Acts 1:16
in Acts 1“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit foretold through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Brethren, it was needful that the scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spake before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to them that took Jesus.
KJV
Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
⋯
This verse in Acts 1
Commentary
14 notes on this verseThe Apostle Peter, therefore, after the resurrection of the Lord, and His assumption into the heavens, being desirous of filling up the number of the twelve apostles, and in electing into the place of Judas any substitute who should be chosen by God, thus addressed those who were present: "Men [and] brethren, this Scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of David, spake before concerning Judas, which was made guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us: ...
This site's exposition
Peter stood up among the brothers
on Acts 1:15-17
Peter stood up among the brothers, about a hundred and twenty, to speak of Judas. He says the Scripture had to be fulfilled, placing the betrayal within what the Holy Spirit foretold through the mouth of David.
This site's exposition
through the mouth of David
Peter credits the psalm to the Holy Spirit speaking through David, which Adam Clarke takes as a strong witness to the inspiration of the Psalms. Oecumenius notes that Peter comforts the disciples with prophecy. Chrysostom remarks that Peter calls Judas a guide and states the fact without heaping scorn.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Peter consoles them with prophecy. Nor does he say: As David said, but the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David. What then were these? Whatever the one hundred and eighth psalm contains: of which he will also make mention after a little bit. Speaking …
the scripture had to be fulfilled: The Apostles bring to fulfillment what David had stated was to be done.
"Men and brethren," he says, "this Scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost spake before." Why did he not ask Christ to give him some one in the room of Judas? It is better as it is. For in the first place, they were engaged in other things; secondly, of Christ's presence with them, the greatest proof that could be given was this: as He had chosen when He was among them, so did He now being absent. Now this was no small matter for their consolation. But observe how Peter does everything with the common consent; nothing imperiously. And he does not speak thus without a meaning. But observe how he consoles them concerning what had passed. In fact, what had happened had caused them no small consternation. For if there are many now who canvass this circumstance, what may we suppose they had to say then? "This Scripture," says he, "must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost spake before." Always he comforts them by the prophecies. So does Christ on all occasions. In the very same way, he shows here that no strange thing had happened, but what had already been foretold. "This Scripture must needs have been fulfilled," he says, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before." He does not say, David, but the Spirit through him. See what kind of doctrine the writer has at the very outset of the book. Do you see, that it was not for nothing that I said in the beginning of this work, that this book is the Polity of the Holy Spirit? "Which the Holy Ghost spake before by the mouth of David." Observe how he appropriates him; and that it is an advantage to them, that this was spoken by David, and not by some other Prophet. Here is forethought for providing a teacher; here was the first who ordained a teacher. He did not say, "We are sufficient." So far was he beyond all vain-glory, and he looked to one thing alone. […]
Accordingly, after one of these had been struck off, He commanded the eleven others, on His departure to the Father, to "go and teach all nations, who were to be baptized into the Father, and into the Son, and into the Holy Ghost." [Matt. 28:19] Immediately, therefore, so did the apostles, whom this designation indicates as "the sent."
Twelve constellations of the [stellar] choir shine and cast the brilliance of Olympus on the earth. Note what realization this light reveals: The world is divided by the regions of its four sides; a triune faith calls this [world to belief], in whose name [the …
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
Brethren, it is necessary to fulfill the Scripture which the Holy Spirit foretold, etc. Peter the Apostle feared to remain in the number eleven. For all sin is 'eleven,' because through perverse actions, it transgresses the precepts of the Decalogue. Hence, because none of our …
"In those days," that is, in the days before Pentecost, "Peter, standing in the midst of the disciples, said," as the fervent disciple and the one to whom Christ entrusted His flock, and, finally, as the first. But pay attention: he does everything with the …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Men and brethren,....
