These small group Bible studies of Acts 1:12-26 contain commentary, discussion questions, and practical application. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.
Acts 1:12-26 Bible Study Guide – Building Unity, Casting Lots, Making Wise Decisions
Outline
I. The Fate of Judas (12-20)
II. The Selection of Matthias (21-26)
I. The Fate of Judas (12-20)
Discussion Questions
• How many disciples were present?
• Who else was present?
• What were they focused on?
• With what attitude were they praying?
• How important is it for believers to be “of one accord?”
• How can we improve our unity with other believers around us?
• What are some specific ways you can improve unity with your ministry or leadership team?
• Summarize Peter’s message to the disciples in your own words.
• In what passage did David speak about Judas?
• According to Psalms, what would happen to the betrayer?
• What lessons can we learn from the fall of Judas?
• What can we do to guard against falling away from the Lord?
Cross-References
Acts 2:42 – And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Ephesians 4:3 – Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Matthew 27:3-10 – Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “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. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “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.”
Psalms 41:9 – Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
Psalms 69:25 – May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents.
Psalms 109:8 – May his days be few; may another take his office!
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. The disciples devoted themselves to prayer – Jesus had told them to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. They obeyed. While they were waiting, they didn’t waste the time. Instead, they devoted themselves to prayer.
Devoting yourself to something is a much higher level than just doing that thing. I have seen students practice an instrument and then I have seen others devote themselves to that instrument. The difference in attitude, work ethic, and time spent is clear.
For one season, I was a youth soccer coach. Some of the kids just showed up to play and have fun. They rarely if ever practiced. Over the course of the year, their play didn’t improve. Others bought a ball and practiced every day. Their skills rapidly developed and they soon ran laps around the other kids.
Reflect – Do you simply pray or are you devoted to prayer? How would your life look different if you were devoted to prayer?
2. With one accord – The disciples did these things with one accord. It wasn’t only the eleven, but also many of the female followers of Jesus and His brothers.
There wasn’t any division, conflict, or arguing. It doesn’t appear that the disciples were playing the blame game about Jesus’ arrest and death. Neither were they jostling for position. They had matured and moved on from their previously frequent arguments about who was the greatest (Luke 22:24-30).
Finally, the disciples were unified. Having witnessed Jesus’ life and miracles, they had the bond of shared faith in Jesus. An entire orchestra of various instruments can be in tune together if they tune to the same instrument.
Unity is not the natural state of people. Because we are sinners, we gravitate towards conflict, disagreement, quarrels, and chaos. When we, like sheep, go our own way the result is discord (Isaiah 53:6). However, if we are following the same shepherd, there is unity.
Unity is something to strive for. We have to work at it.
Ephesians 4:3 – Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
A car that is not taken in for routine maintenance will develop issues and break down. In a similar way, we have to practice regular maintenance in relationships in order to preserve unity.
Note that for believers, we do have that unity. It is something that we receive from the Holy Spirit due to our mutual faith in Christ. You don’t have to artificially pump it up. You just have to remember what is already there.
Application – Are you experiencing division or conflict with any other believers? How did you get to this state? What do you need to restore the unity?
If we do not regularly work at maintaining unity, the little sparks will light fires. These will then spread. The result can be devastating and not only relationships will suffer, but often entire churches.
Recently, I heard of one home church in Asia that was destroyed by disunity. Two pastors and their wives had a conflict. It wasn’t dealt with biblically. One pastor actually called the police on the other and reported their unregistered house church. The result was that this house church was raided. New believers were affected. First-time visitors who were not believers were affected. It was a sad and avoidable result.
All believers should work at unity, but this is especially important for leadership teams. Elders and deacons should be diligent to stay unified. Here are some practical ways to do this.
• Major on the majors and minor on the minors. Don’t allow disagreements on carpet color, facilities, or even less fundamental doctrines such as various views of eschatology divide you.
• Remember that what you have in common, faith in Christ, is more important than your differences.
• Have regular team meetings to discuss issues. If there are disagreements, don’t sweep them under the rug or stop meeting. Deal with them biblically and find resolution before they fester.
