The Replacement of Judas: 3 Massive Lessons from Acts 1:15-26 for Today's Church
- Thad DeBuhr
- Jan 9
- 8 min read
Study Guide: The Empty Chair (Acts 1:15–26)
Imagine you are part of a world-class rescue team. You’ve been trained for years, and the mission is finally about to start. But as you gather for the final briefing, everyone looks at the empty seat in the front row. One of your original members didn't just quit; he betrayed the whole team and caused a massive disaster.
The energy in the room is heavy. Everyone is thinking about the betrayal. You can’t just pretend it didn't happen. You know that if you try to start the mission with that "empty chair" staring at you, the team will eventually fall apart. You have to fix the foundation before you can build the house.
In Acts 1, the followers of Jesus were in this exact spot. They had been promised "Dynamo" power, but they were still sitting with a broken heart and a missing leader. They had to learn how to turn a tragedy into a strategy before they could move forward.
Before you dig into the study guide, I would suggest reading or listening to the passage in two different bible translations from this list: NIV, NLT, NASB, ESV, NKJV
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Setting the Scene: The Mystery of the Number 12
Before the "Dynamo" power of the Holy Spirit arrives in Acts 2, Peter realizes the group has a structural problem. There are eleven apostles, but there should be twelve. To a modern reader, this might seem like picky record-keeping, but in the ancient world, actions spoke louder than words. By insisting on filling that twelfth seat, Peter was showing that he finally understood the "statement" Jesus had been making all along.
Why was the number 12 so important?
In the Old Testament, God’s people were organized into 12 Tribes. They were meant to be a "Light to the Nations" (Isaiah 42:6), showing the whole world what God was like. But by the time of Acts, Israel was divided, oppressed, and struggling. The mission was "stuck."
When Jesus originally went up on a mountain and picked exactly twelve men (Mark 3:13–15), every Jewish person watching knew exactly what He was doing. He was acting like a "New Moses," gathering the tribes to jump-start God’s original plan. This wasn't about replacing Israel with something totally unrelated; it was about the Restoration of Israel.
Jesus even told them in Matthew 19:28 that they would sit on "twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." By choosing twelve, Jesus was saying:
I am the "True Israel" (the one person who finally got it right).
These Twelve are the "seed" of a restored nation that will finally reach the whole world.
The foundation of the world’s rescue is being rebuilt right here, starting with these men.
The Integrity of the Foundation
Having only eleven apostles was like having a clock with a missing number or a bridge with a missing support beam. Peter knew that if they went into the mission with a "broken bridge," the symbolism would be that God’s people were still incomplete.
This idea is so important that it shows up at the very end of the Bible, too. In Revelation 21:14, it describes the "New Jerusalem" (the final home of God’s people) and says the city wall has twelve foundations, and on them are the names of the twelve apostles. The Twelve aren't just a temporary committee; they are the permanent foundation stones of God’s entire family.
The "Middle Moment" and the Last Lot
To fill this seat, they used an ancient method called "casting lots" (Acts 1:26). This was a common practice in Israel's history—like when they divided the Promised Land in Joshua 18:10.
It wasn’t gambling or "flipping a coin" because they were lazy. It was a way of saying, "We’ve done all the human homework we can do—we've checked the resumes and narrowed it down to two qualified men—and now we are stepping back to let God make the final choice." As Proverbs 16:33 says, "The lot is cast... but its every decision is from the Lord."
The disciples were living in a "middle moment."
The Past: They respected the Old Testament way of seeking God through physical signs.
The Future: They were only days away from the Holy Spirit living inside them to provide internal guidance.
By casting lots one last time, they honored the ancient tradition to ensure the twelfth man was truly God's choice and not just a personal favorite. Once Matthias was chosen, the "Bridge" was complete. The tribes were symbolically represented, the foundation was set, and the restored people of God were finally ready to receive the power that would change the world forever.
Summary: Repairing the Team
The following points explain how the early church moved from the pain of betrayal to the readiness of the mission.
1. Facing the Elephant in the Room (Acts 1:15–20)
Peter stands up among 120 people and talks about Judas. He doesn't sugarcoat the betrayal or try to hide the "Field of Blood." He uses Psalm 69 and Psalm 109 to show that even though Judas made a terrible choice, God was not caught off guard.
The Lesson: You can’t move forward into your future if you are busy hiding the skeletons in your closet. God’s plan is bigger than any human failure. Even when a "leader" fails, the "King" is still on the throne.
