Witnesses To The Resurrection — Acts 1:21–26
Witnesses to the Resurrection — Acts 1:21–26
Sep 18, 2026 14
Who could take Judas’ place among the Twelve? The believers needed someone who had accompanied Jesus throughout his ministry and seen him alive again. These apostles were to be witnesses to the resurrection.
Acts 1:21–26
[21] So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, [22] beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” [23] And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. [24] And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen [25] to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” [26] And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (ESV)
Witnesses to the Resurrection
The replacement for Judas needed to have been there from the beginning, from John’s baptism until Jesus’ ascension. These men had heard Jesus teach and seen him care for people. They knew his ministry, and they had met him after he rose from the dead.
At the heart of the qualification was the message they would proclaim: Jesus is alive.
Christianity is grounded in events that happened in time and space.
Jesus lived.
Jesus died.
Jesus rose again.
These witnesses were speaking about someone they had seen and known.
They had spent time with the risen Jesus. They had eaten with him. Now they were being commissioned to make him known to the world.
[Watch this week’s video devotion with Dave Miers]
Trusting the Lord to Lead
Two men met the qualifications: Joseph, called Barsabbas (also known as Justus), and Matthias. The believers prayed, asking the Lord to show whom he had chosen.
The Lord they address is most likely Jesus himself. He had chosen the apostles, and now they looked to him to make his choice known. Though he had ascended, he continued to lead them.
They cast lots, and Matthias was numbered with the eleven. This happened before Pentecost and is not necessarily a pattern we need to copy today. What we do see is their dependence on the Lord. They trusted his word and his sovereign hand.
The band was back together. The Twelve were restored, ready to be witnesses to the resurrection.
We have not stood where these apostles stood or seen what they saw. But we have believed their testimony, and we continue to stand upon their teaching.
God raised up these men to carry the message forward, and he continues to raise up ordinary people to make Jesus known. We are part of that ongoing mission, depending on the Spirit who has come.
The Good News is…
Jesus died for our sin, but death is defeated. He really did rise from the dead.
Church tradition holds that eleven of the Twelve were eventually put to death for their faith, with John the exception. They were proclaiming events they had witnessed themselves. They had seen Jesus alive and eaten with him. Even in the face of death, they kept making him known. Their confidence was in the risen Jesus.
The witnesses proclaimed a living Saviour, and their message still offers hope to our world. If you have not yet trusted Jesus, consider their testimony.
If you belong to him, keep making him known, confident in the risen Lord who sends us.
Reflection
How does the apostles’ testimony that Jesus is alive give you confidence to make him known?
Rev. Dave Miers
President, Good News Unlimited
