Emissaries Await

Recap

Good morning!

As we’re settling into a new fall season, we’re also settling (finally!) into a new book study. We’ve been talking for a while about wanting to preach through the book of Acts, having finished up Matthew this summer.

We spent a few weeks in reflection on the person and work of Christ, and what it all means for us.

But last week, Mike brought us back to the narrative, to fill in some of the details between the end of Matthew and the beginning of Acts.

Namely, the fact that the last time we saw Peter in Matthew, he was denying Jesus and running away to grieve...but when we pick up his story in Acts, he’s the leader of the pack again.

Peter

Our passage in John last week in saw Jesus not only restoring Peter’s relationship with him, but reinforcing Peter’s role as rock of the church, and commissioning him to continue carrying out the ministry that Jesus started: the work of caring for his sheep. Feeding his sheep.

When Jesus first called Simon, he got his attention with a miraculous catch of fish, and said “from now on, you’ll catch people, instead of fish.”

Later, after Simon had been following Jesus and learning from him, he was the first to profess the profound truth that Jesus is the son of God, and Jesus names him “Peter” or “Kefa,” which means “rock.” And says “you’re the rock upon which I’ll build.”

After Jesus got arrested, Peter denied ever even having knowing Jesus. And after Jesus died, before Peter knew he came back to life, he went back to fishing for fish. Once again, Jesus got his attention with a miraculous catch of fish. This time, the nets didn’t break, and after they’ve eaten their fill of breakfast, they sit and talk together, and it’s then that Jesus both restores and recommissions Peter in the same conversation.

Jesus tells Peter to love him, to show his love, to prove his love, by doing what he was called to do.

I can only imagine how difficult it might have been to accept this calling into some form of leadership…to become a voice to speak on behalf of his teacher, who he had just denied a few days prior!

But he does accept it, and as we’ll see as we begin in Acts, we don’t find him sulking in self-pity when it’s time to speak up and do something, he’s the one standing up and getting everyone’s attention, saying “listen up everyone! This is what happened, and this is what we have to do next, let’s get it done!”

And I think it’s cool that while Peter does play a pivotal role in the church, it’s not like it becomes the “Peter show,” the book is much larger than just Peter, or just Paul, because it’s the story of the ignition of the whole world with the truth of Christ.

Pray

God, I pray that as we read about your work and your people that you would speak to our hearts and teach us to understand the truth. Show us who you are, and who we are in you. We, who seek you and seek to love you better. Jesus, help us understand your message and mission better, from the time we spend in this book, help us to learn from your first followers; their joys and struggles and wisdom, and most of all their testimony to you and your work.

In this chapter specifically, help us to be both convicted and encouraged by the faith of your disciples. That we would be eager and willing to do your will, even when our view of the path ahead is very narrow and limited. Help us to trust you. To neither grow neither weary nor lazy in our impatience, but rather to seek you and your glory; your will; in every situation, in every minute of every hour of life.

Acts Chapter 1

Let’s go ahead and dive into Acts chapter 1.

Acts 1 (LSB)

1 The first account, O Theophilus, I composed, about all that Jesus began to do and teach,

2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen,

3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over forty days and speaking about the things concerning the kingdom of God.

4 And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me;

5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”

I thought it was interesting how one translation, the Complete Jewish Bible, used the phrase “Restore self-rule to Israel” because that really reveals what they thought was the meaning of “the kingdom.” They thought it meant independence from Rome! STILL! Of course, their focus will shift very soon, but it’s not really until after Pentecost.

It’s easy for us to look at that and say the disciples had an embarrassing little outburst of ignorance there. But it’s always a good reminder to check our own focus…what are we looking for, or forward to? Are we focusing on people or on stuff and programs and policies rather than the people they exist for?

That “Self-rule” the disciples wanted so badly is really what got Israel in trouble in the first place! Deciding to rule themselves instead of letting Yahweh be their only King. Their only God.

But “self-rule” IS in some ways Jesus restores to all humans…the complete, autonomous freedom that can be found and only found by chaining oneself to Christ.

Anyway, Jesus doesn’t get into all that, he essentially says “never mind that, here’s what IS going to happen.”

