Tune: Ratisbon
('Christ whose glory fills the skies')
Acts 1 v.21-26
**********
A replacement for Judas
Must be found to be with us
To be of the company
Of the twelve Apostles, see
So said Peter, he must be
One who follows faithfully
He must be one who has stayed
With us always, watched and prayed
All the time our Lord Jesus
Was in person among us
Since days of John's baptising
Unto Jesus' ascending
He will too be a witness
Of Christ's resurrection, this
Shall be so, then proposed they
Two men to choose from that day
Joseph also called Justus
The other one Matthias
They prayed, Lord, which knowest all
Hearts, to you we pray, we call
Show which of these two men you
Have chosen to replace true
Judas, who fell from his place
Now his path we no more trace
They gave their lots*, their votes there
And Matthias he did share
In the ministry and he
Numbered among the twelve be
But a place for Joseph too
And God's blessings not a few
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* The 'lots' may sound like a 'lucky dip',
but it may mean 'votes'.
-
Author:
orchidee (
Offline) - Published: May 14th, 2026 11:15
- Comment from author about the poem: A hymn-poem in 7.7.7.7.7.7. for St Matthias Day - May 14 - this year also Ascension Day.
- Category: Spiritual
- Views: 7
- Users favorite of this poem: Tristan Robert Lange

Offline)
Comments3
My friend, I really liked the inclusion of the “lots” note at the end. It adds a thoughtful little historical touch…though I now picture Popeye insisting he lost the vote due to “anti-glug bias” among the apostles. It never really ends, does it? Oh...got to go for now and stop him from singing in the key of glug...I hear him glugging up as I type! 😂🖤🙏
Thank you T. yes, an apocryphal version says a Mr P. Solus was in fact the replacement Apostle, and all 12 of them then enjoyed plenty of spinach lunches - and breakfasts, dinners, tea-times,....... lol.
A write that does not sound like a hymn this time Orchi. Maybe it's the topic. Well done though
Thank you SB. Yes, could be more by way of a commentary or historical explanation.
Most welcome Orchi
Perfect account (names changed to protect the guilty) of our management committee's actions as we underwent a minor crisis and had to find a replacement for a disgraced member in order to maintain a quorum.
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