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Acts 1 · a question people ask

Why did they put forward two, for the ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away (1:23-25)?

In the text

The chapter gives Peter's words before it. "Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas" (1:16), and of the words he says are "written in the book of Psalms" (1:20), the second is "Let another take his office" (1:20). "Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection." (1:21-22). When they prayed, they asked to be shown which of the two had been chosen "to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away" (1:24-25). Acts gives no other reason, and these notes add none.

The verses

““Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus.”
Acts 1:16 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Acts 1

Acts 1: Witnesses of his resurrection

The chapter's first words speak of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach "until the day in which he was received up" (1:2), and Peter says that one of the men who had been with them "to the day that he was received up from us" must become "a witness with us of his resurrection" (1:22). In the Greek, received up is the same verb both times.

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Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions