THE
BOOK OF ACTS
God
Establishes His Church in the World
It Is
Necessary to Have Qualified Leadership
Acts
1:12-26
Jerry
A Collins
SCC
1/19/03
Ÿ
Why is it necessary to choose another
apostle?
Ÿ
What role did Judas play while a
disciple?
Ÿ
Why is prayer such a major part of this
passage?
If you have a ministry it has
been given to you by God. A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to
him by God (Jn 3:26) referring to John the Baptist’s
ministry. It is marvelous and reassuring that the Sovereign Lord works out His
will through people. His providential control over events takes into account
all the acts of human wills. Jesus equipped the apostles with the necessary resources to complete the work He had begun. That meant
choosing the appropriate leadership essential to carry this ministry out. In
this passage that leadership is put in place in preparation for that work to be
completed.
1. MINISTRY INCLUDES WAITING
ON GOD IN PRAYER 12-14
1) Jesus had instructed these
disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit and that is
just what they are doing. This was necessary since Jesus had made clear that
the Spirit could not be given until He returned to the Father (Jn 16:7). So they returned to Jerusalem vs. 12 from the Mt.
Of Olives which overlooked it about a Sabbath days
journey away. This was the maximum distance one permitted to travel on Sabbath.
Fixed at 2000 cubits about one half mile or so. This distance apparently
derived from wilderness wanderings where farthest tents were this distance from
the tabernacle in the encampments there. Work was prohibited and farthest
anyone could travel was distance to worship at Tabernacle. So the Sabbath days journey was this distance.
2) When they entered there
they went to an upper room vs. 13 large enough to accommodate 120 people. A
Sabbath days journey would have taken them just inside
the city walls. The 11 are specifically named to be there along with the women,
probable Mary Magdalene, Mary & Martha, Mary Jesus mother and Jesus
brothers, James, Joses, Judas, Simon, James and Judas
prominent because they James 1st head of Jerusalem Church and writer
of James and Judas writer of Jude. From Skepticism to belief in few short
months since Jn 7:5 says not even his brothers were believing in him just 8 mos
before. This is last time Mary is mentioned in scripture. She has no prominence
in rest of NT. All exaltation of her is fabrication.
3) With one mind expresses
their spiritual unity here. Continually praying emphasizes their persistence in
prayer. They were praying because they were physically separated from the
ascended Lord and prayer was the only means of communicating messages to him.
The emphasis is not on what they were praying but the fact that they prayed.
Prayer is essential for ministry because God requires to
depend upon Him to accomplish it. So instead of launching out on their
own they patiently waited in prayer for the promise of the Spirit to come and
give them the power they needed to accomplish the ministry God gave them.
Whatever ministry you are given to do by God will require the power of God to
do it and prayer makes us available to God for it. You just cannot do ministry
on your own. It will only be a human, fleshly, earthly thing you do. I can give
food to a hungry person and they will no longer be hungry. I can give the Word
of God to another but it is God not me who works in their hearts to transform
them. God invites us to participate in the work He is doing and waiting on God
in prayer is necessary on our part if we are to do that.
2. MINISTRY INCLUDES
CONFIRMING GOD’S PLAN WITH GOD’S WORD
15-20
This whole scene is tempered
by the tragic suicide of Judas. Peter took charge vs. 15 and explained how the
defection of Judas fit into God’s plan by reciting OT scripture that prophesied
about it. They had heard Jesus words in MT 19:28 stating that they would occupy
12 thrones judging the 12
tribes but There were now only 11. The Scripture Peter refers to that
verifies this was foretold by the HS by mouth of David. Very clear affirmation
of inspiration (2 PT 1:21) and so he reaaures that
Judas’ treachery in acting as a guide to those who arrested Jesus vs. 16 Gods
word was being fulfilled and God’s plan was being accomplished. What God had
said thru David about David’s enemy was also true of Jesus enemy, Judas, since
Jesus was Lord’s anointed whom David Anticipated. Peter under inspiration of HS
applied those passages to Judas. Peter held David’s words as scripture. Jesus
held Moses words as from God. While Judas was counted among the apostles he was
never saved vs. 17. (Jn 6:64; 70-71) Judas was placed
among them because he would betray Christ. God did not force him into that but
Judas chose it. Jesus even said it would have been better for him had he never
been born because of the choice he made (MT 26:24). Instead God used Judas evil
intent to accomplish His own predestined purpose (Acts 2:23). It is 100% free
will and 100% predestined. Judas free will and God’s
sovereign choice. Lessons from Judas: (1) Proximity to Jesus no
guarantee of relationship. (2) Rare privilege and wasted opportunity. (3) You
cannot serve God and money. Either/or not both/and.
Vss 18-20 describe the
terrible climax to his suicide. Land was purchased with the money paid to him
and since it was blood money, the leaders who originally gave it to Judas for
price of betrayal, hypocritically refused it when he returned it by, purchasing
this field called by those in Jerusalem the field of blood. Judas hanged
himself (MT 27:5) but Luke says he experienced a gruesome death as the weight
of his body either broke the rope or the branch hanging on and he plunged to
his death in some rocky gorge. This did fulfill OT prophecy (PS 55:12-15). The
purpose of prophecy is not to predict the future but confirm the past. Prophecy
confirms God’s word when it happens. Just like here. Now you can say more about
God and His plan because fulfilled prophecy confirms that word as from God. So
Peter reassures all present that these events that have left a vacant
position amongst them are ordered by God and they can pray to Him for
direction.
3. MINISTRY MUST HAVE GOD’S RESOURCES TO BE
COMPLETED 16-21
Peter quotes Psa 109:8
as promising Judas’ replacement. These quotes are in contexts of Messiah’s
death and HS affirms they speak Of Judas. Here are the requirements. (1)
Witness of Jesus entire earthly ministry 21-22. (2) Witness of His resurrection
22. (3) Must be chosen by the Lord 23-25. Two men met these requirements,
Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias. They drew lots
vs. 26 an accepted OT method for determining God’s will and this is the last
occurrence of this practice since the Hs would make this unnecessary with
inspiration, the God-breathed Word and will of God to us. Paul was not included since his
mission was to the gentiles and these were to the Jews. Paul had unique
ministry and tho not inferior was not one of their
number. Matthias was then chosen. (1) To be effective for the Lord I must
believe my need is total and not partial (2) Gods plan for ministry includes my
participation (3) God’s work requires
certain qualifications if His power is to work thru us in ministry