How to Discern the Will of God

Acts 1:12-26

Main Idea: The first major event after the ascension of Jesus, when the apostles and disciples convened to choose a replacement for Judas, teaches much about discerning God’s will for our lives.

1. Choosing Judas’s Replacement (1:12-26)
2. Make Decisions in View of God’s Plan of Redemption.
   1. What are the immediate ramifications for the gospel?
   2. What are the eternal ramifications for the gospel?
3. Distinguish between God’s Revealed Will and God’s Concealed Will.
4. Start with God’s Revealed Will.
   1. Trust the Bible as your authority.
   2. Let the Bible interpret your life.
   3. Do what the Bible says.
5. Look for God’s Concealed Will through the Lens of God’s Revealed Will.
   1. Gather all the information.
   2. Seek God in prayer.
   3. As you trust in God’s sovereignty, make a decision and go with it.

Do you have any important decisions to make? If so, do you want to know what God’s will is regarding those decisions? Chances are you will answer both questions with an emphatic yes! You probably know other people who are faced with decisions as well. Some will consider adopting children. Some will consider changing jobs this year or relocating to another city, state, or country. Some will decide where to go to college or graduate school. Some will consider making major purchases like a home or a car or a business. Some face the prospect of getting married. Others will need to determine whether God wants them to pull up roots and go to a mission field overseas. And the list of possible decisions people face continues.^[1]

Most of us make discovering God’s will more complicated than it really is! The Father wants you to know his will about important decisions in your life, so he provides guidance in his Word. After Jesus ascended to heaven, his followers needed to know who was supposed to fill the apostolic office vacated by Judas, who committed suicide after he betrayed Jesus. The way they approached that decision is significant for two reasons: it had huge ramifications for the future of Christ’s kingdom, and it provided a helpful model for the way his followers approach weighty decisions. Those two things must go together—finding God’s will in decision making and doing so in view of advancing Christ’s kingdom.

Choosing Judas’s Replacement

Acts 1:12-26

Luke has purposed in Luke and Acts to record details about the real life and ministry of Jesus as well as the beginnings of the early church. While Luke shows that Christianity is founded on the historical resurrection, he also demonstrates that those who proclaimed the resurrection were trustworthy. After his crucifixion and death, the Lord Jesus “presented himself alive to [his disciples] by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God” (v. 3). Jesus commanded them “not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise” (v. 4). The disciples and apostles, along with Jesus’s mother and half brothers, obediently returned to Jerusalem to wait and pray (vv. 12-14). The lives of these individuals had been changed by an encounter with Jesus, and they were committed to him and his mission.

Luke lists the eleven apostles by name (v. 13), helping readers understand Peter’s imminent speech (vv. 16-22). Jesus previously appointed twelve apostles, corresponding to the twelve sons of Jacob, the tribal leaders of Israel. For Peter, the apostolic number of twelve had to be restored, as the true Israel needed to be complete. Israel was suddenly entering a new era in redemptive history. The eleven apostles thus went into the upper room and were in consensus with Mary and the brothers of Jesus as they “united in prayer” (v. 14). Luke will develop the importance of prayer throughout Acts.

Luke highlights a moment in which Peter stood up and spoke from the Psalms about God’s providence over Judas’s betrayal and God’s command for Judas to be replaced (vv. 15-16). After the resurrection of Jesus, Peter realized that all of the Scriptures testify about Jesus. Here is another example of how the apostles were clearly Christ centered in their interpretation of the Scriptures. Citing Psalms 69:25 and 109:8, Peter applied the psalmist’s judgment on a wicked man as being repeated in his own day—having happened even more literally regarding the fate of Judas than in the case of David’s adversaries. As the treasonous men in Psalms 69 and 109 rejected the friendship and blessing of King David, even more so had Judas rejected the friendship and blessing of King Jesus.

Peter defines qualifications for the replacement apostle. The individual who would take Judas’s place as the twelfth must be an eyewitness of Jesus’s life and resurrection (vv. 21-22). Christianity is founded on the historical resurrection, and those who first proclaimed the resurrection had to be trustworthy and informed.

