Acts - Replacement

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, the one taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way you saw him going into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying, both Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas of James. All these were persisting with one mind in prayer, together with women and Mary the mother of Jesus and his brothers. (Acts 1:12-14)

And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers, and the crowd of names together was about one hundred twenty, and he said, “Men, brothers, it was necessary for the Scripture to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David concerning Judas, the one who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus, because he was numbered among us and received the lot of this ministry.” (Acts 1:15-17)

Now this one acquired a field from the wage of unrighteousness, and becoming headlong he burst open in the middle and all his inward parts were poured out, and it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own dialect Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood. (Acts 1:18-19)

For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his dwelling become desolate, and let there be no one dwelling in it,’ and ‘Let another take his overseership.’ Therefore it is necessary that of the men who accompanied us during all the time in which the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us, one of these to become with us a witness of his resurrection.” (Acts 1:20-22)

The quote is from Psalm 69 and Psalm 109

Ps 69:24-25, “Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them. May their camp be a desolation; let no one live in their tents.”

We don’t have time to go over ‘tent’ theology in scripture

But suffice it to say, what Jesus taught “love your enemy” does not quite comport with this passage they are drawing from

Ps 109:7-9, “When he is tried, let him be found guilty; let his prayer be counted as sin. May his days be few; may another take his position. May his children be orphans and his wife a widow.”

This Psalm is one of the most intense Psalms in scripture, sometimes so much that it is not read in lectionaries.

And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was called Justus, and Matthias. And having prayed they said, “You, Lord, knower of the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place of this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:22-26)

So, here is something interesting to think about:

Jesus instructed them to go and wait in Jerusalem

He never instructed them to make a choice to replace Judas

Moreover, they don’t have the Holy Spirit yet, so they are casting lots

Jesus was there at least 40 days, so he could have picked a replacement if that was on the agenda.

I want to let you know something:

Just because they are disciples does not mean all they do (especially before the Holy Spirit comes) is supposed to be done.

The reason this is important is that often…

We are highly uncomfortable ‘just waiting’

Acts - Replacement