Acts 1:17-26 ESV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 1:24

And they prayed and said ,.... Having proposed the above two persons, and not well knowing which to pitch upon, they being both very agreeable and fit for such service; they chose not to determine the affair without seeking to God for direction; a method to be taken in all cases, and especially in matters of importance: and the substance of their petition, though perhaps not in just the same words, was, thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men ; which is a character peculiar to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 1:25

That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship ,.... Of the ministry of the apostles, or of the apostolical ministration; which lay in preaching the Gospel, administering ordinances, planting churches, and working miracles; and which part, lot, or inheritance, Judas had; see Acts 1:17 . And from which Judas by transgression fell ; by betraying his Lord, whose apostle he was, he was turned out of his office, and had no longer part in the apostolical ministry: that he might go... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 1:26

And they gave forth their lots ,.... Or "gave forth lots for them", as the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions; for Joseph and Matthias; some for one, and some for another; and which were cast into a man's lap, or into a vessel, and was no other than balloting for them; and so he that had the majority upon casting them up, when taken out, was declared the person chosen; or "they cast their lots"; that is, into an urn, or vessel; which lots had the names of the two persons on them; and into... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 1:17

Obtained part of this ministry - Ελαχε τον κληρον , He obtained the lot of this ministry - not that he or any of the twelve apostles, was chosen to this ministry by lot, but as lot signifies the portion a man has in life, what comes to him in the course of the Divine providence, or as an especial gift of God's goodness, it is used here, as in many other parts of the sacred writings, to signify office or station. On this subject the reader is referred to the notes on Leviticus 16:8 , ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 1:18

Purchased a field with the reward of iniquity - Probably Judas did not purchase the field himself, but the money for which he sold his Lord was thus applied, see Matthew 27:6-8 . It is possible, however, that he might have designed to purchase a field or piece of ground with this reward of his iniquity, and might have been in treaty far it, though he did not close the bargain, as his bringing the money to the treasury proves: the priests, knowing his intentions, might have completed the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 1:19

It was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem - The repentance of Judas, his dying testimony in behalf of our Lord's innocence, and his tragical death, were publicly known, as was also the transaction about the purchase of the field, and hence arose the name by which at was publicly known. These circumstances must have lessened the credit of the chief priests, and have prepared the public mind to receive the Gospel of the kingdom, when preached to them after the day of pentecost. That... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 1:20

For it is written in the book of Psalms - The places usually referred to are Psalm 69:25 ; : Let their habitation be desolate, and let none dwell in their tents. And Psalm 109:8 ; : Let his days be few, and let another take his office, פקדתו pekudato , his overseership, his charge of visitation or superintendence, translated by the Septuagint, την επισκοπην , Vulgate, episcopatum ; and We, following both, bishopric, but not with sufficient propriety, for surely the office or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 1:21

Which have companied with us - They judged it necessary to fill up this blank in the apostolate by a person who had been an eye witness of the acts of our Lord. Went in and out - A phrase which includes all the actions of life. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 1:22

Beginning from the baptism of John - From the time that Christ was baptized by John in Jordan; for it was at that time that his public ministry properly began. Must one be ordained - This translation misleads every reader who cannot examine the original text. There is no term for ordained in the Greek: γενεσθαι , to be, is the only word in the verse to which this interpretation can be applied. The New Testament printed at London, by Robert Barker, the king's printer, in 1615, renders... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 1:23

They appointed two - These two were probably of the number of the seventy disciples; and, in this respect, well fitted to fill up the place. It is likely that the disciples themselves were divided in opinion which of these two was the most proper person, and therefore laid the matter before God, that he might decide it by the lot. No more than two candidates were presented; probably because the attention of the brethren had been drawn to those two alone, as having been most intimately... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 1:24

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 1:25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 1:26

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 1:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 1:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 1:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 1:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 1:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 1:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 1:23

Group of Brands