Two men, Joseph and Matthias, were put forward as meeting the criteria set forth by Peter. The apostles and disciples turned to the Lord in prayer to seek his will on the decision (vv. 24-25). Lots were cast and “the lot fell to Matthias,” so he was numbered with the eleven apostles (v. 26).

Make Decisions in View of God’s Plan of Redemption

The primary reason this story is in the Bible is not to help us learn how to find God’s will. It informs us about how God sovereignly worked to advance his mission. However, that must reveal to us something about finding his will. And I think the obvious lesson is that we must make our decisions in view of God’s unfolding plan of redemption. If the reason we’re still on the planet is to advance his mission of redeeming people, then it just makes sense that every decision we face must be approached in view of that purpose. In filling Judas’s spot, these early Christians were answering some questions that are important for us to ask any time we’re trying to discern God’s will.

What Are the Immediate Ramifications for the Gospel?

The word apostle means “one who is sent.” Jesus had instituted the formal office in order to appoint some men who could be sent out to proclaim his gospel with supernatural power. Their role was crucial for the immediate advancement of the gospel after the Lord left the earth. The apostles were eyewitnesses who had observed Jesus’s life and could confirm his resurrection (cf. 1:21-22). And they were firsthand learners—or disciples—who could accurately pass on his teaching. His words would thus become the solid foundation on which his church would be built (cf. Eph 2:19-22).

By filling Judas’s office, the church was acknowledging and valuing the need for such eyewitness testimony to the gospel in the days following Jesus’s departure. The formal apostolic office in view here obviously was a unique, irreplaceable role limited to these twelve men. They would have no formal successors since no further eyewitnesses could arise after they died. But these early Christians were rightly concerned about the immediate advancement of the gospel, and a similar concern should underlie every decision we make. We should approach every decision by weighing how each choice will either enhance or hinder gospel advancement.

What Are the Eternal Ramifications for the Gospel?

It was imperative to fill Judas’s office also for a broader kingdom purpose. Jesus had told the twelve apostles they would have a unique role in the coming kingdom of God. They would judge the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt 19:28; Luke 22:28-30). By filling Judas’s office, the church was acknowledging and valuing the special role of the apostles. These men had important work to do.

Every decision we make matters. Our choices can have eternal impact.

Distinguish between God’s Revealed Will and God’s Concealed Will

Acts 1:12-26

Part of God’s will is written in black-and-white. The believers about whom we read in chapter 1 knew part of God’s will because they knew the Scriptures. They knew there was an apostolic office, and they knew they were to fill the office vacated by Judas because God said so.

The primary place we can find God’s will is in the pages of the Bible. In his Word he has revealed everything necessary for our redemption. That means we don’t have to wonder whether we should be making disciples, praying, living holy lives, bearing fruit, loving people who aren’t lovable, being faithful in our marriages, or caring for orphans. Those things and more are part of his revealed will, the Bible. We can be confident that pursuing those things is always the right course of action.

Not all the specific outworkings of God’s will for specific individuals, however, are recorded in the Bible. While the early Christians knew they were supposed to fill Judas’s office, they didn’t know the name of the guy who was supposed to step into the role. That detail was concealed, and they were responsible for uncovering it through prayer and wise action. God wasn’t hiding the man’s identity from them, and they knew he had chosen someone for the office (see v. 24), but they needed to work through the process of seeking God’s will to find out who it was. And their experiences teach us an important principle.

We know marriage is sanctioned by God to reflect the gospel, but we have to discern who that specific spouse should be. We know we should work hard and not be lazy, but we don’t always know which job God wants us to take or which degree we should pursue. We’re responsible for discoving that stuff. We must do the work of making sound choices.

