“with Him” — They were chosen to be “with” Him (Mark 3:14). This process of “choosing” was later used by the disciples (Acts 1:21,22) with questionable success, since this is the one and only time Matthias is mentioned in the Bible. Did they choose the correct replacement for Judas or was it supposed to be Paul, as seems to be the case since God raised him up to be the apostle to the Gentiles? Peter used human logic in making their decision to choose Matthias. He reasoned that since the scriptures foretold that Judas would be replaced by another that they should do the choosing by picking 2 men who had been with Jesus, praying for God to help them choose the right man from the two, and then drawing lots for the choice (Acts 1:15-26). The problem here is that Peter chose the method by which God would choose the replacement and Peter and the disciples limited God’s choice to their choice and their timing when God may have had another man in view whom He would choose at a later time. They should have asked God and He would have instructed them who He wanted as He did in (Acts 13:2). Do you ever limit God’s choices of methods or timing by imposing your will upon Him?

Mark 3:14  He appointed twelve—designating them apostles— that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach

Acts 1:21-22  Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,  beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

Acts 1:15-26  In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)  and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus—  he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”  (With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out.  Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)  “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his place be deserted; let there be no-one to dwell in it,’ and, “‘May another take his place of leadership.’  Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,  beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”  So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.  Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen  to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”  Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Acts 13:2  While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Jesus immediately followed His statement that the Holy Spirit would testify about Him with a declaration that the disciples must also testify about Him. Their testimony is linked very closely with that of the Spirit (Acts 4:33). They are testifying about the same Christ and the same salvation, and yet it is their witness and not the Spirit’s. Though the Spirit will testify, the disciples must also testify. They cannot leave it all to the Spirit. We have the same responsibility. The Spirit’s testimony will not supersede our testimony, but instead will enable and empower it.

Acts 4:33  With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.

“from the beginning” = Note that a witness can only speak of what he knows. We can only witness to Christ if we know him and His salvation. Matthew Henry says, “Those speak best of the things of God that speak experimentally.” Intimacy with Jesus is critical to our being able to witness. If we don’t know him, how can we tell others about Him?

A witness is often found in a court proceeding. Although the disciples seemed quite clueless at times, fled at the arrest of Jesus (Mark 14:50) and did not appear as witnesses on His behalf at His trials before the Sanhedrin or Pilate, after the Spirit was poured out upon them, they became extremely bold and powerful witnesses for Christ (Acts 3:12-16; 5:25-32). What changed these men from “dwarfs into giants in six weeks?”  (Maclaren) It was the Spirit of God Who empowered and enabled them to be the witnesses Jesus wanted them to be (Acts 1:8). That same Holy Spirit lives within us and is just as available to help us as He was available to help the disciples 2,000 years ago.

Mark 14:50  Then everyone deserted him and fled.

Acts 3:12-16  When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?  The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.  You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.  You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.  By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

Acts 5:25-32  Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.”  At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.  Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.  “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”  Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!  The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.  God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.  We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Acts 1:8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

God has called us to be witnesses to those who don’t know Him. For us to effectively do that, we need two things. First we need to know Him since we can’t tell others about Someone we don’t know, and the more we know Him, the better. Second, we need the right words to say and the wisdom to know the right time to say them. We also need those words to powerfully impact those who hear them. How we know and do this is by the Holy Spirit Whom God has given to us. We need His direction, His wisdom, and His power so we must seek Him and listen to what He says.