Theophilus is put in mind, and we in him, of St. Luke's gospel, which it will be of use for us to cast an eye upon before we enter upon the study of this book, that we may not only see how this begins where that breaks off, but that, as in water face answers to face, so do the acts of the apostles to the acts of their Master, the acts of his grace.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The Holy Ghost by the mouth of David - Thus is a strong attestation to the Divine inspiration of the book of Psalms. They were dictated by the Holy Spirit, and spoken by the mouth of David.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Men and brethren - This is a customary mode of address, implying affection and respect, Act 13:26. The Syriac renders it more appropriately than by the introduction of the conjunction “and” - “Men, our brethren.” This scripture - This prediction contained in the writings of the Old Testament. Compare the notes on Joh 5:39. The passage to which Peter refers is commonly supposed to be that recorded in Psa 41:9, “Yea, mine own familiar friend ...hath lifted up his heel against me.” This is expressly applied to Judas by our Saviour, in Joh 13:18. But it seems clear that the reference is not to the 41st Psalm, but to the passage in the 69th Psalm which Peter proceeds to quote in Act 1:20. Must needs have been fulfilled - It would certainly be fulfilled. Not that there was any physical necessity or any compulsion; but it could not but occur that a prediction of God would be fulfilled. This makes no affirmation about the freedom of Judas in doing it. A man will be just as free in wickedness if it be foretold that he will be wicked, as if it had never been known to any other being but himself. The Holy Ghost ... - This is a strong attestation to the inspiration of David, and accords with the uniform testimony of the New Testament, that the sacred writers spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, 2Pe 1:21. Concerning Judas - In what respect this was concerning Judas, see Act 1:20. Which was guide ... - Mat 26:47; Joh 18:3.
The words behind it
23 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἄνδρες | andres | Men | G435 → | 216 times |
| ἀδελφοί, | adelphoi | brothers, | G80 → | 343 times |
| ἔδει | edei | it was necessary for | G1163 → | 101 times |
| πληρωθῆναι | plerothenai | to have been fulfilled | G4137 → | 86 times |
| τὴν | ten | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γραφὴν | graphen | Scripture | G1124 → | 49 times |
| ἣν | hen | which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| προεῖπεν | proeipen | foretold | G4302 → | |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πνεῦμα | pneuma | Spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἅγιον | hagion | Holy | G40 → | 220 times |
| διὰ | dia | through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| στόματος | stomatos | [the] mouth | G4750 → | 78 times |
| Δαυὶδ | dauid | of David | G1138 → | 59 times |
| περὶ | peri | concerning | G4012 → | 332 times |
| Ἰούδα | iouda | Judas | G2455 → | 41 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γενομένου | genomenou | having become | G1096 → | 667 times |
| ὁδηγοῦ | hodegou | guide | G3595 → | |
| τοῖς | tois | to those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| συλλαβοῦσιν | sullabousin | having arrested | G4815 → | 16 times |
| Ἰησοῦν· | iesoun | Jesus; | G2424 → | 908 times |
ἄνδρεςMen
andresG435 →216 times
ἀδελφοί,brothers,
adelphoiG80 →343 times
ἔδειit was necessary for
edeiG1163 →101 times
πληρωθῆναιto have been fulfilled
plerothenaiG4137 →86 times
τὴν<the>
tenG3588 →19766 times
γραφὴνScripture
graphenG1124 →49 times
ἣνwhich
henG3739 →1405 times
προεῖπενforetold
proeipenG4302 →
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
πνεῦμαSpirit
pneumaG4151 →378 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
ἅγιονHoly
hagionG40 →220 times
διὰthrough
diaG1223 →664 times
στόματος[the] mouth
stomatosG4750 →78 times
Δαυὶδof David
dauidG1138 →59 times
περὶconcerning
periG4012 →332 times
ἸούδαJudas
ioudaG2455 →41 times
τοῦthe [one]
touG3588 →19766 times
γενομένουhaving become
genomenouG1096 →667 times
ὁδηγοῦguide
hodegouG3595 →
τοῖςto those
toisG3588 →19766 times
συλλαβοῦσινhaving arrested
sullabousinG4815 →16 times
Ἰησοῦν·Jesus;
iesounG2424 →908 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
John 13:18I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: ‘The one who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’
it leads to
- Psalms 41:9
Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
- Psalms 41:9
Through
Acts 1:20“For 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 position.’
it leads to
- Psalms 69:25
May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents.
- Psalms 109:8–15
May his days be few; may another take his position.
- Psalms 69:25
Through
Psalms 41:9Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
it leads to
- Matthew 26:23
Jesus answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me will betray Me.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 13:18
I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: ‘The one who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’
- Psalms 55:12–14
For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.
- John 13:26–27
Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this morsel after I have dipped it.” Then He dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.
- Psalms 55:20–22
My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
- Matthew 26:23
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies16
On this verse
On this chapter
About Acts

Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Arator, ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1; Bede, Commentary on Acts; Epiphanius of Salamis, Commentary (church-history corpus); Irenaeus, Against Heresies (Book III), Chapter 12, Section 1; J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 3; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts; Tertullian, The Prescription Against Heretics, Chapter 20 and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.