• Devote yourselves to pray for each other.
• Befriend each other and get together outside of the church work for casual times of fun and fellowship. Friendship can help you stay in harmony.
• If things get difficult, ask for help and potentially mediation from an objective party.
• Practice forgiveness. We are to forgive as He has forgiven.
• Think about your flock and how division will hurt the others around you.
Having said all of that, there are times when division might be necessary. Some arguments are worth having and some issues are worth splitting over. To take an extreme example, you cannot be unified with a cult. Neither can you tolerate clear and willful sin.
We are not to practice ecumenism at the expense of Biblical truth on major doctrinal issues.
Jesus prayed for unity for future believers because it is a very important issue.
John 17:20-21 – I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Sadly, the continuous divisions into denominationalism is a poor testimony to the world. Many unbelievers point this out in their rejection of the gospel message.
Application – Think of one practical way you can pursue unity with believers around you and then move forward to do that this week.
3. The sad fall of Judas – The disciples had gathered together, but they only numbered eleven because of Judas’ betrayal and subsequent suicide. It was a difficult pill for them to swallow.
Peter says in verse 17, “he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” He was one of them. They walked together and served together. His betrayal of Jesus was still a sad shock.
Peter reminded them that as terrible as this was, God is sovereign. The betrayal was prophesied long before by David. It had to happen.
This is what Jesus said about the betrayal.
Matthew 26:24 – The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.
Even though it had to happen, Judas still had personal agency and was responsible for his decision. Though it was predicted that someone would betray Jesus, the name Judas was not. No one can blame fate or destiny for their sin. There are zero cases in Scripture where a person is absolved for his sin because it was “destiny” that he would commit it. God’s sovereignty is truly remarkable because His will and word are fulfilled perfectly while still giving agency to people who are responsible for their own choices. It is beyond our comprehension. We would do well to remember that God is God and we are not.
Peter gave a short review of the end of Judas’ life. By comparing this passage with Matthew 27, we can see that Judas hung himself. His body decayed. At some point, he was cut down or fell down and then his bowels and guts gushed out on the ground. What a miserable end for someone who had witnessed so many miracles of Jesus firsthand.
Judas’ case is a warning to all professing believers.
• Just because you profess to follow Christ, does not make you safe.
• Just because you go to church, read the Bible, pray, or evangelize does not make you safe.
• Rejecting Christ and falling away is a sign that a person was not a true believer to begin with (1 John 2:19).
• Greed can be a powerful temptation.
Matthew 7:21-23 – Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
II. The selection of Matthias (21-26)
Discussion Questions
• What was the goal of selecting a replacement for Judas (22)?
• What criteria did they use for selecting another apostle?
• Do you think they were right to choose a replacement? Why or why not?
• Did God tell them to do so? Do we have to wait for God to tell us what to do or do we have freedom to make choices?
• How did they make the final decision between the two candidates?
• Why did they cast lots?
• What did Peter and the disciples do before they cast lots?
• Was the casting of lots a legitimate way for them to make this decision?
• In what situations were lots cast in the Old Testament?
• What is the difference between prescriptive Bible passages and descriptive?
• Should Christians today cast lots?
• What process should you use today to make important decisions?
Cross-References
1 Samuel 14:40-42 – Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” Therefore Saul said, “O Lord God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O Lord, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken.
Joshua 18:10 – And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord. And there Joshua apportioned the land to the people of Israel, to each his portion.
Joshua 7:16-18 – Lots were cast to determine who violated the ban in Jericho and Achan was found out.
Proverbs 16:33 – The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
Proverbs 24:6 – For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
James 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Replacing Judas – Peter proposes that a replacement be chosen for Judas. His support for this is Psalms 109:8, “May his days be few; may another take his office!”
The goal is that this replacement will together with them witness of Jesus’ life and resurrection. He wasn’t to be a figurehead but to participate with them in sharing the gospel.
There is no specific record of God commanding them to choose a replacement. However, that does not mean that it was the wrong choice. The Lord often doesn’t verbalize instructions to Christians or their leaders.
Scripture is not an exhaustive list of everything that we should do. Neither does it tell us exactly what decision to make in every instance.
