Daily Thoughts from Acts: New Energy (Acts 1:12-26)

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 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. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “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. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 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.)  “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.’

So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 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.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.  (Acts 1:12-26 ESV)

In obedience to Jesus the apostles and other disciples, including now Jesus’ mother and his brothers, are staying in Jerusalem and staying in prayer and unity of purpose, waiting for the coming of the Spirit.  But they are not inactive.

Peter acknowledges the intent of the Scriptures as they related to Messiah (Jesus had taught them, Luke 24:44-47), and Psalm 69 records David’s betrayal by one who held office under him and his desire of the Lord that this former friend’s overseership be lost to him and another take his office.  If the king of Israel, who is a prefigurement of the Messiah, experiences such a betrayal, the Messiah must also, and of course that is what happened in the person of Judas Iscariot.

Determining that Judas’ replacement should be someone who was with Jesus from his baptism to his ascension, someone who could testify to all the events of Jesus’ ministry, there are then only two men among them who meet those qualifications.  Two equally good choices can be separated by casting lots, a process God says in Proverbs 16:33 gives His decision, and the lot falls to Matthias.

Now the apostles are numbered at 12 again, corresponding to Jesus’ original purpose as a representation of the new 12 tribes of Israel.  Others who are later called apostles are not equal to these in terms of experiencing the life and ministry of Jesus but are either called such in general terms, those who are sent by God to do His purpose, or, in the case of Paul, shown to be of equal authority because of Jesus’ direct choice of them to serve His church.

So Luke is cuing us in that these one-time scared rabbit, nonplussed followers of Jesus have a new impetus and energy to follow their Master and are preparing themselves to represent this unequaled Rabbi and Leader to the rest of the world, whether in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria or elsewhere.  In obedience they are waiting in Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus commanded them.

Have you lost this energy?  Did you have it at one time but now the disappointments, doubts and discouragements have pushed your love for Jesus out to some peripheral place in your heart?  Come back.  See Jesus again.  See what he is doing through his church, through failed and failing Christians, despite hypocritical behavior, political infighting, even out and out disobedience.  If you see what is wrong you also know what is right.  Do what is right.  You are witness to all Jesus has done, indeed to his resurrection.  We can’t stay silent.