This prayer isn't just a plea for guidance; it's a profound acknowledgement that only God truly knows the inner workings of a person's heart, the essential quality for apostleship that outward appearances can't reveal. It highlights that selecting leaders isn't just about visible skills, but about the unseen spiritual capacity that God alone can assess.
And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Jesus' ascension, the eleven apostles and other believers gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem, praying and waiting for the promised Holy Spirit. Needing to replace Judas Iscariot, they put forward two candidates, Joseph and Matthias, and then prayed to God, who knows everyone's heart, to reveal which of the two He had chosen for the apostolic ministry.
When we need to make a big decision, especially about leadership, we often rely on what we can see and assess. But what if God's perspective is far deeper?
The disciples were faced with choosing Matthias to replace Judas. From a human standpoint, both Matthias and Joseph (Barsabbas) seemed qualified. They had followed Jesus from the beginning and witnessed His ministry.
Making a critical choice for the early church wasn't just a matter of procedure; it was deeply rooted in prayer. What does this tell us about how God works?
The selection of Matthias wasn't a democratic vote or a simple appointment. It was an act embedded within a prayerful process, demonstrating the vital connection between human participation and divine sovereignty.
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Understand the original words
apostolē · Greek Noun
Refers to one who has been personally chosen and commissioned by Jesus Christ, possessing special authority to testify to the resurrected Lord and serve as a foundation for the Church.
kardia · Greek Noun
Refers to the inner self, the seat of human intellect, emotion, will, and conscience; God is understood to have perfect, penetrating knowledge of the hidden depths of every human.
diakonia · Greek Noun
A general term for service, particularly sacred service or office within the community of faith, emphasizing the responsibility of stewardship under divine authority.
klēros · Greek Noun
The practice of determining a divine decision through external, objective means. In the Bible, it was often used to seek God's guidance or resolve disputes, acknowledging His sovereignty over outcomes.
apostolos · Greek Noun
One sent with a commission; specifically, a messenger of Jesus Christ commissioned to preach the gospel and establish the church. An apostle held a unique, foundational authority based on having witnessed the resurrected Christ.
sunkatapsēphizō · Greek Verb
To be officially counted, enrolled, or associated with a specific group or rank. In a biblical context, it implies formal recognition of one’s inclusion in a spiritual or covenantal community.
c. AD 30
The Ascension of Jesus
Following his resurrection, Jesus ascends into heaven after 40 days, commissioning his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit.
c. AD 30
The Apostles Gather in Jerusalem
The eleven apostles, along with other believers including Mary the mother of Jesus, gather in an upper room in Jerusalem to pray and wait as instructed.
c. AD 30
The Betrayal and Death of Judas
Judas Iscariot, one of the original twelve apostles, betrays Jesus and later dies, leaving a vacancy in the apostolic college.
c. AD 30
Peter Proposes Replacing Judas
Peter addresses the gathered believers, highlighting the need to replace Judas and setting criteria for a successor who had accompanied Jesus from his baptism to his ascension.
c. AD 30
Nomination of Matthias and Joseph
Two candidates, Joseph Barsabbas (also called Justus) and Matthias, are put forward as potential replacements for Judas.
c. AD 30— this verse
Prayer and Casting of Lots
The group prays for divine guidance, acknowledging God as the 'heart-knower,' and casts lots to determine which of the two candidates God has chosen to fill the apostolic office.
c. AD 30
Matthias is Chosen as Apostle
The lot falls on Matthias, who is then added to the eleven, restoring the apostolic number to twelve.
This passage echoes the sentiment of Acts 1:24 by reminding us that while humans look at outward appearances, God sees and knows the heart, making Him the ultimate judge of character and suitability.
Jeremiah 17:9-10These verses highlight the deep deceitfulness of the human heart, underscoring why the disciples needed to appeal to God, the only one who truly 'knows the hearts of all,' to make a righteous choice.
Proverbs 16:33This verse directly connects the casting of lots with God's sovereign direction, showing that even though the disciples used this method, the ultimate decision rested with God, who knows all hearts.
John 6:70Jesus Himself speaks of choosing the twelve, and this passage in Acts shows the disciples continuing that principle, recognizing Christ's authority in selection while also appealing to God's knowledge of hearts for the replacement.
1 Corinthians 2:10-11This passage speaks to the Spirit's ability to search all things, even the deep things of God, paralleling the disciples' prayer that God, who knows all hearts, would reveal His chosen one.
vincentActs 1:24: "And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,"
Which knowest the hearts (καρδιογνῶστα)Only here and Acts 15:8. Lit., heart-knower.
expositorsActs 1:24: "And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,"
Chapter 4 THE ELECTION OF MATTHIAS. Acts 1:24-26 We have selected the incident of this apostolic election as the central point round which to group the events of the ten days’ expectation which elapsed between the Ascension and Pentecost. But though this election is a most important fact, in itself and in the principles involved therein, yet there are numerous oth…
This prayer isn't just a plea for guidance; it's a profound acknowledgement that only God truly knows the inner workings of a person's heart, the essential quality for apostleship that outward appearances can't reveal. It highlights that selecting leaders isn't just about visible skills, but about the unseen spiritual capacity that God alone can assess.
After Jesus' ascension, the eleven apostles and other believers gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem, praying and waiting for the promised Holy Spirit. Needing to replace Judas Iscariot, they put forward two candidates, Joseph and Matthias, and then prayed to God, who knows everyone's heart, to reveal which of the two He had chosen for the apostolic ministry.
After Jesus' ascension, the eleven apostles and other believers gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem, praying and waiting for the promised Holy Spirit. Needing to replace Judas Iscariot, they put forward two candidates, Joseph and Matthias, and then prayed to God, who knows everyone's heart, to reveal which of the two He had chosen for the apostolic ministry.
"And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for…" — This prayer isn't just a plea for guidance; it's a profound acknowledgement that only God truly knows the inner workings of a person's heart, the essential quality for apostleship that outward appear…
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Last reviewed October 2026
