Acts 1:12-26 Trusting God's Direction While You Wait

October 6, 2026

The Ten Signposts of the Bible

CAMDE—400—CALY

Creation. Abraham. Moses. David. Elijah. 400. Christ. APOSTLES. Letters. Yet-to-Come.

The disciples watched Jesus ascend into the clouds, then heard two angels declare, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). 

Jesus instructed his followers to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the power of the Holy Spirit, so the disciples walked the half-mile from Mount Olivet to Jerusalem, described as a Sabbath-day journey (Acts 1:12). The eleven apostles returned to the upper room where they had celebrated the Passover with Jesus. Many believe the upper room was in the home of John Mark, the Gospel writer.^[1] 

Luke lists the people who were staying there: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. The group included several women who had followed Jesus, along with his mother, Mary. Luke’s mention that Jesus’ brothers were also part of this gathering is interesting. They had not believed in Jesus. But it seems the resurrection changed that. They were now among 120 people who were “devoting themselves to prayer” (Acts 1:13–15). 

As the disciples waited and prayed, they also addressed a personnel issue. They collectively decided to choose another man among Jesus’ followers to take Judas Iscariot’s place. Peter led the process. 

The apostle stood up among the people and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry” (Acts 1:16–17). 

Luke paused here to explain what happened to Judas. Adding Matthew’s comments gives us the fuller picture. Matthew notes that after Jesus was condemned, Judas became remorseful (Matt. 27:3). He told the chief priests and elders, “‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ They caustically replied, ‘What is that to us? See to it yourself.’ And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:3–5). Peter had also betrayed Jesus, but his remorse led him to return to the Lord. Judas’ remorse led him to take his own life.

The religious leaders knew it was unlawful to put “blood money” into the temple treasury, so they used it to buy a “potter’s field,” a burial place for strangers (Matt. 27:7). This was where Judas hanged himself; however, his body fell and ruptured. Luke, the doctor, graphically shares that Judas “burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out” (Acts 1:18). So the field was called “Akeldama,” or “Field of Blood.” Matthew explains that this fulfilled what Jeremiah the prophet said, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me” (Matt. 27:9–10). 

Peter goes on to quote two passages from the book of Psalms regarding Judas. The first passage was Psalm 69:25: “May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it.” The second passage was from Psalm 109:8: “Let another take his office.” 

Did David, the writer of these psalms, actually mention Judas? Certainly, he did not refer to Judas by name. In the book of Psalms, the Messiah is seen as the ultimate King. These two royal psalms, in which the king of Israel reflects on his enemies, also point to what will happen to the coming Messiah. Therefore, “the enemies of the royal psalmist become enemies of the Messiah.”^[2]

Peter used Psalm 109:8 as the instruction for replacing Judas. While Jesus appointed twelve men as apostles, many others followed him as his disciples during his earthly ministry. From the group that followed Jesus from his baptism to his ascension and witnessed his resurrection, Peter chose two possible candidates—Joseph and Matthias (Acts 1:23).

Acts 1:24–26

And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Casting lots seems out of place in selecting a successor. However, the disciples prayed and asked God to direct the decision. This method allowed for God to sovereignly choose Judas’ replacement. 

And now the twelve apostles waited for the coming of the promised Holy Spirit. That’s next time. 

Read and reflect on Acts 1:12–26: Where are you currently waiting on God, and what would it look like for you to respond to that waiting with prayer rather than anxiety or impatience?

Talking to God: Trusting can be hard. Ask God to help you trust in his purpose and timing. 

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