Acts 1:23

Monday, 18 October 2021 <p> </p> <p>And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. Acts 1:23</p> <p> </p> <p>You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at "<a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqXyLmMv8N3Ael0bq5nWz8Q'>Discern the Bible</a>" on YouTube  or at Rumble (<a href='https://rumble.com/c/c-1133771'>Click Here to listen</a>).</p> <p> </p> <p>Peter has proposed the selection of another apostle to replace Judas. This is in accord with the Scriptures he cited, and therefore it is an appropriate step to take. Before proceeding to the verse, it should be noted that many take this decision by Peter and the others as an aberration. If a twelfth is now selected, then it – presumably – makes the selection of Paul problematic. How can he be chosen as an apostle and yet there be twelve apostles?</p> <p> </p> <p>The reasoning is that there were twelve sons of Israel. To maintain the pattern, there should then only be twelve apostles. The thinking is flawed. The twelve sons of Israel as recorded in Genesis are at first twelve –</p> <p> </p> <p>Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin.</p> <p> </p> <p>However, in Genesis 48, the following is recorded –</p> <p> </p> <p>“Now it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, ‘Indeed your father is sick’; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And Jacob was told, ‘Look, your son Joseph is coming to you’; and Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed. 3 Then Jacob said to Joseph: ‘God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and said to me, “Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.” 5 And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall