascertain God's choice between two qualified candidates. This was not a random human choice, but a prayerful submission to God's ultimate decision-making. The successful placement of Matthias, affirmed by the lot's outcome and their subsequent "numbering with" the original eleven, solidified the crucial symbolic and functional group of "The Twelve," appointed to witness to Jesus' resurrection and establish the Church. This event underscores the meticulous divine provision for the Church's foundation and leadership, even as it operated with pre-Pentecost methods of discernment.