to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.”
Parallel translations
- KJV That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
- BSB to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.”
- NKJV to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.”
- NASB to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”
- NLT as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They ask God to show who should take the ministry and apostleship Judas abandoned. It frames the office as a stewardship to be filled faithfully.
Overview
Judas 'fell away' to 'his own place,' a sober reference to his deserved end. The vacant apostleship is a sacred trust that must be restored. The community seeks God's appointment so the witness of the Twelve may continue intact.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 1 Cor 9:2If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
- Rom 1:5through whom we received grace and apostleship, for obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name’s sake;
- John 17:12While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. Those whom you have given me I have kept. None of them is lost, except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
- John 6:70–71Jesus answered them, “Didn’t I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”
- Acts 1:16–21“Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus.
- Gal 2:8(for he who appointed Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision appointed me also to the Gentiles);
- 1 Chr 10:13–14So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against Yahweh, because of Yahweh’s word, which he didn’t keep; and also because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit, to inquire,
- Jude 1:6–7Angels who didn’t keep their first domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, he has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.
- Matt 25:46These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
- Ps 109:7When he is judged, let him come out guilty. Let his prayer be turned into sin.
- Matt 26:24The Son of Man goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.”
- Matt 25:41Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;
- Matt 27:3–5Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, felt remorse, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
- 2 Pet 2:3–6In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old doesn’t linger, and their destruction will not slumber.
- John 13:27After the piece of bread, then Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 1:25 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.