An Apostle Chosen

Introduction

Last week we gave an introduction to the book of Acts

Luke as the author

Written in the early 60s

Written to “Theophilus”

It is fitting for us to study this book as we begin doing the work we are doing here

Acts is a history - Descriptive vs Prescriptive

Today we are going to read something that we should see as describing what happened rather than as something that Luke is prescribing for us to do.

The disciples were given a command - commission

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

They are to take the message of the gospel to their home town, the surrounding area, and then to the rest of the world.

The Disciples follow instructions (v.12-14)

Verse 12: Olivet

Acts 1:12 ESV

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.

Olivet

Olivet has a significant role in redemptive history

Jesus stayed there during the last week of his earthly ministry

Its where he delivered the Olivet Discourse - which included teachings and parables

It was prophesied by Zechariah that when the Lord comes at the end of the Age to do battle with and judge the nations will be at this mountain (Zech 14)

Olivet is the place where Jesus sends his Apostles to the world with the message of the gospel.

To Jerusalem

They were told to wait in Jerusalem

To wait their for the promise of the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:4–5 ESV

4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

This is going to fulfill the promise to Abraham in Genesis 15 where God promised Abraham that through his bloodline all the nations would be blessed

We need to move like Apostles when we have clear direction from God

Notice the text does not tell us that the Apostle “dilly-dallied” or sat on their hands

They jumped to it - they had clear instructions so they followed

We need to take this mindset when God gives us clear instruction

The Apostles had more faith than sense

These were guys were who trusted God even though they did not know the details of the plan

They were not told how long they were to wait but yet they still just jumped to it

Verse 13: The Apostles

Acts 1:13 ESV

13 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.

Luke lists the eleven disciples in the room - Someone is notably absent

Remember after Judas betrayed the Lord he was no longer with them (we will learn what happened to him)

Verse 14: In one accord

Acts 1:14 ESV

14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Unity

The disciples were in unity with the mission they had been given

Luke gives us this detail on purpose - in order for us to accomplish the mission that God has for us we must be of one accord - we must be unified

Just like at many wedding ceremonies, including mine, the bride and groom will tie a braid of three strands one for the man, one for the woman, and one for God. This symbolizes that all three are in unity - of one accord. All three are braided together because they are made stronger by their unity with each other. In the same way we need to have this same unity so that we can do what God has called us too.

They were there in prayer

While waiting on direction from God they devoted themselves to prayer

We should follow their example in this - the most important and beneficial thing they could have done in this time was pray - and so they did.

We too are in a crucial time in our church - hence we too should pray

We have prayer meeting on Wednesday nights - and we are going to do just that - PRAY

I have some big plans and really want to learn together what it means to pray corporately

The Desolate One (v.15-20)

Verse 15-17: The Scriptures Fulfilled

Acts 1:15–17 ESV

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “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. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”

The Holy Spirit through the mouth of David

First: Peter is affirming the inspiration of Scripture - to him it was assumed

The word’s that David spoke are the words of David but also the very words of God.

Second: Peter highlights that the Old Testament is a book that not only prophecies of the suffering of Christ, but finds fulfilment in the person and work of Jesus

The entire Bible points to Christ

Many times we forget this - we look at the books as individual books and we forget how they fit into the entirety of Scripture.

The thing that all Scripture has in common is that it is the inspired Word of God and that all Scripture points to Christ.

Verses 18-20: The Field of Blood

Acts 1:18–20 ESV

18 (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. 19 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.) 20 “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.’

Judas received a reward for leading the authorities to Christ - he bought a field with this money

But this was previously ordained and prophesied in the scriptures

Jesus was not killed by accident - it was ordained by God

Isaiah 53:10 ESV

10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

So what do we make of this?

God’s providence and human responsibility are things that people have struggled with for centuries

God works in such a way that he has ordained all that is to come but yet man has responsibility - our finite minds do not have the capability to understand this completely how this works - however what we do know is that it does work!

God accomplishes his exact will that he intends and has ordained through through free beings

Gruesome!

This section is quite gruesome!

The reason it is so descriptive and gruesome is because it is showing what happens to those who oppose God!

The Replacement (v.21-26)

Verses 21-22: Requirements to be an Apostle

Acts 1:21–22 ESV

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 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.”

This is a text where we see what was required of an individual to be an Apostle

Clearly no one today has done any of these things!

Paul is the only exception to the rule

Verses 23-26: And they cast lots??

Acts 1:23–26 ESV

23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

They were down to two men in their decision - so they “cast lots”

Basically they flipped a coin!

The apostles had a high high view of the sovereignty of God

Proverbs 16:33 ESV

33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

Are we to do this?

Descriptive vs Prescriptive

What is the primary intent of the narrative

The texts main point is to show that they are to replace and apostle

Are we directly commanded to do it ourselves or is this a description about what happened?

No I would say that this is a description about what happened

However, this tactic could be used knowing that the Lord is sovereign

Is this a repeated pattern?

No; we do not see this anywhere else in the New Testament or the book of Acts

In fact others are selected in other ways in the future.

Conclusion

God is in control - He is Sovereign

In the sending of Jesus

In the commissioning of the apostles

In the betrayal of Jesus

In the death of Jesus for sins

In the words of David that would prophecy what would happen hundreds of years later

In the choosing of the Apostle to replace Judas

If God is in control of these things then surely he is in control of this church

He has a plan for this church

He has given us stewardship of it

He will have his will with it

God is in control of your life

He is in control of the situation that you feel is out of control

Tell apartment story

He is in control even when you cant see him at work

We will one day look back and see how God was working in ways we could not see!