Acts 1:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Peter did not appoint them himself, but all did. He supplied the opinion, while showing that even it did not belong to him, but had long ago been announced in prophecy.

Thus he was only an interpreter, not a master. "Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus."

The writer gives both names, perhaps because Joseph had namesakes, just as there were many namesakes among the apostles. For example, there were James the son of Zebedee and James the son of Alphaeus, Simon Peter and Simon the Zealot, Judas the son of James and Judas Iscariot.

On the other hand, this name may have been given to him because of a change in life, or perhaps at his own desire.

"And they put forward two." Why not many? So that greater disorder would not arise. Besides, the matter concerned only a few.

Then all, having prayed, put forward two: Joseph, called Justus, and Matthias, whose name is said in Hebrew to mean a child of God. The lot fell upon the younger. O how far the judgments of heaven are from human judgments! By the dignity of humility he proves higher than the one who was just in the eyes of men. Justus means "just" in Latin.

The conditions for choosing a new Apostle indicated by the Apostle Peter could easily be applied to the matter even by human judgment. The assembly of believers knew who among them had been a constant follower of Jesus Christ.

Yet though this pointed to the inner qualities of the one to be chosen, human observation still did not know the innermost part of the human soul, nor the depths of his heart.

Therefore the assembly, having chosen two according to the indicated rule, left the final decision to Him whose Apostle the chosen man was to become. As the Knower of hearts, He alone could make a true and unerring election.

The essential condition for the new Apostle was that he should be a witness of the Resurrection. He also had to have been in communion with the disciples throughout the whole time of the Savior's sojourn with them.

This manner of appointment, unique in the New Testament, seems to have arisen from the Church's special condition during the first days between the Ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit.

As though sensing that they did not yet possess the living power of true discernment of spirits, the Apostles chose two men: Joseph Barsabbas, who in Gentile circles was usually surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

Then, in accordance with Old Testament examples and Jewish customs (Lk 1:9), they prayed to God that He would show the one whom He had chosen.

The lot was cast, and it fell on Matthias. He was therefore received into the number of the twelve Apostles. The faithful, with their twelve leaders at their head, began to prepare for the great feast of Pentecost.

"And they put forward two." From among those who satisfied the stated condition for election to the apostolic rank, two were chosen. They had accompanied the Lord and the Apostles throughout the whole time of His public ministry.

They were set in the midst of the assembly as men chosen and appointed for apostleship. "They put forward two. Why not many? So that no greater disorder would arise, and also because the matter concerned only a few" (Theophylact).

The election was undoubtedly carried out by the Apostles with the consent of the whole gathered community. For this reason it is said, "they put forward."

The election of the Apostle was preceded by the presentation of two worthy candidates. As Saint John Chrysostom says, they were indicated not by Peter, but by all: "Peter did not put them forward, but all did."

This showed both their common unanimity and their complete mutual agreement. It also showed that the Apostle Peter's proposal answered the common need of the Church and the desire of all.

Of those chosen, Joseph, son of Sabbas, was evidently the younger. Besides the Hebrew name Joseph, he also bore a Roman name consonant with the Hebrew: Justus, meaning righteous.

The other chosen man, Matthias, according to tradition, came from the tribe of Judah and was born in Bethlehem. He was brought up in Jerusalem under the guidance of holy Simeon the God-receiver.

After hearing the speech of the Apostle Peter, those assembled set apart two men from among themselves. They left it to the Lord to indicate by lot which of them should be chosen to replace Judas.

One of them was called Joseph, who in Hebrew was also named Barsabbas, that is, son of Sabbas. In Roman usage he was surnamed Justus. Under this name he may have been known to the Romans, with whom he often had ordinary dealings in life.

The other chosen man was called Matthias. Both satisfied the condition for election stated by Peter. Their personal qualities were, of course, also taken into account, though nothing is known to us about them.

There is an opinion that both belonged to the seventy Apostles. Yet they are not mentioned among the seventy Apostles in the Church service in their honor.