City Life Starter

Written by Bebe Thomas

The Word

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.[a]

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “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. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong[b] he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

“‘May his camp become desolate,

    and let there be no one to dwell in it’;

and

“‘Let another take his office.’

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:12–26

Exegesis

After Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples obeyed His final instruction: return to Jerusalem and wait for the promised Holy Spirit. This waiting period lasted about ten days, bridging the Ascension and Pentecost. R.C. Sproul notes two striking characteristics of the early church during this time:

1. They were obedient.
2. They were of one accord.

These two traits—obedience and unity—form the spiritual atmosphere of the church’s earliest days. They did not scatter, despair, or attempt to forge ahead in their own strength. Instead, they gathered, prayed, and waited together.

This passage is especially encouraging because I, too, am in a waiting season—longing to hear from God, longing for clarity, longing for the next step. The disciples model what faithful waiting looks like: they anchored themselves in the Word and in community.

Luke tells us that as they prayed and sought understanding, they turned to Scripture to make sense of Judas’s betrayal and death. They found clarity in the Psalms, where it is written:

• “Let his homestead be made desolate”
• “Let another take his office”

These early Psalms became the interpretive key that unlocked their next step. This is the beautiful birth of the early church: a community gathered around the Word, discerning God’s will together.

The Judas Accounts: Matthew vs. Acts

In reading the passage, there appears to be a discrepancy between Matthew and Luke’s accounts of Judas’s death.

• Matthew 27:5 says Judas hanged himself.
• Acts 1:18 says he fell headlong and burst open.

Scholars reconcile these by suggesting that Judas did hang himself, but the manner or location of the hanging caused his body to fall and rupture—especially if the rope or branch broke. The field purchased with the blood money became known as Akeldama, “the Field of Blood,” where officials buried him. The two accounts describe different aspects of the same tragic event.

Criteria for the New Apostle

Peter, guided by Scripture, outlines the qualifications for Judas’s replacement:

1. He must have been with Jesus from the beginning of His ministry.
2. He must be a witness to the resurrection.
3. He must be commissioned to the apostolic office by Christ.

Judas failed in this calling because his heart was corrupted. Matthias, by contrast, met the criteria and was chosen by lot—an act of trust in God’s sovereign choice.

The only exception to these criteria is Paul, who was directly called, confronted, and commissioned by the risen Christ on the road to Damascus.

Application

This passage is deeply instructional for anyone in a waiting season. The disciples show us that waiting is not passive—it is active, communal, and rooted in Scripture.

What We Learn About Waiting:

• Waiting is done in obedience. They returned to Jerusalem even though it was dangerous.
• Waiting is done in unity. They were “of one accord,” praying and seeking God together.
• Waiting is done in the Word. Scripture shaped their understanding and directed their next step.
• Waiting is done in community. No one waited alone. They discerned together, prayed together, and encouraged one another.

We need this same fellowship in our walk with Jesus. Isolation breeds confusion; community brings clarity.

Questions to Ask Yourself

• Am I or have I been in a waiting period?
• What does it look like?
• In my waiting, am I in community with other believers?
• Am I leaning on His Word while I wait?

If the answer to any of these is “no,” this passage gently invites you back into the rhythms of early-church waiting: obedience, unity, Scripture, and fellowship.

Prayer

Lord, teach us to wait like the early church waited—obedient, united, rooted in Your Word, and surrounded by Your people. In our seasons of uncertainty, anchor us in Your promises and guide us by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.