Turning the World Upside Down: Persistant Prayer: Acts 1:12-26

I. The Crowd That Was Gathered vs. 12-13, 14b

A. Jesus ascended on a Friday, not long before the Sabbath started. So, the apostles only traveled about 3/4 of a mile, as was the Jewish custom.

B. The upper room was probably the same room that they had rented for the last supper. This afforded space for everyone (120 at this point) and kept them hidden from the Jewish and Roman leaders.

C. The eleven are gathered here, as well as the women who followed and cared for Jesus and the disciples (probably their wives).

Luke 8:2–4 NASB95

and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means. When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable:

1 Corinthians 9:5 NASB95

Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

D. Also, Jesus’ mother and brothers, who tried to take Him away, because they thought that He was crazy. Now they believed, and were devout. This is the last mention of Mary (Jesus’ mother in the New Testament) in the New Testament. (Camel Knees/James ex)

Mark 3:31–32 NASB95

Then His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him and called Him. A crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.”

II. The Purpose of the Gathering vs. 14a

A. These believers were devoting themselves to prayer, and it was continual. Why? Because Jesus commanded it.

Luke 11:8–10 NASB95

“I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.

B. Prayer is where the power is at “much prayer, much power, little prayer, little power, and no prayer, no power.”.

C. This is the theme for the book of Acts, and any serious Christian. (Jonathan Edwards, Charles Stanley, D.L. Moody etc)

III. The Replacement From the Gathering vs. 15-26

A. Peter quotes the Psalms, when talking about Judas. Judas hung himself, and either the rope or branch broke causing the scene that Peter describes.

B. The way Peter addresses them, this could have been on the next Sabbath.

C. Some claim that Matthias was not God’s choice, so He later chose Paul, because this is the last time Matthias. However, neither are most of the apostles, so this theory holds no water.

D. Matthias is chosen by prayer and casting lots. This was the Old Testament practice, that the Holy Spirit made void.

Proverbs 16:33 NASB95

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

E. This was done to keep the ministry going and the imagery of the 12 going. (12 Tribes, patriarchs etc.)

F. They treated God to answer persistent prayer. Do we? If not, why not?