Acts 1:12-26

The Upper Room Prayer Meeting

Grab a coffee (or tea) and lets study Acts 1:12-26

The disciples returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives which is about half a mile away. They went to the upper room where they had been meeting and prayed together. Vs 14 (NKJV) says "these all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication."

The phrase "with one accord" is recorded in the book of Acts eleven times When you see a phrase repeated like that, take note! (Some of y'all need something repeated to you until you really get it!)  "With One Accor" means "same" and "mind." This doesn't mean we have to think and feel the same as everyone else about everything but we do need to be in one accord in the things of Christ. 

There were about 120 people in the upper room. Those who were recorded as being there  are:

• Peter
• John
• James
• Andrew
• Philip
• Thomas
• Bartholomew
• Matthew
• James, son of Alphaeus
• Simon the zealot
• Judas, son of James

Vs 14 mentions that women were also included such as Mary the mother of Jesus. There were also quite possibly the wives of some of the apostles as well as other women who followed Jesus.

Peter, assuming the leadership role, spoke up and addressed the elephant in the room - Judas Iscariot.  Judas, who was part of the disciples, had taken bribe money which led to the arrest of Jesus. Judas took the bribe money and bought a small farm. It was there that he hung himself. In vs 16 Peter references David as being inspired by the Holy Spirit when he wrote "Let his dwelling place be desolate, and let no one live in it" and "Let another take his office." 

Peter called for a replacement for Judas and the requirements were that the person had to have accompanied the disciples from the beginning of Jesus ministry (His baptism) and second, had to be an eyewitness of Jesus' resurrection.

In vs 23 (NIV) it says, "²³So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. ²⁴Then they prayed, "LORD, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen ²⁵to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." ²⁶Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles."

Matthias is the short version of Mattathias meaning "Gift of Yahweh." This is quite fitting as he takes the vacant spot after Judas' Iscariot betrays Jesus and the disciples. There is no reference of Mattias after he is selected as a disciple - although there are some thoughts as to what possibly happened to him.

We will leave it at that! :)

Acts 1:1-12

The Promise of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Ascending to Heaven

 

Grab a coffee and let's study Acts 1:1-12.

 

Written by Luke, the first chapter is addressed to Theophilus. There is not much known about who he is but his name literally means "loved by God" or "friend of God" leading people to believe it was a generic title that applies to all Christians. However, there is evidence he was a man of high rank because Luke addresses him as "most excellent Theophilus" in Luke's gospel.

 In verses 1-5 (NCV), he summarizes what he wrote in his first account:

The first book I wrote was about everything Jesus began to do and teach ² until the day he was taken up into heaven. Before this, with the help of the Holy Spirit, Jesus told the apostles he had chosen what they should do. ³ After his death, he showed himself to them and proved in many ways that he was alive. The apostles saw Jesus during the forty days after he was raised from the dead, and he spoke to them about the kingdom of God. ⁴ Once when he was eating with them, he told them not to leave Jerusalem. He said, “Wait here to receive the promise from the Father which I told you about. ⁵ John baptized people with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

 

I wonder what they thought when they read that last line? Anticipation? Fear? Were their minds turning? What would being baptized by the Holy Spirit feel, sound, look like?

In verse 6 they ask Jesus when He will restore the kingdom back to Israel.  This question to Jesus reveals their concern as they anticipated that Christ would establish His kingdom immediately. Jesus tells them that only their Father in heaven knows the dates and times but that they will get the Holy Spirit. Verse 8, "But when the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will receive power. You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, in Samaria and in every part of the world."
 

After He said that, Jesus was lifted up and received into a cloud.

 

The apostles starred in wonder as Jesus was ascended into heaven and continued to gaze at the sky after He disappeared.
 

It doesn't say this in the Bible, but what I would imagine we would have seen, were men with their jaws hitting the ground, speechless, and eyes open without blinking. Lost in amazement. Maybe they had to pinch themselves because it felt like some sort of crazy dream.  Or maybe because they had already witnessed the crucifixion and resurrection, they were like, "OF COURSE this is happening. Why wouldn't this be happening? Life is already crazy, lets bring on more crazy!"
 

But as they were gazing in disbelief at the sky, verse 10 (MSG)  tells us there were 2 men dressed in white that appeared asking "why are you standing here looking at the empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly - and mysteriously - as he left."

Who were these men in white? It seems pretty certain that these were angelic beings sent in human form to bring comfort and a message of the coming of Christ to the disciples.  Angels are often described in the Bible as wearing white garments and we know they appear in other gospel accounts often as "people."