Start with God’s Revealed Will

Many Christians spend inordinate amounts of time and energy trying to find out God’s concealed will while ignoring so much of his revealed will. Doesn’t it make sense that he would want us to give first priority and attention to the stuff he has revealed in the pages of Scripture? Why should he tell us where we should go to college or whom we’re supposed to marry if we’re not at all interested in making disciples or living holy lives? The believers in Acts 1:12-26 demonstrated a confidence in and allegiance to the Scriptures that ultimately made finding even his concealed will relatively simple. And it will work that way for us as well. Consider these principles.

Trust the Bible as Your Authority

The church submitted their lives, circumstances, and direction to God’s Word. Peter gathers the small band of 120 believers and begins by telling them, “It was necessary that the Scripture be fulfilled” (v. 16). The Scriptures are totally trustworthy. The church operated on the resolve that the Scriptures would absolutely prove true.

Then Peter references Scripture as that which “the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David foretold about Judas” (v. 16). This statement highlights the inspiration of Scripture. God spoke it through a human author (cf. 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:20-21).

You, like the first believers, can and should trust the Scriptures for directing your life! The Bible is objective while our senses of discernment and judgment can be subjective. That’s why the Scriptures must be our guide.

Let the Bible Interpret Your Life

Luke adds a parenthesis for the reader concerning the fate of Judas (vv. 18-19)—the horrific nature of Judas’s death. Matthew reports the type of death (Matt 27:5): suicide. Combining the data leads to the conclusion that he hanged himself and the rope broke, allowing his body to fall onto rocks that disemboweled him. The disciples were likely confused and shocked about the fate of Judas in the unfolding plan of God, so Peter cites Psalms 69:25 and 109:8 to help them make sense of it. These psalms have in view wicked and treasonous men who are enemies of God’s king. Peter took the psalmist’s judgment and applied it to Judas, who was wicked and treasonous toward God’s ultimate King. Longman and Garland comment,

We need not insist that the early Christians believed that the primary reference of these two psalms was to Judas, as if no one could have understood them prior to the betrayal. What they seem to be saying, however, is that just as the psalmist’s portrayals of “The Servant of the Lord and the Righteous Sufferer” can on the basis of the Semitic concept of corporate solidarity be applied to God’s Messiah, Jesus, the Servant and Righteous Sufferer, so the retribution spoken of as coming upon false companions and wicked men in general is especially applicable to Judas, who above all other men was false. So Peter quotes Psalm 69:25 in a Christian context and applies it to Judas’s defection. In itself, of course, this verse gives no justification for replacing Judas—in fact, it even opposes it. Therefore Peter goes on to cite Psalm 109:8 on the Jewish exegetical principle of analogous subject in order to defend the legitimacy of replacing a member of the apostolic band. (Luke–Acts, 728)

For Peter and the other disciples, God’s Word, responsibly applied, provided the proper interpretation and perspective on confusing and shocking events.

Like the disciples, we too at times will struggle to comprehend the plan and sovereignty of God in our world and in our lives. We will ponder the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous. And we will wrestle with the setbacks of life and with affirming the sovereignty of God. Yet, like Peter, we should look to the Scriptures to make sense of our world and our lives. In the Scriptures we will continually rediscover perspective, truth, instruction, and the beauty of our Savior.

Do What the Bible Says

Jesus previously had appointed twelve apostles, corresponding to the leaders of the tribes of Israel. For Peter, the apostolic number of twelve had to be restored because the true Israel needed to be complete. Israel was now entering a new era in redemptive history. Longman and Garland are helpful again here:

The twelvefold witness was required if early Jewish Christianity was to represent itself to the Jewish nation as the culmination of Israel’s hope and the true people of Israel’s Messiah. The “remnant theology” of Late Judaism made it mandatory that any group that presented itself as “the righteous remnant” of the nation, and had the responsibility of calling the nation to repentance and permeating it for God’s glory, must represent itself as the true Israel, not only in its proclamation, but also in its symbolism. (Luke–Acts, 728)

God wants us to give first priority and attention to what he has revealed. He had made clear through his words that there were to be twelve apostles (Matt 19:28; Luke 22:30; Rev 21:10,12,14), and the apostles made choices and took action with that directive in mind. God has clarified many things for us in his Word. In the Bible he has instructed us to live holy lives, to participate in and contribute to the life of the church, and to love and serve our spouses and our families. These are clear instructions, and we should do what the Bible says.

