Acts 1:23 NLT,NIV,ESV

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:21-26

First signs of order in the early Church. In introducing this subject, notice may be taken of the idea that the apostolic body must number twelve. It was a purely Jewish conception, based on the fact that the tribes composing the nation were twelve. But it was a notion suited to the formality of the age, which made so much of numbers, and washings, and ordinances, and ceremonies. It does not appear that our Lord made any sacredness attach to the number; nor did he, after his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:23

Put forward for appointed, A.V.; Barsabbas for Barsabas , A.V. and T.R. Joseph called Barsabbas (or Barsabas). Nothing more is really known of him. His work for Christ has no earthly record, except that Papias (Euseb., 'H.E.,' 3.39) says that, having drunk some deadly poison, by the grace of God he sustained no harm. Eusebius elsewhere ( Acts 1:12 ) says that he and Matthias were reported to be of the seventy, which is not improbable. The derivation of the name Barsabas, or... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 1:23

And they appointed two - They proposed, or, as we should say, nominated two. Literally, they placed two, or made them to stand forth, as persons do who are candidates for office. These two were probably-more distinguished by prudence, wisdom, piety, and age than the others, and they were so nearly equal in qualifications that they could not determine which was the best suited for the office.Joseph called Barsabas ... - It is not certainly known what the name Barsabas denotes. The Syriac word... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 1:21-23

Acts 1:21-23. Wherefore of these men which have companied with us Who have associated and conversed intimately with us, and attended all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out, &c. That is, exercised his ministry among us, and presided over us, and so can testify of all he did and said; beginning from the baptism of John When he first entered on his ministry; unto that same day that he was taken up Into heaven; must one be ordained to be a witness To make up the number... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 1:12-26

A replacement for Judas (1:12-26)After Jesus’ departure, the apostles returned to Jerusalem, where they met and prayed with various people, among them Jesus’ mother and brothers. During the time of Jesus’ ministry, his brothers had not believed in him as the Son of God, but the resurrection must have turned them to true faith (12-14; cf. John 7:5; 1 Corinthians 15:7; 1 Corinthians 15:7).Soon after, the apostles met with just over a hundred other Christians in Jerusalem to choose an apostle to... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 1:23

appointed = put forward, or nominated. Barsabas. Texts read Barsabbas. App-94 .:11. Compare Acts 15:22 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 1:23

And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.They put forward ... Who did the putting forward? Is it to be supposed that the 120 disciples mentioned a little later did this? There is no evidence whatever that such a group had been disciples from the beginning of John's baptism; and thus it is not reasonable to suppose that anyone participated in the selection of Justus and Matthias except the apostles. Furthermore, there is a strong inference in this... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 1:23

Acts 1:23. Joseph called Barsabas, &c.— That this Joseph was a different person from Joses, surnamed Barnabas, mentioned ch. Act 4:36 will appear more than probable, when it has been considered, first, that the character of Barnabas is given chap. 4: as if he had no where been mentioned before: secondly, this Joseph was surnamed Justus; but we nowhere find that Barnabas was so named, read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 1:23

23. they appointed—"put up" in nomination; meaning not the Eleven but the whole company, of whom Peter was the spokesman. two—The choice would lie between a very few. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 1:1-47

A. The founding of the church 1:1-2:47In his account of the founding of the Christian church Luke gave background information that ties Jesus’ giving of the Great Commission to the day of Pentecost. He showed how Jesus enabled His disciples to obey His command to evangelize the nations. read more