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! :)