22 Starting from the baptism of John till he went up from us, one will have to be a witness with us of his coming back from death. 23 And they made selection of two, Joseph, named Barsabbas, whose other name was Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they made prayers and said, Lord, having knowledge of the hearts of all men, make clear which of these two has been marked out by you, 25 To take that position as a servant and Apostle, from which Judas by his sin was shut out, so that he might go to his place. 26 And they put it to the decision of chance, and the decision was given for Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 1:22-43
Commentary on Acts 1:15-26
(Read Acts 1:15-26)
The great thing the apostles were to attest to the world, was, Christ's resurrection; for that was the great proof of his being the Messiah, and the foundation of our hope in him. The apostles were ordained, not to wordly dignity and dominion, but to preach Christ, and the power of his resurrection. An appeal was made to God; "Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men," which we do not; and better than they know their own. It is fit that God should choose his own servants; and so far as he, by the disposals of his providence, or the gifts of his Spirit, shows whom he was chosen, or what he has chosen for us, we ought to fall in with his will. Let us own his hand in the determining everything which befalls us, especially in those by which any trust may be committed to us.