Acts 1:15-26 - Judas' Replacement, a Grim Reminder

Judas Iscariot, the man who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.  What is the value of having this part brought up again in Acts? Luke's intention was to show that even such a tragic event, as the Lord's betrayal by Judas, happened so as to fulfill God's purpose. It was a part of divine plan of redemption.

The replacement of Judas took place in one of their gatherings after Christ's Ascension.  In the upper-room that day were 120 disciples. Notice that the 120   people was put in parenthesis. It represents the minimal requirement to makeup a synagogue.

In that upper-room, Peter stood up saying that King David (in the Psalms) already hinted about Judas' betrayal. This betrayer (not even wanting to mention his name), Peter said, was counted among the 12 and should have had a share in the ministry. Christ had promised that the 12 Apostles would be ruling over the 12 tribes of Israel.

Peter went on to narrate how Judas used the money he acquired in his betrayal of Jesus, to buy a parcel of land.  Regretting his action, the Gospels said, he went out and hung himself. The plot of land he acquired was bought with blood  money. That's why it came to be known as the Hakeldama or "Field of Blood."  

Verse 18 describes his aweful death. Sanctified imagination tells us that his decomposed body must have fallen from where he hung himself , bursting  his abdomen and spilling out his guts and all.  

Quoting a few lines from the Psalms, Peter showed that someone must now be appointed to replace Judas. What qualification should a person possess to qualify for this role?

Verses 21-22  tell us that this person must be one who was with them during the Lord's earthly presence. The candidate must have been a follower of the Lord from the days of John the Baptist until the time of His Ascension. So they put forward two names - Joseph or Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthais. They then prayed and cast lots and the lot fell on Matthias who was added to make up the 12 Apostles.

Judas's action wasn't a spur-of-the-moment  happenstance. He had walked with the Lord and was in close proximity to Him. His couldn't have a better growth  environment. Yet we see a slow and steady regression, and deterioration of character. How he ended stands as a warning to us, of  how tragically a person can end, despite being in the best of spiritual climate and envorinment.

Let's never forget what Paul said in 1 Corinthiians 10:12, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (KJV)