In The Word
Read: Acts 1:12-26
The Upper Room
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
15 At this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said, 16 “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. 19 And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms,
‘Let his homestead be made desolate,
And let no one dwell in it’;
and,
‘Let another man take his office.’
21 Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us— 22 beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” 23 So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen 25 to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
The apostles’ witnessing the ascension of Jesus emboldened them to begin the spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ. Peter began to take an active role as a leader even though he had just rejected Christ in our previous gospel studies (Luke 22:56-62). He did not let past failures stop him from being the man that Jesus had told him he would be (Matthew 16:16-19). This is a different group of men from what we read in Luke 24:37-38, this group of men are now ready to preach the Word of God. It’s a great witness to what Jesus did in His forty days after the resurrection in that, if these men had not seen Jesus after His death, would they have just gone back to their former lives?
After their instructions from Jesus, their first order of business was replacing Judas and bringing their number back to the original number of twelve. Though the apostles made the choice by casting lots, today we should make choices by seeking the will of God through prayer and His Word. I can’t begin to number the times that God has answered a problem or helped me make a tough decision through his Word. Imagine trying to explain to someone that an important choice you had to make came down to heads or tails! It should be noted that the casting of lots is not mentioned again in the New Testament as a means of making decisions. You have the Holy Spirit, and He’s eager to share with you the Father’s will; that’s why He’s inside you. Listen to Him and make wise decisions!