God Speaks
In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. 3 During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.
4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. 13 When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying.
Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James). 14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
15 During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. 16 “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. 17 Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.”
18 (Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst there, his body split open, spilling out all his intestines. 19 The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means “Field of Blood.”)
20 Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’
21 “So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus— 22 from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”
23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen 25 as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: The book of Acts was written to inform Theophilus (who may or may not be a real person) about what happened among Jesus’s followers after He ascended to heaven. They were to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came and remained on them. Then, they would be able to go from there to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth as witnesses for the Kingdom of God. After He ascended, two angels assured them that He would return. The remaining eleven were part of a group of about 120 people who met together and were constantly united in prayer. At that time Peter exhorted from the scriptures that they should choose a person to take the place of Judas, which they did. First, they listed the qualifications, narrowed the field to two men, prayed (verses 24 and 25), and then they cast lots. This may seem strange to us who are used to casting votes, but it does eliminate personal opinions, preferences, personalities, and pressures: it leaves the choice up to God. All we have to do is accept the results as they did.
Prayer: Dear LORD God, thank You for Luke writing this account so that we can study how the church (the kingdom of God) developed after Jesus’s resurrection and ascension. Lord Jesus, may I and other believers so love You in word and deed that we earn the nickname Theophilus–God-lover. Thank You, Jesus, for meeting with and instructing Your followers for those first forty days after Your resurrection. May we carry on the work and teachings You started while we earnestly anticipate Your return. May I not plunge ahead in my own strength but wait on Your Holy Spirit’s empowerment and direction. May we grieve over the bad decisions of ungodly leaders but look to You for who should take their place. May we do this in an environment of corporate prayer. Show us Your choice for all positions, especially of those of leadership. Father, help us to serve You faithfully even when we know that some among us may have wrong motives, like Jesus did with Judas. I pray this in the name of Jesus the Christ. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will look for specific ways to show my love for God by obeying Him and loving His other children. Then, I will do them with the assistance of the Holy Spirit.
- I will show my love for God by reading and studying His loving instructions–the Bible.
- I will cooperate with others in spreading the good news of the kingdom of God locally, provincially, nationally, and to the ends of the earth.
- I will set my own opinions aside and seek to follow God’s direction in a particular situation within my community.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.