3. IN THE UPPER ROOM... WAITING - Acts 1:12-26

 

What a change a day can make, for earlier that day Jesus had led them out toward Bethany (Lk 24:50), now they had returned to Jerusalem without their Master whom they had accompanied so inseparably. Yet it wasn’t a time of sorrow, but a time of great joy (Lk 24:52,53). For the next ten days the apostles remained at Jerusalem in the upper room (Acts 1:12,13), waiting (Lk 24:49; Acts 1:4). They also went to the temple in order to worship the Lord (Lk 24:53). It was a time devoted to praise and to prayer (1:14) - and to waiting.

 

Please Read Acts 1:12-26

 

Verse 12: The ascension had taken place on Mount Olivet not far from the township of Bethany. This small mount was a Sabbath day’s journey from Jerusalem, which means it was about 2000 cubits (approx. 1km) from Jerusalem, the maximum distance that one was allowed to travel on the Sabbath according to Jewish Law. From here the apostles returned to Jerusalem.

Verse 13: When they got back from Mount Olivet, the apostles went to the house in which they had been staying and entered its upper room. It is quite possible that this was the same house in which the Last Supper had taken place (Lk 22:12).

The men who returned from Bethany after the ascension of Jesus are listed in this verse. These were the remaining eleven apostles after the apostasy and death of Judas.

Verse 14: Also gathered with the apostles on their return from Bethany were various women, more than likely including Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna (Lk 8:2,3), Mary the mother of James (Lk 24:10,22), various other women mentioned by Luke in the Gospel account (Lk 24:10,22; cf Mt 28:1-10) and Mary the mother of Jesus (Lk 1:42-50). Also present were the brothers of Jesus (Mk 6:3; Acts 12:17; 15:13ff; Jude), who appear now to have believed and entered into the kingdom of God (Mk 3:21,31-34; Jn 7:5; 1 Cor 15:7).

This entire gathering was united in a single purpose, that of prayer. A close bond had developed among these gathered believers borne out of a common bond in their now departed, yet present Master. The passage clearly indicates that this assembly was praying for the same thing. Not only were they praying about the same thing, but they were also continuing in their prayer about the same thing. These believers were not going to stop praying until their prayers had been answered.

QUESTIONS: What do you think these early believers were praying about in such a united manner? For what reason do you give your answer?

 

Verse 15: The number of people that had gathered, and who in effect formed the nucleus of the emerging New Testament church were 120 people. The passage mentions that the apostle Peter stood up in the presence of these believers during these early days of the church. These were the days between the ascension and Pentecost, a period of some ten days.

Verses 16,17: Evidently Peter had come to the conclusion that the situation surrounding Judas was foretold in Scripture. Having been convinced from the Scriptures that this was so, Peter then sought to instruct the brethren in what was required to be done in obedience to Scripture. In so doing Peter drew attention to both the divine and human authorship of Scripture, for the Holy Spirit spoke through the instrumentality of David in the Book of Psalms (2 Pet 1:21).

Judas had been numbered among the apostles in order to fulfil the purpose of God through the crucifixion of Christ, which was the salvation of the elect. Yet Peter is seeking to draw attention in this verse to the fact that there was now one missing from that group called to take the gospel to the world. Peter was convinced from the Scriptures that this place now needed to be filled by another.

Verses 18,19: These two verses did not form part of what Peter said during his address to the early church, but are akin to a footnote that was added by Luke to explain the circumstances of Peter’s address. In these verses Luke explains what happened to the apostate Judas (cf Mt 27:3-5), and why it had now become necessary to replace him by another.

Judas after his betrayal committed suicide. Matthew (Mt 27:5) tells us that he hung himself, while Luke tells us that he fell headfirst and that his insides burst out. Do these accounts contradict one another? Many reasons could be put forward as to how both things may have happened (for both did), but we are simply not told how they did so.

Matthew also tells us that Judas had attempted to return his blood money to the priests, while in some manner acknowledging his sin to them. Yet the priests refused to take the money back (Mt 27:3-5), being unconcerned with Judas’ dilemma. With this Judas threw the money in the temple and then went out and hung himself. The priests picked up the thrown money and wouldn’t put it back into the treasury, so they bought the ‘potter’s field’ with it in order to bury foreigners (Mt 27:6-10). Yet Luke tells us that Judas bought a field with the money of his apostasy (Acts 1:18), it becoming known as ‘Akel Dama’ or ‘Blood Field,’ for it had been bought with blood money (cf Mt 27:6). As to why these two accounts appear so different we do not know (different sources?), yet in some way they agree.

Verse 20: In this verse the address of Peter continues with the quotation of Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8, in order to confirm his conclusions regarding the need to replace Judas. The first quote confirms the removal of Judas from his office, while the second confirms that another will replace him in it.

Verses 21,22: In response to his Scriptural convictions Peter in his address calls for the recognition of one of these men in the upper room who was not already an apostle and who had been with Jesus the whole time of His ministry, from John’s baptism to the ascension as a replacement for Judas. Here Peter states one of the essential marks of an apostle, that of having seen the resurrected Christ (cf 2:32; 3:15; 10:40-42; 1 Cor 9:1; 15:8,9).

But it was also important for the replacement apostle to have been with Jesus for the entire period of His earthly ministry. But the mere physical presence with Jesus cannot be the reason for stating this qualification for apostleship, for Paul was not with Jesus during His earthly ministry and yet he was an apostle. Surely this qualification has more to do with understanding the true teachings of Jesus than mere association with Jesus for the period of His earthly ministry.

It has been maintained by many that this whole replacement process of Judas was wrong, it being believed that Paul was the divine choice for the replacement of Judas. However the text gives us no real indication that this was the case and appears to be an argument from silence.

Verse 23: The context implies that the assembly agreed with Peter, for they immediately sought to replace Judas with one of their number. Of those assembled, two men met the qualifications, Joseph Justus (also known as Barsabas) and Matthias.

Verses 24,25: The assembly then sought the mind of the lord as to whom should replace Judas, for an apostle must be appointed by direct appointment of the Lord. They also recognized that the Lord knew the hearts of both these men and would be able to appoint the right man for the job if He so chose. Indeed, the one to replace Judas must be the one appointed by Christ, for none other would be suitable to the job.

NOTE: INDIVIDUAL DISCOVERY QUESTION HERE: Why was Matthias chosen to replace Judas and not Justus? Explain your answer.

 

Verse 26: The method used by the early church to discern just who was the Lord’s choice in replacing Judas was that of casting lots (Lev 16:8; Num 26:55; Pr 16:33).

By this method Matthias was arrived at as the replacement for Judas. The assembled church then recognized Matthias as one of the apostles, believing him to have been appointed by God Himself through the means of providence.

QUESTIONS: Are there any indications in this passage as to how we may arrive at the will of God in a matter? Explain your answer.

 

It is clearly evident in the passage that the church was moved to first replace Judas by a correct understanding of the Word of God, for Judas was to be replaced in the apostolate according to Scripture. The church also sought the mind of the Lord regarding what they had discovered in the Scriptures. Also clear was that the right criterion had been arrived at for the selection of a replacement. Certainly the Lord is sovereign over all and through His providence directs all, yet the jury is still out as to whether the church jumped the gun in the selection of Matthias, for it appears from the Scriptures that he achieved little in his role. Should the church have waited for the Spirit before attempting anything? This then is the question that still needs to be answered in a satisfactory way.

 

Individual Discovery

What sort of tongues did the apostles speak in Acts 2:4? Explain the reason for your answer.

 

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17/10/2006

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