Acts 1:26 (ASV)

Passage

And they gave lots for them; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Nearby Context

Acts 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show of these two the one whom thou hast chosen,

Acts 1:25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.

Acts 1:26 And they gave lots for them; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "gave", "lots", "fell", "upon", "matthias", "numbered", "eleven", and "apostles". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "gave" and "lots", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "to take the place in this ministry...", giving immediate footing for "gave" and "lots". In Acts context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "gave" and "lots" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.