Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 1:17
For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
17. For he was numbered with [ among ] us, and had obtained part of this ministry ] Literally, had received the lot of, &c. Judas fulfils the conditions of the prophecy (Psa 109:2-5). His was the mouth of the deceitful, the lying tongue, the groundless enmity, the requital of evil for good. But though numbered among the twelve that was not his true place.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
He was numbered with us – He was chosen as an apostle by the Lord Jesus, Luk 6:13-16. This does not mean that he was a true Christian, but that he was reckoned among the apostles. Long before he betrayed him, Jesus declared that he was a devil, Joh 6:70. He knew his whole character when he chose him, Joh 2:25. If it be asked why he chose such a man to be an apostle; why he was made the treasurer of the apostles, and was admitted to the fullest confidence; we may reply, that a most important object was gained in having such a man – a spy – among them. It might be pretended, when the apostles bore testimony to the purity of life, of doctrine, and of purpose of the Lord Jesus, that they were interested and partial friends; that they might be disposed to suppress some of his real sentiments, and represent him in a light more favorable than the truth. Hence, the testimony of such a man as Judas, if favorable, must be invaluable.
It would be free from the charge of partiality. If Judas knew anything unfavorable to the character of Jesus, he would have communicated it to the Sanhedrin. If he knew of any secret plot against the government, or seditious purpose, he had every inducement to declare it. He had every opportunity to know it; he was with him; heard him converse; was a member of his family, and admitted to terms of familiarity. Yet even Judas could not be bought or bribed, to testify against the moral character of the Saviour. If he had done it, or could have done it, it would have preserved him from the charge of treason; would have entitled him to the reputation of a public benefactor in discovering secret sedition; and would have saved him from the pangs of remorse, and from self-murder. Judas would have done it if he could. But he alleged no such charge; he did not even dare to lisp a word against the pure designs of the Lord Jesus; and his own reproofs of conscience Mat 27:4, and his voluntary death Mat 27:5, furnish the highest proof that can be desired of his conviction that the betrayed Redeemer was innocent.
Judas would have been just the witness which the Jews desired of the treasonable purposes of Jesus. But that could not be procured, even by gold; and they wore compelled to suborn other men to testify against the Son of God, Mat 26:60. We may add here, that the introduction of such a character as that of Judas Iscariot into the number of the apostles, and the use to be made of his testimony, would never have occurred to the author of a forged book. He would have said that they were all the true friends of the Lord Jesus. To have invented such a character as that of Judas, and to make him perform such a part in the plan as the sacred writers do, would have required too much art and cunning – was too refined and subtle a device, to have been thought of unless it had actually occurred.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 17. Obtained part of this ministry.] , He obtained the lot of this ministry-not that he or any of the twelve apostles, was chosen to this ministry by lot, but as lot signifies the portion a man has in life, what comes to him in the course of the Divine providence, or as an especial gift of God’s goodness, it is used here, as in many other parts of the sacred writings, to signify office or station. On this subject the reader is referred to on Le 16:8, Le 16:9 (note); Jos 14:2 (note): see also Ac 1:26 (note).
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Numbered with us; being one of the twelve apostles.
Had obtained, elace; not as if Judas was made an apostle by lot, as Matthias afterwards; but by the providence of God, by which every lot and casual matter is governed: and to show that the dignity did not befall him, or any of the other apostles, because of their descent, (from Aaron), or from nature, or from any desert whatsoever, but merely from Gods good will and pleasure.
Part of this ministry; then the apostles office is ministerial, and they were not lords over Gods heritage.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
For he was numbered with us,…. He was chosen an apostle with: the rest, and was ordained into that office when they were, and was always reckoned one of the twelve, and stands in the catalogue when they are mentioned:
and had obtained part of this ministry; by lot, as the word signifies; the providence of God so ordering it, according to his eternal purpose and decree, that he was not only called an apostle, and enrolled among them, but he really had a part in that ministry; he preached, and baptized, and wrought miracles; and besides all this, carried the bag, was the treasurer, and a sort of a steward in Christ’s family, and provided for it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Was numbered ( ). Periphrastic past perfect passive indicative of , old verb, but here only in the N.T. (perfective use of ).