What God does give us is a framework to make decisions. He gives us the principles, wisdom, and the brain to implement them.
2. Casting lots –
The obvious question from this passage is, “Should a Christian cast lots?”
Before we answer that, let’s look at the whole situation more closely. Here are some things to take note of.
• The disciples did this prayerfully. Before they made any decisions, they prayed.
• The prayers show that they were serious. This was not done nor should be done in a lighthearted, casual, or flippant manner.
• They first proposed two candidates. These candidates would have been men of good repute. The disciples would already have been considering their character and qualifications. They went as far as they thought they could on their own. It wasn’t a choice between one “good” candidate and one “poor” candidate. It is important to note that the lots were used as a sort of tiebreaker when there wasn’t a clear choice. In this case, the lots also precluded any accusation of bias or favoritism.
• The casting of lots was often practiced in the Old Testament. It was done in a serious manner by those who were seeking God’s will in a situation. See cross-references. God did respond to this and caused the lots to “work” on many occasions. There is no such thing as blind luck or chance. God is sovereign. At some point, people began to cast lots as a way of gambling, such as the soldiers at the cross casting lots for Jesus’ clothing. This is never endorsed in Scripture.
• We should note the difference between a descriptive passage and a prescriptive passage. The former describes what happened. The latter prescribes what we should do. Nowhere in the New Testament, including this passage, commands or even implies that believers should cast lots as a way of discerning God’s will.
• There are two differences between the disciples and us. Firstly, we have the complete Scriptures. They did not. Secondly, we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit did not indwell them for a short time after this.
It would be wrong for us to judge the disciples and say that their choice was wrong. Some believe that Paul was meant to be the final apostle. But it is speculation that Matthias took Paul’s spot as this idea is never recorded in Scripture.
Casting lots should not be a normal method for discerning God’s will today. Several methods are prescribed in Scripture and we should use those.
The Hand of Knowing God’s Will illustration reminds us of five Biblical ways for discerning God’s will. The below points are from: https://studyandobey.com/how-can-i-know-gods-will-hand/
The Word –
Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
The primary way God leads us is through Scripture. It is His revealed will. In it, He gives both positive and negative instructions, telling us things we should do and things we should not do. Every search to know God’s will should start in Scripture.
There are about 1050 commands in the New Testament alone, covering almost every aspect of life including marriage, family, church life, finances, attitudes, thought life, conflict resolution, speech, sex, business, and much more.
I went to Moody Bible Institute and majored in Biblical Studies. Many people ask me, “Why would you major in the Bible?” I answered them that the Bible is the most practical subject I could study. It influences every aspect of my life and I use the things I learn every day.
To know God’s will, we need to build up our knowledge of the Bible through Bible study. Over the course of studying by yourself daily and with weekly groups you will be able to quickly remember and find passages on a wide array of topics. But knowing God’s will also requires that when you face a decision, you intentionally open the Bible to seek wisdom from its pages.
The Bible is a blueprint functioning as a life map. It doesn’t directly answer every single question you have (though it does answer many), but it provides a structure with boundaries to guide your decision-making within God’s framework.
Prayer –
James 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
God wants you to know His will. And He also wants you to ask Him what it is. There will be many times in your life when you don’t know what to do. You will face crises, temptations, trials, decisions, stress, and an uncertain future.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
In these times of indecision, do not be hasty. Slow down. Step back. Quiet down. And pray. Ask God for wisdom.
After the restoration of Judah from the Babylonian captivity, Ezra heard some terrible news. The people had started intermarrying. He was afraid that this new rebellion would bring about God’s judgment on the recently restored nation. In his grief, he collapsed, ripped his clothes, and tearing hair out of his beard.
Ezra was a man completely distraught. For the better part of a day, he did not get up. He was grieving. Finally, he was ready to take action. He rose from his self-abasement. Then what?
Ezra 9:5 – Then, at the evening sacrifice, I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the Lord my God and prayed.
See that? Ezra rose up. He was ready to take action to deal with this situation. But what was his first action? Falling down again, this time to pray. He didn’t rush off to solve the problem himself. He didn’t storm out of there and start rebuking the people who had sinned. He sought God’s will.
