There was a traitor in the group. He did his dirty deed, and shortly thereafter was dead. Now, several weeks later, the group is wanting to replace the traitor, and fill his empty spot. This isn’t the plot of some action or espionage thriller movie. Instead it is from the narrative of the Apostles, during those handful of days between the Ascension of Jesus back into heaven and the day of Pentecost. Let’s take a quick look at this account from the first chapter of the Book of Acts.
One of the last instructions of the Lord Jesus before He was taken up into heaven was for the disciples to remain in Jerusalem until the coming of the Holy Spirit upon them. There were now eleven of the original twelve disciples specifically chosen by Jesus. However, there were many others who had followed Jesus from the early days of His ministry and who believed in His Words. At least 120 of them were gathered with the eleven (vs. 15). During those days between the Ascension and Pentecost, Peter spoke, saying that a replacement for the traitor Judas Iscariot needed to be selected, as Scripture predicted this (vs. 16-17). Peter then quoted from Psalm 69:25 and from Psalm 109:8.
With the exception of Peter, Judas Iscariot is probably the most well-known of the apostles. If you ask any random group of Christians to name all twelve, they aren’t likely to forget his name. What do we know about him? Judas was one of the twelve that Jesus specifically chose to be His close disciples, but he was never truly saved, which is why he was called “son of perdition” (John 17:12). Judas was also a thief who helped himself to the group’s petty cash, which he was in charge of (John 12:6). He allowed his desires to place him in a position where Satan could manipulate him when he betrayed Jesus. He was possibly trying to force Jesus’ hand to rebel against Rome and set up a new political government.
Judas chose to reject Jesus’ warnings, as well as His offers of mercy. He hardened his heart and joined the plot with the enemies of Jesus, and he remained unrepentant to the end. Those privileged to be close to the truth are not necessarily committed to the truth. Some may think that Judas didn’t have a choice, as this was prophesied centuries earlier. However, Judas was not a puppet of God’s will. He made his own choice. God knew what that choice would be and confirmed it. Judas didn’t lose his relationship with Jesus. He never had a relationship to begin with. We should ask ourselves whether we are a truly committed disciple, or are we an uncommitted pretender?
There are two accounts as to how Judas died. In the Gospels we read that Judas Iscariot hung himself (Matthew 27:5). In Acts we read here that in the field that was purchased with the money he received from betraying Jesus, he fell and his intestines came out (vs. 18). What likely happened is that the rope or the branch of the tree broke, or the knot slipped, and Judas’ dead body, which by then would have been bloated, was shattered on the rocks below.
Peter, in accordance with the prophecy of Psalm 109, decided that a successor to the traitor needed to be selected. They wanted to be sure that they were making a godly choice, so they had a few requirements. The one selected had to have been a follower of Jesus from the very early days of His ministry, and he had to have seen the resurrected Lord (vs. 21-22). Two were picked to be runners-up, and then they cast lots, and Matthias was chosen (vs. 26). Lots were a common Old Testament way to determine God’s will. The coming of the Holy Spirit in a few days then made casting lots unnecessary. The ancient church historian, Eusebius, claims that Matthias was among the seventy that Jesus sent out in Luke 10:1. The Scriptures do not mention him again, though tradition says that he was a missionary both in Ethiopia, and then later in the areas around the eastern shores of the Black Sea where he was martyred.
In closing, let us take one last look at Judas Iscariot. He chose his own fate of hell by rejecting Jesus (vs. 25). Whoever goes to hell has chosen to do so themselves because they do not accept Jesus as their Savior, just as he did. It is a sad fate, as Judas had just as much potential and chance as the other eleven. As Peter said, he “was numbered with us” (vs. 17). He was one of them, not a stranger who betrayed Jesus. Any one of them could have done that, but they didn’t. Only Judas did. What about us? Do we betray Jesus in our words, our acts, or our thoughts? Are we a truly committed disciple, or only a pretender?
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