Received his portion ( ). Second aorist active indicative of , old verb, to obtain by lot as in Luke 1:9; John 19:24, especially by divine appointment as here and 2Pe 2:1. also means lot, an object used in casting lots (Ac 1:26), or what is obtained by lot as here and 8:21, of eternal salvation (Acts 26:18; Col 1:12), of persons chosen by divine appointment (1Pe 5:3). From this latter usage the Latin cleros, clericus, our clergy, one chosen by divine lot. So Peter says that Judas “obtained by lot the lot of this ministry” () which he had when he betrayed Jesus. The Master chose him and gave him his opportunity.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Numbered [] . Only here in New Testament.
With [] . The best texts read ejn, among. So Rev.
Obtained [] . Strictly, “received by lot.” Rev., better, received. Compare Luk 1:9. In classical Greek, of receiving public magistracies. Part [ ] . The A. V. does not give the force of the article, the lot which was his. So Rev., “his portion :” lit., lot..
Ministry. See on minister, Mt 20:26. Compare bishopric, ver. 20.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “For he was numbered with us,” (hoti katerithmemenos hen en hemin) “Because he was having been numbered, counted or calculated among us,” as one of us, both as one of the church brethren and one of the twelve Apostles, who had been chosen of the Lord and companied with the church from John’s baptism and from our Lord’s early ministry in Galilee, Act 1:21-22; He even ate with the Lord to the end, Mat 26:21-25.
2) “And had obtained part of this ministry,” (kai elachen ton kleron tes diakonias tautes) “And he had attained, obtained, or received the portion (one twelfth) or one of twelve portions of this common apostolic ministry; One office of which ministry had been vacated in his death, Luk 6:12-16.
His was a fake and false profession which he impulsively and covetously chose for himself even to the betrayal of our Lord for the thirty pieces of silver and his own self-willed suicide, Mat 26:14-16.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
17. Adopted. It is word for word reckoned. And he saith that he was one of the number, that he might signify unto them that it was needful that the empty place should be filled, to the end that the number might continue whole. And to this propose serveth that which followeth, that he had obtained a part in the ministry. For thereupon it doth follow that the body should be, as it were, lame, if that part should be wanting. Surely it was a thing which might make them greatly amazed, that he whom Christ had extolled unto so high dignity should fall headlong into such destruction. Which circumstance doth increase the cruelty of the fact, (60) and teacheth the rest to take heed unto themselves. (61) Neither is it to be doubted but that the disciples did remember Judas with great grief and sorrow. But Peter doth here express by name the excellency of his function, that he might make them more attentive and more careful to provide a remedy.
(60) “ Atrocitatem sceleris,” the atrocity of the crime.
(61) “ Ut sibi caveant et metuani,” to be cautious and fear.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(17) For he was numbered with us.Literally, he had been numbered.
Had obtained part of this ministry.Better, the portion, or inheritance. The Greek has the article, and the noun (cleros) is one which afterwards acquired a special half-technical sense in the words, clerus, clericus, clerk, clergy. In 1Pe. 5:3, as being lords over the heritage, we find it in a transition sense. (See Note on Act. 1:25.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. Numbered Chosen, counted and registered as one of the sacred twelve.
Obtained part Rather, received lot. Intimating that the apostolic office was no mere human choice, but a divine allotment.
17. ] , not ‘ although ’ (Kuinoel), but because : it gives the reason of the previous assertion, viz. that Judas held, and had betrayed, that place of high trust of which the prophecy spoke. Thus the has reference to the substance of the prophecy , already in Peter’s mind, and serves to explain and .
] not literally, but inasmuch as the lot of every man is regarded as being cast and appointed by God.
, first, the lot itself; then, that apportioned by lot ; then, any species of apportionment , whether possession , or office , as here.
