Acts - 1:12-26 - Replacing the Traitor

Lesson 3 – Chapter 1

Acts 1:12–26 — Replacing the Traitor

Verses 12–14

A Sabbath day’s journey was about 2,000 cubits (approximately 3,000 feet or half a mile). Jesus had instructed His disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they were “clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). So they returned to the upper room after witnessing His ascension (Acts 1:4).

Luke had already listed the Twelve in his Gospel (Luke 6:14–16), but now, with Judas gone, the list is incomplete. Before the Holy Spirit could come and the ministry to the Jews begin, the apostolic circle had to be restored.

Along with the Eleven were “the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers” (v.14). The women likely refer to those who supported Jesus’s ministry financially (Luke 8:2–3; 23:49), such as Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and others.

The mention of Jesus’ brothers is notable, especially since Mark 3:21–35 records their early disbelief. However, Paul tells us that Jesus’ brothers—Joses, Judas, and Simon—eventually came to believe. James and Jude would go on to write the New Testament epistles bearing their names.

Verses 15–17

Peter addresses the group of about 120 believers. He highlights how Scripture had to be fulfilled concerning Judas’s betrayal. Though Judas had once shared in their ministry, his actions fulfilled prophetic warnings about wicked companions (cf. Psalms).

Verses 18–19

Did Judas die by hanging (Matthew 27:5) or by falling and bursting open (Acts 1:18)? Possibly both: he may have hanged himself, and later, his body fell and ruptured. Each account serves its purpose for its audience—Matthew wrote for Jews (to whom hanging symbolized shame), while Luke wrote to Gentiles (for whom he described the gruesome end more vividly, possibly to reflect divine judgment).

Verse 20

Two Old Testament verses are cited: — One seems to say, “Don’t replace the traitor.” — The other encourages replacing him. Together, they support the need to restore the Twelve.

Verses 21–22

Two qualifications were required for Judas’s replacement:

He must have been with the disciples from the baptism of John until the ascension.

He must be a witness to the resurrection of Christ.

Verses 23–26

Two candidates are presented: Joseph called Barsabbas (Justus) and Matthias. The disciples prayed and cast lots, a common Old Testament practice (Proverbs 16:33), trusting God’s sovereign choice. Matthias was selected.

Teacher

Lesson 3 – Chapter 1

Acts 1:12–26 — Replacing the Traitor

This passage is a study in contrasts: the true disciple (Matthias) and the false disciple (Judas). As Acts unfolds, we see Jesus preparing His disciples for what is to come in Chapter 2—the descent of the Holy Spirit, the birth of the Church, and the beginning of global evangelism. But before that could happen, the foundation had to be completed. Chapter 1 is preparation.

What Had to Be in Place?

Proper Message

Proper Manifestation

Proper Power

Proper Mystery

Proper Mission

Proper Motive

Proper Men

Jesus was now appointing the twelfth disciple. In John 15:16, Jesus says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you...” In Luke 6:13, He personally selects twelve. Ministry isn’t based on human recruitment but divine appointment (Romans 10:15).

Three Key Themes in This Text

1. The Submission of a Disciple

Jesus told the disciples to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4; John 16:7). — Verse 12: They obeyed, traveling a short distance (about ½ mile). — Verses 13–14: The Eleven gathered with the women and Jesus’s brothers—James, Jude, Joseph, and Simon. James would later lead the Jerusalem church and write the Book of James.

Note: Mary is seen praying with the apostles to her Son—not being prayed to. The doctrine of the “Queen of Heaven” does not originate in Scripture but in ancient Babylonian idolatry (see expanded section below).

2. The Suicide of a Disciple

— Verse 15–16: Peter shows that Judas’s betrayal was prophesied. It was not a surprise to God. — Verse 17: Judas had a divinely appointed position, yet he never truly believed (John 6:64). He was never saved. — Matthew 27:3–4: Judas was filled with remorse—not godly repentance—for betraying innocent blood. — Verse 18–19: A man who knows the truth and rejects it seals his judgment. — Verse 25: Death does not change one’s spiritual state; it reveals and finalizes it. Judas went to hell, and Matthias found his place among the redeemed.

3. The Selection of a Disciple

— Verse 20–21: A replacement was necessary to fulfill the symbolism of twelve thrones (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30). — Verse 23: God often chooses the lesser-known. We hear nothing more of either candidate after this moment. — Verse 26: The lot falls to Matthias—chosen by God through prayer and trust.

The Babylonian Roots of the "Queen of Heaven" Doctrine

— The doctrine of the Queen of Heaven originates not in the Bible but in ancient Babylonian religion (see The Two Babylons by Alexander Hislop). — Babylon, founded by Nimrod (grandson of Ham), was the birthplace of idolatry (Genesis 10). His wife, Semiramis, became the high priestess of false religion, worshipped under many names across cultures:

Ishtar (Assyria)

Astarte (Phoenicia)

Isis (Egypt)

Aphrodite (Greece)

Venus (Rome)

— Semiramis claimed to give birth to Tammuz, conceived by a sunbeam. Tammuz was killed by a wild boar and mourned for 40 days before allegedly rising from the dead. This became the model for Lent, a tradition with no biblical foundation.

— In various nations, Tammuz was known as:

Baal (Phoenicia)

Osiris (Egypt)

Eros (Greece)

Cupid (Rome)

— Practices such as:

The offering of a wafer,

The mourning of Tammuz (Lent),

The dedication of virgins (convents),

The belief in purgatory...were all part of Babylonian worship and later found their way into elements of Roman Catholic tradition.

— Jeremiah 44:14 and Ezekiel 8:13 both condemn worship of the "Queen of Heaven." — This doctrine has no connection to Mary or to the teachings of the Old Testament.