2. The Eyewitness Requirement (Acts 1:21–22)
Peter sets a high bar for the new person. They couldn't just pick someone with a great personality. The candidate had to be someone who was there from the very beginning (John's baptism) to the very end (the Ascension).
The Lesson: The role of the first 12 was to be a witness. They had to be able to say, "I saw Him die, and I saw Him alive." Their job was to provide the "receipts" for the Resurrection.
3. The James Factor: Why Not the Brother?
You might wonder why James, the brother of Jesus, wasn't on the list. James became a massive leader later in Acts, but at this moment, he didn't fit the "witness" requirement. John 7:5 tells us Jesus' brothers didn't believe in Him during His ministry. James only became a believer after the risen Jesus appeared to him personally (1 Corinthians 15:7).
The Lesson: You can be a great leader without having a specific "title." James had a different seat to fill on Team Jesus, and he was okay with that. God has a specific role for your journey, even if it doesn't look like someone else's.
4. The Last Coin Flip (Acts 1:23–26)
They narrow it down to two guys: Joseph and Matthias. They pray, and they cast lots. Matthias is chosen.
The Fact Check: This is the last time we see anyone casting lots in the Bible. Why? Because in the very next chapter, the Holy Spirit arrives.
The Lesson: We are moving from a "physical sign" (the lot) to an "internal guide" (the Spirit). We still do our "homework" by narrowing down our options, but then we look for the Spirit’s Peace to make the final call.
🛑 How to APPROACH This passage in ACTS Incorrectly: Common Pitfalls
People often get off track when reading Acts by pulling specific events out of their historical context. Here are some ways we tend to miss the point:
The "Gambling for God" Error: Some people think they should still "draw straws" or flip a coin for every decision. But Acts shows us that as we grow, we should rely more on the Spirit’s internal peace and the wisdom of the community.
The "Replacement" Error: Some groups claim they have "Apostles" today who have the same authority as the original 12. But remember the requirement: they had to be eyewitnesses of Jesus’ actual ministry. The "Office of the Twelve" is closed; we are now the Heralds who share the message they already proved was true.
The "Failure is Final" Error: Some look at Judas and think, "If a leader can fail that badly, the whole thing must be a lie." Peter shows us that the failure of a person doesn't change the truth of the King.
✅ How to APPROACH THis passage in ACTS Correctly (Tips and Principles):
To get the most out of this passage in Acts and stay on the right path, try these steps:
Do the Homework: Before they cast lots, they narrowed the list down to people who actually fit the job. Don't ask for a "sign" from God until you’ve already checked the options against what the Bible says.
Face the Pain: If your family or church has a "hole" in it from a past hurt, talk about it like Peter did. Bring it into the light so God can fix the foundation.
Value the "Matthias" Moments: Matthias was a "backup" for years. He followed Jesus just as long as the others did, but without the title. Be faithful in the quiet years; God sees your witness even when you don't have a "seat" at the main table yet.
Questions to Chew on and Discuss:
These questions are designed to help you personally dig deeper into the passage.
In Acts 1, they were between two methods—the old way (lots) and the new way (the Spirit). Does it ever feel scary to trust an "internal nudge" from the Spirit rather than a "physical sign" from the world?
The disciples narrowed the options down to two people who fit the "witness" criteria. When you have a big decision, do you do the "homework" of checking your options against the Bible first, or do you skip straight to asking for a sign?
Why do you think God waited until the foundation was "repaired" (12 apostles) before He sent the "Dynamo" power of the Spirit in the next chapter?
Journey Group Discussion Starter:
Whether you're helping facilitate a small group, talking about this passage one-on-one with a friend, or even just need a topic to guide the conversation at the dinner table, these ideas can help start a good group conversation before you dive into the passage and questions in this study guide.
The "Empty Chair" Question: Is there a "hole" in your life or your team—a past hurt, a betrayal, or a loss—that you’ve been trying to ignore? How does this story encourage you to bring that hole to God so He can "repair the foundation"?
The "Team Jesus" Question: Matthias was chosen, but Joseph was not. Both were qualified. How can we stay unified and supportive when someone else gets the "promotion" or the "role" we thought we were right for?
Sum it Up
Acts 1:15–26 is about repairing the foundation. Before the Holy Spirit arrives to power the mission, the believers had to deal with the pain of the past and fill the gap in their leadership. By turning to Scripture and prayer, they moved from a place of "brokenness" to a place of "readiness." They filled the empty chair so they could stand together as a complete team when the "Dynamo" power hit.
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