Acts 1:15-26
Notes
Transcript
Acts 1:15–26 (ESV)
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120)
Redemption of Peter:
Called as an apostle, walked closely with Jesus, denied Jesus and fell away, restored by Jesus and now in leadership of the infant church
Men and women who had known and followed Jesus
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 story of Judas
Judas Profile:
Called by Jesus as an apostle
Treasurer but a dishonest one
6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.
Under the influence of Satan
3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.
2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,
Suicide
3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.
in acts Luke gives us more detail of what happened after he hung himself
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.’
Tragic Justice: vs 19 Justice was served.
Tragedy
We see judas as just an evil villan. He had deceived for years and allowed the devil to use him BUT remember that These men had lost a friend in Judas
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.”
There were more than the 12. There were women and other men
23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.
People who have different names in the Bible, Hebrew, greek, roman, and Nick Names/titles
We dont know much of anything about these men before or after this. Lack of details do not mean that these men were not significant.
Being appointed may not have been an enviable task Danger and unknown
Ok So what do they do? Faced with a major decision.
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.”
Prayer is ALWAYS part of the work of the church in Acts.
In verse 17, 20 they use scripture as a guide
26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
How lots worked
Prescription vs description
Cool story bro,
Whats the point? Suicide? The redemption of Peter? Importance of prayer? Our new decision making process of casting lots to decide what carry in meal we are doing?
What did Luke, guided by the holy spirt want Theopholis (and now us) to take away?
God is Sovereign
God is Sovereign
Peters failure was not outside of God’s plan
Judas betrayal was not outside of God’s plan
Jesus Death was not outside of God’s plan
The casting of Lots was not outside of God’s plan
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
God is on the throne.
The hard part for us is remembering that
25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”
16 And I looked, and behold, you had sinned against the Lord your God. You had made yourselves a golden calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the Lord had commanded you.
Isaiah 53:6 (ESV)
6a All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way;
Every day we have the opportunity to walk in step with the spirit and be a willing and active part of God’s plan OR to turn aside, make our own law to obey, make ourselves the main character
The Kingdom of God is Made Visible in the Church
The Kingdom of God is Made Visible in the Church
Why did they replace Judas?
It was NOT because they just needed help. The issue of needing help is going to be addressed in Acts Chapter 6
Having 12 Apostles was a representation that the true kingdom of God was being established through them:
Jesus purpose was to tell about the kingdom:
43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”
The Book of Acts is about the growth and development of the kingdom of God through the church
3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 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.”
28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The 12 tribes of Israel
Having 12 apostles linked the nation of Israel to the the church. Their foundation was the 12 brothers, sons of Jacob.
The church was founded by Jesus using 12 sons of israel the apostles
The Ministry of the Church is all about Jesus
The Ministry of the Church is all about Jesus
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.”
We need to bring in a numbers guy, we need to bring in a sales guy. We need a wealthy guy
A faithful witness to the life and ministry and redemptive work of Jesus
At Sandusky life we have commited to keeping things simple but it is STILL easy to drift from what is important
Music, chairs, service times, do they have a knitting ministry, how good is the coffee?
The Gospel
So What?
Are you going to do this the easy way, or the hard way?
Are you going to do this the easy way, or the hard way?