Next time you face a decision and you don’t know what to do, pray these simple words, “God show me your way.” If you are sincere in seeking Him, then He will answer.
Godly Council –
Proverbs 24:6 – For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
Asking counsel is mentioned throughout Scripture (Proverbs 12:15, 11:14). Two are stronger than one. When making a decision we may not see all of the facts ourselves. Or we may be biased and subjective. It could be that since we are in the middle of a situation, our emotions are clouded and our logic is faulty.
Therefore we should ask mature believers to give us advice on important issues. Their experience and wisdom can reveal things that we do not see.
According to Jeremiah, our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). We may deceive ourselves into thinking a certain course of action is good when it is sinful. This is another reason we should ask the opinion of godly believers before making big decisions.
Note that we should ask the opinion of godly believers. The counsel you receive is only as good as the person giving it to you. You will receive counsel based on the worldview of the one you ask. If you ask an atheist who believes in evolution counsel on marriage, family, or career issues you will receive vastly different advice than if you ask a Bible-believing follower of Jesus.
So you must be careful who you ask advice from.
Proverbs 13:20 – He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
The Bible says that the “fool says in his heart, ‘there is no God.’” If you listen to the counsel of those who do not believe in Jesus, you will be led astray. When you ask for counsel on a moral issue, ask people who believe in God’s standards.
If you are asking a math question, a tax question, or a geography question, go ahead and ask an expert, even if he is not a believer.
But on any issue that touches on moral or spiritual things, get counsel from believers.
And be on guard against seeking counsel only from “easy” Christians whom you know will agree with you. Ask mentors who will not be afraid to give you the unvarnished truth.
Circumstances –
Proverbs 16:9 – In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
Circumstances are the only method mentioned which functions solely as a negative indicator. That means that circumstances are a way that God will tell us not to pursue a specific course of action. But circumstances, no matter how amazing they may be, are not enough to show us that we should do something.
I once heard of a person who woke up at 7:47 in the morning. He instantly thought, “God is telling me to take a 747 jet to the mission field.” This is not the best way to make decisions.
Circumstances are primarily a negative indicator. If you are seeking God’s will in all of the other ways then He uses circumstances to shut the door. It may be a failed interview or exam. It may be a buyer who does not close on your house.
We see God working through circumstances in Acts 16:7 – Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.
When you look at Scripture and pray and ask godly counsel and it is all pointing in one direction, you can start moving. But at the same time ask God to use circumstances to close the door if it is not from Him. And He will.
Peace (Or Christian Freedom) –
John 14:26-27 – But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
This method is the most subjective of the five mentioned here. Why? It is easy for us to convince ourselves of the validity of a course of action. But the assumption is that you are genuinely seeking after God’s will. If you are, then His Spirit will lead you in conjunction with the other methods, giving you peace or alternatively convicting you.
Like circumstances, it often functions as a negative indicator. If after prayer and reading Scripture, you don’t feel at peace with a course of action, it could be a warning that you should not do it.
Personally, though most authors call this method “peace,” I prefer to call the fifth method “Christian freedom.” Why? I believe that if you actively seek God in all of the ways mentioned above and get a green light to proceed then (using the mind that God gave you) you should feel free to go forward. Within the boundaries of Scripture, God gives us the ability to choose.
He gives different believers different gifts and personalities. When you choose a career, you should look at Scripture and make sure that it doesn’t violate any Biblical principles and that you will be able to minister for God in that field. You should pray. You should seek counsel. Then if all are green lights, you can go forward with peace while still giving God room to close a door if He sees fit.
So we have looked at the question, “How can I know the will of God?”
He has given you what you need. Make it a lifestyle to use all five of these methods and the light from God will lead you each step of the way.
We should also remember God is sovereign. If a believer still chooses to use lots, God can work in that to direct him. Therefore, we should not put God in a box. But using the prescribed five methods above would be wiser.
Application – Consider the last major decision you made. Did you use all five of the above principles? If not, why not? Which one of these five do you need to pay more attention to next time you make an important decision?
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