The Promise of the Holy Spirit
[1] In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, [2] until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. [3] He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
[4] And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; [5] for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
The Ascension
[6] So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” [7] He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. [8] But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” [9] And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. [10] And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, [11] and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
[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, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, 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. [14] All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
[15] In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, [16] “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. [17] For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” [18] (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. [19] And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) [20] “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
“‘May his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one to dwell in it’;
and
“‘Let another take his office.’
[21] So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, [22] beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” [23] And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. [24] And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen [25] to take the place in 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 on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (ESV)
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
[1] Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
[2] but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
[3] He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
[4] The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
[5] Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
[6] for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish. (ESV)
It is interesting to see these two passages of scriptures together. Acts 1 talks about Judas and his betrayal and then Psalm 1 speaks to what happens to the “wicked” – which we see with Judas.
I also thought it was neat and kind of funny how in Acts 1 they were looking for someone to take Judas’ place and when trying to decide between 2 men (both of whom fit the requirements) it says they prayed,
“You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen [25] to take the place in 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 on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
They were like – “we can’t choose” lol and prayed then cast lots. But they trusted the Lord and knew that He knew these men better than they did.
I also thought it was cool that it says they were replacing Judas’ “place in this ministry which (he) turned aside to go to his own place”. It was clearly a choice Judas made to abandon the place Jesus had made for him. It makes me want to watch my own heart more closely because if someone who walked so closely with Jesus on this earth could so quickly abandon and count his place as so little could turn that quickly, how easy would it be for me to do the same. But it also encouraged me to see that Jesus made a place near him for Judas, even though he knew what he would eventually do. And that place made a place for Matthias eventually. Isn’t it cool how Jesus can take the worst of things and use it to make a place for us.
I remember looking at this Psalm years ago in the Watertree Bible study. Mary and Dana pointed out that we see a downward spiral of walking, standing, sitting.
Both Psalm 1 and what we know about Judas remind me of Mathew 7
15 “Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.
Lord may we delight in your law. Let us be like trees planted by water. Let your Holy Spirit produce good fruit in us.
Usually when I read Acts 1 , I focus on the purpose and the promise of the Holy Spirit, but today the last section (vs 18-19) caught my attention… “He bought the field with the reward of his wickedness.” It reminds me that in the world’s ‘wisdom’ wickedness can seem to carry rewards. It so important for us to seek God’s wisdom and be obedient to him so that we can discern God’s wisdom from everything else and all the other voices.
When Psalm 1 says, “[3] He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers,” I think of the 120 people mentioned in Acts 1, who were waiting in the upper room. It is clear that those in the upper room delighted in Christ and, thus, were like the tree firmly rooted by water that the Psalmist describes. These people walked with Christ, lived through the crucifixion and resurrection, and now, they were embarking on a new, Spirit-filled season of founding the Christian church. Through all these different seasons, they yielded fruit and did not wither. The evidence of their prosperity is seen in the rapid and wide-spanning growth of the early church. These individuals are an encouragement to pursue a resilient and deeply rooted faith by finding delight in the Lord.