Look for God’s Concealed Will through the Lens of God’s Revealed Will

God’s concealed will should be discerned on the basis of his revealed will. God’s words and our place in his unfolding mission should shape our decisions regarding what local churches we join, what homes we purchase, whom we marry, and the kinds of risks we take. Sometimes we may even discover that the question we are seeking to answer isn’t even the right question! So consider these steps in discerning God’s concealed will.

Gather All the Information

Peter supplied qualifications from God’s Word for the replacement apostle (Acts 1:21-22). The eleven apostles then did their homework on potential candidates and put forward only two who met these qualifications: Joseph and Matthias (v. 23). Likewise, in discerning God’s will on specifics, we should be doing our homework, gathering information in order to narrow our options.

Seek God in Prayer

The apostles prayed to the Lord regarding his choice of either Joseph or Matthias. Likewise, after we’ve done our homework, we should pray to the Lord for wisdom about which choice is best. While God has given us minds and the power of reason, his ways and methods are inscrutable. In other words, we should be reminded that the Lord doesn’t see things the way we always see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Sam 16:7). Seek him in prayer.

As You Trust in God’s Sovereignty, Make a Decision, and Go with It

After determining qualifications and praying, “they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias” (v. 26). The practice of casting lots was common within Israel. For instance, God instructed the Israelites to divide land based on casting lots (Num 26:55; 33:54; 34:13; 36:2). This might seem odd at first, but the book of Proverbs says, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord” (Prov 16:33). On this occasion the lot fell to Matthias, and the disciples understood this to be Matthias’s appointment by Christ himself. This, however, is the last scriptural case of casting lots to make a decision. Shortly after the appointment of Matthias, the Holy Spirit came to indwell God’s people. He is the Counselor who helps us make wise decisions.

When we as Christians understand our role in the unfolding drama of redemption, when we have a grasp on God’s revealed will, when we’ve gathered the necessary information in order to narrow our options, when have prayed to the Lord, we should then simply trust God, make a decision, and go with it.

The Father knows if we truly desire to please him with a decision, and if things don’t work out, that doesn’t change his love for us! The cross has already demonstrated his loyal love (Rom 5:8). And he has given us the Holy Spirit to assure his sons and daughters of his love (Rom 8:9-17). Rest in this good news when faced with a stressful decision. Sometimes my kids try to please me with some honorable deed. In so doing they occasionally make an unwise decision, but that doesn’t cancel out my love for them. I’m pleased by their desire to honor me.

If you’re a perfectionist, you will struggle with making decisions. But don’t let anxiety rule you. Learn to trust in the Father’s love and learn to trust the Father’s sovereignty. Do your homework, pray, seek guidance in Christian community, let the mission of God guide your decisions, and then act. Do it for the glory of your Father, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Reflect and Discuss

1. Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ essential to our faith? How does this passage demonstrate the vital importance of the resurrection?
2. Why did the apostolic number of twelve need to be restored? What relevance does this have to our lives?
3. Why was it important that the candidate for apostle be an individual who had accompanied the other apostles “during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us” (1:21-22)?
4. What action or saying in this upper room meeting sticks out in your mind the most, and why?
5. What does Judas’s story teach about the pitfalls of spiritual leadership? How should we pray for and support our leaders?
6. What are some big life decisions you need to make? How will this passage help you make those decisions?
7. How does Peter use the Old Testament in this chapter? What might this tell us about reading and teaching the Old Testament?
8. Explain the difference between “God’s revealed will” and “God’s concealed will.” How should God’s revealed will help us discern his concealed will?
9. How does the Spirit help us to know God’s will? Is it wrong to cast lots (or flip a coin) to determine God’s will? Explain your answer.
10. Why is it important to make decisions as a member of the Christian community rather than in isolation?