He continues:

7 But He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set by His own authority;

8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to THE END OF THE EARTH.”

9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.

11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

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

13 And when they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, 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.

Now, this “upper room” could be the same one where they celebrated passover, or they could have moved to a different one. Either way, it was likely near the temple, and it’s also very likely they were at least partially in hiding, trying to avoid any further trouble after their leader was just essentially executed for treason.

14 These all with one accord were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.

15 And in those days, Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (a crowd of about 120 persons was there together), and said,

16 “Men, brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

17 “For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.”

18 (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his unrighteousness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out.

19 And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms,

‘LET HIS RESIDENCE BE MADE DESOLATE,

AND LET NO ONE DWELL IN IT’;

and,

‘LET ANOTHER MAN TAKE HIS OFFICE.’

21 “Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—

22 beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

23 And they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias.

24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen

25 to take the place of 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 to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

Authorship, Audience & Background

Alright, let’s back up to the first couple verses.

Acts 1:1–2 LSB

1 The first account, O Theophilus, I composed, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen,

As soon as we start reading this book there’s a clue that we’re actually jumping in part-way in the middle of a series.

Verse one is in the first person, addressed to a specific person, and references a previous work, to which this one is a follow-up.

So, first of all, who’s the author? Luke.

Luke is the author.

Luke, person of

There are a few things of note we know about Luke, simply by cross-referencing other passages that refer to him.

He’s described by Paul as “The beloved physician” in Col 4:14, and later in the book of Acts we see Luke, as the narrator in first person, accompanying Paul in his journeys, so by each others testimonies they were contemporaries, and can trust each other’s accounts of what happened. They explicitly corroborate each other.

We know he wrote another book, which we call “the gospel according to Luke.” And based on his writing, we can tell that writing is something he was really good at.

If out of a hundred people you were going to pay one of them to devote a chunk of time to writing about the last few years, this was the guy you would want to be doing it. God had clearly equipped him for this role.

Here’s an excerpt about him.

The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) Author

The author was an educated Gentile, as attested by the style and the high level of Greek used in Luke and Acts. His Greek is sometimes fully classical (Luke 1:1–4). The author’s methodical approach to writing and his interest in research reveal an educated, highly trained man. Luke’s identity as a Gentile may be inferred from the fact that his name appears after those whom Paul calls “the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God” (Col. 4:11). That Luke was a physician means he was highly educated

There is actually medical terminology in both Luke and Acts, and you might notice that he pays more attention to things like diseases and other medical matters.

Luke, gospel of

I think the beginning of Acts is somewhat abrupt, which is because it does pick up right where the gospel account leaves off. This is really the second half of a two-part series. It’s the continuation of an effort that began back in Luke.

Here’s how Luke begins:

Luke 1:1–4 LSB

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, handed them down to us, 3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in orderly sequence, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty about the things you have been taught.

From there, it goes into the whole story of Jesus, from before he was even born, to his death, burial, and resurrection. It ends with this:

Luke 24:50–53 LSB

50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands, He blessed them. 51 And it happened that while He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.

You can see how the beginning of Acts essentially overlaps with the end of Luke, and now, this second book will carry the narrative forward, showing what Jesus continued to do and teach after his ascension to heaven.

Theophilus

How about this Theophilus guy, to whom both of Luke’s volumes are addressed? We don’t really know much, actually. The word “theophilus” in Greek means “Friend of God.” And because it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly who this person is, there is cause to wonder the name is a title or descriptive, as a way to conceal someone’s real name from the authorities, while implying a more generic, broad audience: to anyone who is a friend of God. A pretty clever pseudonym if that’s what it is, or it could just be someone’s name.

If Theophilus was someone of means, it could be that he was the one who had funded Luke’s scribal efforts.

Either way, while Acts is addressed to this one person, and even if it was commissioned by one person, it was clearly for the sake of many. Though it is, generally, intended for an audience of people who are either already followers of Jesus, or at least interested enough to learn more. After all, if you’re reading Acts, the assumption is you’ve already read Luke (part 1) and want to keep reading more.

