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ACTS 103 Chapter 1:9-26
Acts 1:9-12
9 And when he (Jesus)
had spoken these things, while they beheld,
he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their
sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward
heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white
apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why
stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is
taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner
as ye have seen him go into heaven.
12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the
mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's
journey.
Jesus ascended into heaven in a cloud from Bethany on the Mount
of Olives (Olivet) which is about 2 miles from Jerusalem.
(Luke 24:50-53; John 11:18) He will
return to the Mount of Olives "in a cloud with power and great
glory". (Zech 14:3,4; Luke 21:27) And
then "the Lord shall be king over all the earth."
(Zech 14:9)
(Were the disciples expecting Christ to return and reign on
the earth, or were they expecting to go to heaven?)
Acts 1:13-26
13 And when they were come in, they went up
into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and
Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son
of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas (also called
Thaddaeus in Mat 10:3 & Mark 3:18) the brother
of James.
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,
with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the
disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an
hundred and twenty,)
16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled,
which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning
Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this
ministry.
18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of
iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and
all his bowels gushed out.
19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as
that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to
say, The field of blood.
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be
desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick
let another take.
21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all
the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he
was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us
of his resurrection.
23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed
Justus, and Matthias.
24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts
of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from
which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own
place.
26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias;
and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
The disciples listed in verse 13 will rule the twelve
tribes of Israel in the government of the kingdom when Christ
returns in glory. (Mat 19:28) Therefore
it was essential that there be twelve of them. Judas had been
one of them (John 6:70,71), but after
he betrayed Jesus, read in Matthew 27:3-10 exactly what
happened. Judas threw the money the religious leaders had given him
down in the temple and went and hung himself. The leaders bought a
field with the money, as foretold in Zech 11:12,13. Then
Judas’ body apparently fell, perhaps in the earthquake that happened
at Jesus’ death. (Mat 27:50,51)
Verse 20 contains two quotes: Psalms 69:25 and 109:8
Neither of these prophecies clearly specify Judas, but remember
that the disciples had just had 40 days of Bible study with Jesus.
So they understood these scriptures, and knew exactly what to do
next. Someone had to take Judas’ place (bishop rick). Verses
21&22 give the qualifications for that person.
(Acts 10:37-41; John 15:27; Luke 22:28-30)
Many teach that the apostles made a mistake here and that
Paul is really the twelfth apostle. But would Paul meet the
qualifications? No, he could never be a witness of Jesus’
life and resurrection. He wasn’t even saved at the time. In I Cor
15:4,5, the twelve are mentioned after Jesus’
resurrection and they do not include Paul. Verse 26 says
Matthias "was numbered with the eleven apostles", not Paul.
A disciple is one who is learning, a student. An
apostle is one who is sent with a message. Notice in Mat
10:1-7, how the 12 disciples were called apostles when Jesus
sent them out to preach. And notice specifically what they
preached in verse 7, and to whom they preached in verse 5&6.
Paul was definitely an apostle, but as we’ll see,
he was sent later with a different message, and he was sent
to a different group of people than the twelve were.
(Rom 11:13; Gal 2:7,9; Eph 3:1-6)
Notice that Peter is the leader here in Acts.
Jesus gave Peter the "keys" to the kingdom of heaven in Mat
16:16-19. In the next chapters of Acts, we’ll see Peter, as the
leading spokesperson, use those keys to open up that kingdom to
Israel.
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