Acts 1:24

24 Then they prayed, "You, Lord, know the hearts of all; show which of these two You have chosen

Acts 1:24 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 1:24

And they prayed and said
Having proposed the above two persons, and not well knowing which to pitch upon, they being both very agreeable and fit for such service; they chose not to determine the affair without seeking to God for direction; a method to be taken in all cases, and especially in matters of importance: and the substance of their petition, though perhaps not in just the same words, was,

thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men;
which is a character peculiar to the one only living, and true God; for none knows the hearts of men, but God, who is the Maker of them; and he knows all the thoughts, counsels, and purposes of them, and the good or bad that is in them:

shew whether of these two thou hast chosen;
being desirous of having their choice directed by the choice God had made, in his eternal mind; and which they desired might be signified and pointed out to them, in some way or another, that they might be certain of the mind and will of God, and act according to it.

Acts 1:24 In-Context

22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day He was taken up from us-from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of His resurrection."

23 So they proposed two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.

24 Then they prayed, "You, Lord, know the hearts of all; show which of these two You have chosen

25 to take the place in this apostolic service that Judas left to go to his own place."

26 Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was numbered with the 11 apostles.