Add of course, If you’re here today, I hope it’s because you’re either already a follower of Jesus, or you’re interested in learning more about following Jesus, So, if either of those describe you, then the book of Acts is for you!

Structure/Outline

The book of Acts gives us a big picture overview glimpse into the first three decades of the church as it took shape and grew, in particular the role that the apostles played in carrying the flaming embers of the gospel outward, from the temple in Jerusalem to the surrounding regions, and beyond.

That geographical outline is actually the structure that Acts follows.

1-8: Jerusalem. 8-12: Palestine and Syria. 13-28: Gentiles throughout Roman Empire.

Even the speeches we read throughout, from Peter to Stephen to James to Paul, fit and address a variety of different literary and cultural contexts. These are examples of nuances which scholars attest to the quality and richness of Luke/Acts.

The very last word, the closing word in the Greek text, is the word “unhindered” or “without hindrance.” And that’s one key to the meaning of the book.

As we’ll see, God’s word cannot be chained, even when his messengers are!

As Paul writes in 2 Timothy,

2 Timothy 2:9 NLT

9 And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained.

Or, “it is not bound.” It is boundless.

In fact, Paul write in Philippians about how his chains only served to intensify its effect:

Philippians 1:12–14 NLT

12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.

Situation

All of that big picture stuff is great, but that’s not all happening in chapter one.

Let’s talk a little bit about their immediate situation. Pentecost hasn’t happened yet. Nothing has happened yet. Except that Jesus left. He told them to GO and make disciples…BUT…not yet.

They have a purpose, a mission, but they were told to wait. The suspense is insane.

We, the readers, especially if you’ve read ahead at all before, we know the message is about to spread, we know this is the fulfilment of God’s promise to David, to Abraham, to Adam, of his prophesies about the Messiah.

Even if you know nothing else about the Bible, you’re probably aware that for thousands of years, a growing number of people all over the world claim to follow Jesus, for some reason or another. For some reason, people continue to choose to follow him and continue to testify that he is the savior of the world.

But before the intensity, before the spiritual high of the next chapter, these faithful few are forced to slow down and wait.

I think we all struggle with waiting sometimes, just by nature. Some of us maybe more so than others. I get impatient very easily! I would have had a hard time in their situation.

In the absence of Jesus’s physical presence, and even prior to receiving the spirit, they continue to live life and handle logistics, making necessary decisions, praying to God, and trusting in his sovereignty.

In some ways, perhaps, it was natural for them to go back to trusting God without having such a clear and present voice with them constantly, because for Jewish followers at least, that’s really what their life was like before Jesus anyway!

It doesn’t mean God isn’t there, or that God isn’t in control, or that God doesn’t care about them.

It does mean they have some freedom with what to do with that time! And that in itself I think is kind of cool. Yes, it ought to be our desire and intention to fill every conscious moment completely surrendered to God’s will. God wants to immerse and possess us. He wants to speak through us and work through us.

Us!

And sometimes that means he delights in watching us make our own decisions, and be creative! That’s what he made us for! As if we’re his dance partner, and he loves watching the moves we come up with, as long as we’re following his lead. Exercising our own “will” is a beautifully creative thing, but only when we’ve trained our ears to play our instruments to the key and rhythm of the great conductor.

Lots

Sometimes, though, it’s really challenging to be at peace about a decision, when there is no clear directive from God, though it could make a very significant impact one way or another.

How the disciples responded is unique to their situation and context, but I think there is still wisdom to be found in this pre-Pentecost preparation.

Number one, they were devoted to prayer. They didn’t need Jesus standing there with a bullhorn every 5 minutes reminding them that God is real, to pray and seek him always. They had spent enough time with him (and many of them had spent enough time studying torah) to know what to do, even after he left, even before they were sent out. Even in the mundane, boring, suspenseful waiting period.

Number two, they followed the logical leadership and reasoning of Peter. He came up with an approach that made sense to narrow down the candidates, and they were able to nominate two people.

Number three, they left it in God’s hands. Ultimately, the disciples narrowed it down to what seemed like two good choices, and no other criteria upon which to make the selection.