Act 1:17 . . . . For the construction see Act 1:10 . introduces the ground upon which the Scripture to be cited, which speaks of the vacancy in the Apostolic office, found its fulfilment in Judas; “he was numbered,” “triste est numerari non manere,” Bengel. : lit [106] , “and obtained by lot the lot”: , a lot, that which is assigned by lot, the portion or share so assigned; so amongst the Greeks, and somewhat similarly in English, cf. in LXX Wis 2:9 ; Wis 5:5 , Sir 25:19 . The word is used elsewhere in Acts three times, Act 1:26 , Act 8:21 , Act 26:18 ; cf. with the last passage its use by St. Paul elsewhere, Col 1:12 . Here the word no doubt may be used by St. Peter with reference to the actual selection by lot which was about to follow. The same word is used elsewhere by the same Apostle, 1Pe 5:3 , “neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you,” . Tyndale and Cranmer render the word here “parishes,” which really gives a good interpretation of it = the “lots” assigned to the elders as their portions in God’s heritage; and so we have by an easy transition clerici = clergy, those to whom such “lots” are assigned: Humphry, Commentary on R. V. , p. 446, Lightfoot, Philippians , p. 246 ff. : here and in 2Pe 1:1 with an accusative, as in classical Greek, “received his portion” R.V. On the construction of the verb with the genitive, cf. Blass, Grammatik des N. G. , pp. 100, 230, and Plummer’s St. Luke , p. 11; with Luk 1:9 , cf. 1Sa 14:47 . In classical Greek it is used as the opposite of , to be elected , more commonly with the infinitive. : “Apostleship the highest form of ministration is repeatedly designated thus,” Hort, Ecclesia , p. 204, e.g. , Act 1:25 , Act 20:24 , Act 21:19 , 2Co 4:1 ; 2Co 5:18 ; 2Co 6:3 , Rom 11:13 , and see further on the word, chap. 6. below. It would be difficult to find in such a general term, or in any part of the speech, any reference to a hierarchical constitution of the Church (Zeller, Overbeck). Jngst cannot derive any such view from this verse, although he sees in the description of as , Act 1:25 , the mark of a later period than that of the delivery of the speech (so too Wendt).
[106] literal, literally.
numbered. Greek. katarithmeo. Only here.
with. Greek. sun, as in Act 1:14, but the texts read en, among.
had. Omit.
part = the lot. Greek. kleros. Five times in the Gospels, of the lots cast for the Lord’s garments.
ministry. Greek. diakonia. App-190.
17.] , not although (Kuinoel), but because: it gives the reason of the previous assertion, viz. that Judas held, and had betrayed, that place of high trust of which the prophecy spoke. Thus the has reference to the substance of the prophecy, already in Peters mind, and serves to explain and .
] not literally, but inasmuch as the lot of every man is regarded as being cast and appointed by God.
, first, the lot itself; then, that apportioned by lot; then, any species of apportionment, whether possession, or office, as here.
Act 1:17. , because) This expresses the reason for which Judas is here mentioned, because he had held an office.-, numbered with us) It is sad to be numbered, and yet not continue.-, [part] the allotment) Lot or allotment is said of whatever falls to the share of one without any exertion on his part.- , the ministry) So most frequently, in this and the following books, the ministry of the New Testament is termed: but in the Old Testament the LXX. translators for the most part use for , to attend on the service of the sanctuary; an expression which of itself conveys to the mind the idea of something rather magnificent: whereas the apostles followed (adopted) an easy humility.[6]-, of this) viz. our.
[6] Expeditam humilitatem, a lowliness unencumbered by the state and magnificence which marked the Aaronic priesthood.-E. and T.
he: Mat 10:4, Mar 3:19, Luk 6:16, Luk 22:47, Joh 6:70, Joh 6:71, Joh 17:12
this: Act 1:25, Act 12:25, Act 20:24, Act 21:19, 2Co 4:1, 2Co 5:18, Eph 4:11, Eph 4:12
Reciprocal: Hab 2:9 – that coveteth an evil covetousness Joh 13:21 – one Act 26:16 – a minister Col 1:23 – whereof Col 4:17 – the ministry
7. This means that Judas had been included among the apostles. The verse also indicates that the purpose of the present session was to secure a man to become an apostle in the place of Judas.
See notes on verse 15
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)