Waiting on the Lord

Obedience

Acts 1:12–14 (NIV)

Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Obedience is the response to our redemption in Christ not the means to obtain our redemption. Our obedience is a proclamation of faith to our hearts that God’s plan is greater than our plan. Obedience is not the means to earn the Lord’s favor so that He might bless our plans.

As the church begins, it begins with obedience to Christ’s words over the thrill and impulse to run out to speak of the resurrection and do great works. This mark of obedience is trusting not only in the Lord’s call but also His timing. The church is marked by their gathering in one accord. Our obedience shows our oneness as we all surrender and follow the one risen Lord.

Take note that Mary and Jesus’ brothers are present. Mary, who proclaimed in Luke 1:46-47

Luke 1:46–47 NIV

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

is present at the beginning of the church. She is amongst the redeemed proclaiming praise to her Savior. Alongside her are her sons who were skeptics of the message of Christ throughout his ministry. John 7:5-10

John 7:5–10 NIV

For even his own brothers did not believe in him. Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee. However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret.

But now after the resurrection, they stand in one accord with the disciples.

God’s Plan

Acts 1:15–22 (NIV)

In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”

(With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

“For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:

“ ‘May his place be deserted;

let there be no one to dwell in it,’

and,

“ ‘May another take his place of leadership.’

Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

Discrepancies between Luke’s account here and the account in Matthew where it is said that Judas threw the money back at the chief priests and then hung himself in a field that was made into a cemetery.

Luke is only recording the common words of those in Jerusalem

The priests bought the field with the money returned to them by Judas

Judas who hung himself was not taken down upon death and decomposed in a gruesome manner

Peter sees the words of the Psalmist as direction from the Lord to replace Judas. Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8. The first speaks of a godly man who has been betrayed and the betrayer dwelling becomes an uninhabitable ground like a cemetery. The second speaks of a curses against the enemy of a godly man and the cry for another to take his place.

With the betrayal and death of Judas, there is need to choose another apostle to be a witness with the other eleven. There were requirements for apostolic authority. An apostle is one who speaks on behalf of the king. The requirements were:

Must have been present throughout Jesus’ ministry

Must have been a witness to the resurrection of Jesus

Must have been called by the Lord

Faith

Acts 1:23–26 (NIV)

So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

While we are called to use our discernment as we walk through this life by testing everything against the Scriptures, there are moments where a singular path is not clear. This is a reminder that we are limited and that we are not alone. We have the Holy Spirit and the promise that the Lord sees and knows all and hears our cries. We can trust in His leadership.

The disciples use an action of faith to seal this apostolic choice, the casting of lots. This is found in Proverbs 16:33

Proverbs 16:33 (NIV)

The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the Lord.

Acts: An Introduction and Commentary d. The Twelfth Apostle (1:15–26)

The most that might be said is that in the period before Pentecost the church had to seek other means of divine guidance than the aid of the Spirit, but the method which it adopted (prayer and the casting of lots) was entirely proper. In fact the church was asking the Lord to make his choice of the right man, who was then enrolled as an apostle; the church cannot be said to have ‘elected’ him.