Every good story contains lots of drama and action. The story we are about to study has it all: ship wrecks, riots, chases, miracles, prison breaks, magic, the supernatural, snakes on a plain, courtroom drama, powerful preaching and debating, strong bonds made and broken, and lives changed. The great thing about the book of Acts is that it’s all true!
Acts was written by Dr. Luke, the same man who penned the gospel of Luke. Acts is like Luke, the Sequel. It was part two of his book series. I love Luke because he writes like a reporter or a historian. And he writes this book, not for a Jewish audience, but for us Gentiles. Luke probably wrote Acts around 63 or so A.D., prior to the destruction of Jerusalem. Let’s take a quick look at Luke 24:44-53 to set the stage.
I love Acts because it is a “rubber meets the road” kind of book. It is about ordinary people called to do extraordinary things and empowered to do so by divine intervention through their everyday lives. It’s not about kings and officials (though they are bit players in this drama) but about you and me kind of people.
So why did Luke write Acts? Let’s go back to Luke 1 for that:
Luke 1:1-4 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
We don’t know who Theophilus is, but his name means “god lover” which is really cool. Many may have “undertaken” to write a narrative, but only 4 made into the Bible, and Luke is one of them, along with Acts. He takes his material from eye witness accounts. He isn’t just jotting down notes but writing “an orderly account.” The purpose? To create a certainty of the things of Jesus Christ.
Another way of looking at Acts is to break it up into two sections. Section 1, from chapter 1 through 12 are the Acts of Peter, chapter 13 – 28 are the Acts of Paul. The book is called The Acts of the Apostles, but really could be called The Acts of the Holy Spirit. It should give us garden variety Christians hope that given a heart that is willing, we too can be used to further God’s kingdom.
1 – 3
What Jesus “began to do” is now going to continue to be done by the Apostles and us. We must see ourselves as a continuation of the ministry of Jesus on earth.
It all starts with the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. After the resurrection Jesus showed by “demonstrated, decisive evidence” (“many proofs”) that it was He and He was alive with a new kind of life and a new kingdom, one not of this world or this age but of God and the age to come, which we can experience right now in fellowship with the Lord.
4 – 5
Here we have Jesus’ instructions while “staying” or “eating” with his disciples. They were to stay in Jerusalem and wait for a baptism like no other. Jesus referred back to Luke 24:49 and John 14:16. He had told them this was coming. It wasn’t a preparation for salvation like John’s baptism with water; it was preparation for service by a purifying and empowering work of one Being taking up permanent residence in another. This empowering and purifying work was foretold in many places (Is 44:3, Jer 31:31, Ezek 36:26, Is 32:15, Is 4:4, Malachi 3:2).
Jesus said it would be “not many days”. Waiting on God sometimes comes without a deadline. Too often, we act before waiting long enough. Not that we always wait for tongues of fire and a mighty wind, but we wait for the urging and direction of the Spirit speaking in our hearts!
6 – 11
The disciples, bless their hearts, still don’t get it. The prevailing wisdom was that the Messiah would throw off the Roman yoke and restore physical Israel to freedom and world prominence once again. It is not a physical kingdom but a spiritual one—that is it is a kingdom of another dimension and doesn’t involve the political machinations of this age. It is real. However, Israel will be restored at Jesus’ next coming.
But notice that Jesus says “you don’t need to know all the big picture stuff now.” Instead of wanting to get a handle on the whole, Jesus focuses them back on their part of that whole. Isn’t that good advice? We want to know the “why” of everything God is doing instead of just focusing on our small picture for today. Jesus’ kingdom on earth would come, but not now.
What they needed to know, and what we need to know is that 1) I am providing the means for you to accomplish your part, and that 2) it involves being a “witness” of the things they have seen to an ever-widening audience.
