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Easter Season · Seventh Sunday of Easter · Year B

Acts 1:15-17, 20a, 20c-26

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

The Choosing of Saint Matthias, Philip Galle, after Maarten van Heemskerck
The Choosing of Saint Matthias, Philip Galle, after Maarten van Heemskerck, c. 1575National Gallery of Art, Washington · public domain

Overview & Insights

“And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias.” (Acts 1:26)

The period between the ascension and Pentecost was one of waiting, but not of inactivity. Chiefly, for the disciples, it was a time of prayer, but it also saw them finding a replacement for Judas. In this connection, we have the first speech in Acts. Like most of the speeches in this book, it is probably only a summary of what Peter said. Nevertheless, behind Luke’s report we can still catch the original tones of the apostle.

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Why is Matthias chosen?

To restore the Twelve after Judas's fall, the believers put forward two who had followed Jesus from the beginning and, after prayer, cast lots; Matthias is numbered with the apostles as a witness to the resurrection.

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