So, they cast lots.

Essentially, they tossed a coin.

Today, we toss a coin as a measure of “fairness” when we want to leave something up to “chance” rather than risking some kind of bias. To settle a petty argument for example, or to determine who gets the ball first in overtime.

The disciples’ perspective would have been a little bit different.

To leave a decision like this to the casting of lots was to acknowledge God’s sovereignty even over “chance” or “luck” or “randomness.” In reality, all these are secondary to God’s will, so in the Old Testament such practices were actually established as ways to show submission to God’s will, rather than asserting human authority.

Proverbs 16 talks about this, and puts it quite simply:

Proverbs 16 LSB

1 The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh. 2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own sight, But Yahweh weighs the motives. 3 Commit your works to Yahweh And your plans will be established. 4 Yahweh has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil. 5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished. 6 By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of Yahweh one turns away from evil. 7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to Yahweh, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8 Better is a little with righteousness Than great produce with injustice. 9 The heart of man plans his way, But Yahweh directs his steps. 10 A divine decision is in the lips of the king; His mouth should not err in judgment. 11 A just balance and scales belong to Yahweh; All the weights of the bag are His work. 12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For in righteousness a throne is established. 13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And he who speaks uprightly is loved. 14 The wrath of a king is like messengers of death, But a wise man will atone for it. 15 In the light of a king’s face is life, And his favor is like a cloud with the late rain. 16 How much better it is to acquire wisdom than fine gold! And to acquire understanding is to be chosen above silver. 17 The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil; He who guards his way keeps his soul. 18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. 19 It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly Than to divide the spoil with the proud. 20 He who considers the word will find good, And how blessed is he who trusts in Yahweh. 21 The wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweetness of lips increases learning. 22 Insight is a fountain of life to one who has it, But the discipline of ignorant fools is folly. 23 The heart of the wise gives insight to his mouth And increases learning to his lips. 24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. 25 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. 26 A worker’s appetite works for him, For his mouth urges him on. 27 A vile man digs up evil, And the words on his lips are like scorching fire. 28 A perverse man spreads strife, And a whisperer separates close companions. 29 A man of violence entices his neighbor And leads him in a way that is not good. 30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things; He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass. 31 Gray hair is a crown of beauty; It is found in the way of righteousness. 32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his own spirit, than he who captures a city. 33 The lot is cast into the lap, But its every judgment is from Yahweh.

Proverbs 16:33 NLT

33 We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall.

This perspective, that “luck doesn’t exist” or at least that Yahweh is God even over luck, is not one that God necessarily intervenes to ensure the outcome of card games and sporting events.

But that God certainly is in control regardless of the outcome of such events, even when the “wrong” team wins. And, that IF the fate of the world were to rest on an impossibly improbable event, like a virgin giving birth to a God-child in a manger in Bethlehem, then he’ll make it happen.

When the disciples cast the lot, they’re doing it prayerfully, saying to God “let this be in your hands.”

Normative practice for discerning God's will has changed. God's sovereignty over the universe has NOT.

So, I’m not encouraging the use of coin tosses and or rolling dice for discerning the will of God. It’s really a relic of their Old Testament culture, and we really don’t see them resorting to such things after chapter two, where the spirit has been given.

BUT learning to trust God after we have done everything that’s in our hands to do…that is prayer, saturation of God’s word, sensitivity to his voice and the leading of the Spirit, seeking wise and trusted counsel, we must also learn to trust God even with the coin tosses of life, that is a good and difficult thing to practice.

Conclusion

I came across a quote about Acts that summarizes it very succinctly, and I like it.

“The Book of Acts is more than first-century church history; it is a narrative about the Triune God on an unstoppable mission to the ends of the earth.” - William J Larkin, Acts in Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, vol. 12, p. 351

Yes, it’s historical narrative, and it’s actually a very exciting, interesting story! But more than that, it’s the victory lap of the gospel, proving its unstoppable fruitfulness in the world.

It’s unstoppable because it’s true. And when we encounter the truth, it changes us.

Pray

God may the time we spend studying this book be a transformative encounter with truth.