So as Jesus is telling them this, He starts going up and disappears into the clouds. I wonder if the disciples were thinking He was going to come right back down or if they were simply trying to figure out where He went. Luke 24 tells us that they were worshipping Him. It takes a couple of angels to bring them back to reality and tell them that Jesus would come back in this same way. He will. Jesus will return in the clouds and touch back down on the Mt of Olives to set up an earthly kingdom. (See Zech 14:4, Matt 26:64). For now they were to go and wait.
12 – 14
The remaining disciples join together with Jesus’ family to spend time praying. They realized the gravity of what Jesus was telling them, but had no idea of what it was going to be really like. This is a good word for us as well. We might have a general idea of God’s direction but we should always seek the face of the Lord to prepare us for unknown battles and opportunities to come.
15 – 20
The group left after the crucifixion numbered only about 120. By modern standards, this might not be considered a “successful” church. Jesus isn’t interested in raising numbers but in raising apprentices.
This is cool because we see Peter begin to step into what Jesus told him to do in John 21: “tend my sheep.” Peter is beginning to remember now that Jesus predicted Judas’ betrayal, and that David too had prophesied it in Psalms 69 and 109. Just because someone is close to the truth doesn’t mean that they embrace it. Judas experienced all the teachings, saw the miracles, touched the Savior, but ended up choosing to go another way and was unrepentant to the end.
Luke records that he fell headlong into a field. Matthew tells us that he hung himself. Augustine suggested that after hanging himself the rope broke and Judas fell.
Now came the time to choose a replacement so that there would be 12 apostles, representative of the 12 tribes, but a believing remnant. In Revelation we see the 12 tribes and the 12 apostles together as God eventually brings Israel to faith. (Revelation 11:16 – 24 elders, then Rev 21 – 12 gates of New Jerusalem for 12 tribes, 12 foundations of the city for the 12 apostles).
21 – 26
Peter first sets a Biblical context and authority for the decision, then sets some criteria—mainly that the person have the continuity of witnessing the entire ministry of Jesus. The disciples put forth two names, neither of which we know anything about.
They prayed, and then cast lots, which seems a little strange. Proverbs 16:33 suggests something similar—basically they would put names on a rock and put them into a container, then like Yahtzee they would shake the container and the first rock to come out would be the answer.
So what gives with this? Two problems come up with what happened here. One is the use of lots to choose an apostle. While it does remind us of the Urim and Thummim of the Old Testament, this was not that. But in this short period of time between Jesus’ resurrection/ascension and the giving of the Holy Spirit, this could represent a transition from Old to New. Once the Holy Spirit comes this isn’t needed anymore because “he will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13).
The second problem is with the choice. Matthias is never heard from again, but another man comes along whose ministry reverberates strongly to this day. That person, of course, is the Apostle Paul.
Some argue that Paul is the 12th Apostle. But Paul may be a special case. Yes, he is an Apostle, with equal authority as the others, but he was not there during Jesus ministry. Even he considers himself different in some ways:
1 Corinthians 15:7-9 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
In 1 Corinthians 4:9 Paul equates himself as “us” apostles. In Galatians 1:17 he says others were called as apostles before him. Then in 1 Thessalonians 3:6 he identifies himself again as an apostle.
I think that it is reasonable to assume that more than the 12 were apostles (like Silas, and Timothy) but just because we don’t hear about Matthias again directly does not mean he was not one of the 12. We don’t hear about any of the other original disciples again either, except for Peter James and John.
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Lessons
How is Acts 1 relevant to us as Christians?
1. He gives us understanding into the Scriptures (It starts & ends with His Word) Luke 24:45
2. He uses us for His plan, we don’t use Him for ours (“you were bought with a price” 1 Corinthians 7:23) 1:7
3. He stretches us beyond our comfort zone 1:8
4. He makes us wait for His abilities 1:4
5. He challenges us to think Biblically and act prayerfully as we move out 15-26
Acts 1 (ESV)
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1:1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 And while staying [1] with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with [2] the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
The Ascension
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, 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 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. [3]
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong [4] he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
“‘May his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one to dwell in it’;
and
“‘Let another take his office.’
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (ESV)
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