Acts 5, Dishonesty in the Young Church (and Another Jailing)

After the explosive growth of the young church, there is a time of resettling.  From the early enthusiasm there flows a (very human) tendency for jealousy and hypocrisy.

Acts 5:1-6
Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.

Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."

When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

This is a very scary event! Surely Peter doesn't know this will happen? But somehow he knows to confront the lying and hypocrisy.  

Of course, there is great fear! What if God acted this way in today's church???

Acts 5:7-11
About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" 

"Yes," she said, "that is the price."

Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

Peter certainly knows now what will happen to Sapphira!

Why does this occur in the early church?  What is the message?

Acts 5:12-16
The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.

As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.

The rush to join the new church has ebbed (a little).  But the church continues to grow.

Acts 5:17-20
Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.  But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life."

Following behind this amazing event are instructions to return to the battlefield and "do it again"!

Acts 5:21-25
At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest  and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin--the full assembly of the elders of Israel--and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them  there. So they went back and reported, "We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside."

On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what would come of this. Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people."

How embarrassing!  (And possibly life-threatening to the soldiers!). The people they were supposed to be holding are back out in public.

Acts 5:26-28
At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood."

The last phrase makes it clear what the jealousy is all about.  The leaders have been accused of being responsible for his death.

Acts 5:29-33
Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead--whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.

What did the leaders expect?  It is clear they are not accustomed to this level of independence and stubbornness.

Acts 5:34-40
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

Gamaliel's speech has considerable logic.  Something strange has been going in and so Gamaliel is a little wary.  He is also quite happy to have the Romans take care of troublemakers like these.

Acts 5:41-42
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

In this time of opposition and slow growth, the proclamation continues.  And the young church is willing, indeed happy, to suffer "for the Name."

Acts 4, Aftermath of the Temple Sermon

Peter has just finished his second sermon (according to Luke) and this one draws the ire of the religious leadership.  They thought that they had just gotten ridden of Jesus... but no....

Acts 4:1-4
The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.

But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

The "resurrection of the dead" is a vital and early testimony in this new church.  Luke records the growing numbers, now 5000 men.  (Presumably more are women and children; the new church is formidable in size and, like Jesus, beginning to be a threat to the religious establishment.)

Acts 4:5-12
The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is `the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.'  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

The leaders get more than they expected.  Luke records that Peter was "filled with the Holy Spirit", and so his courage and his words were supernaturally driven.

The capstone (or possibly "cornerstone") reference in verse 11 represents a critical part of architecture. The capstone finishes an arch, holding it in place; the cornerstone of a building is a foundational stone on which the rest of the stones are referenced.  

The Old Testament quote in verse 11 is from Psalm 118:22.

Acts 4:13-18
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.

"What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

Ordering people not to speak out (on any topic) is a sign of desperation.

Acts 4:19-22
But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Peter and John reply to the desperate instruction of the rulers by appealing to a higher power and a transcendental purpose.  Of course, the rulers are stuck.  They can only, at this time, make empty threats.  

Luke records that the witnesses of the healing were many and that the populace were in support of Peter and John.

Acts 4:23-30
On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: `Why do the nations rage and the  peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed  One.' Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

This is a strong and confident prayer.  Note the requests embedded in it, along with the praise.

The quote in verse 26 is from Psalm 2:1-2, long viewed as Messianic.

Acts 4:31-35
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

"There were no needy persons" -- this early community is strong and devoted to one another.  Can this last?

Acts 4:36-37
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.

We are introduced to "The Encourager", who, like other wealthy members of the early church, is selling his property and donating it.

Acts 3, Peter's healing & sermon in the temple

The embryo church, having exploded from 120 to 3000, continues to grow.

Acts 3:1-10
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.

Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.

He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with  them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled  with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter uses this event to once again remind people of the power of this recently resurrected Messiah. Note the details: the gate called "Beautiful" and the fact that the individual goes around "jumping", to show off his dramatic well-being!

Somehow Peter (and maybe John) knew that this could happen?  It does not seem to be a regular thing...

Acts 3:11-16
While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had  decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a  murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

Peter's sermon is clearly aimed at his fellow Jews, those who have (unintentionally) aided in the crucifixion of Jesus.

Acts 3:17-20
"Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus.

Peter invites his listeners to receive the refreshing gift of the Messiah.

Acts 3:21-26
"He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. For Moses said, `The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.' Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, `Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.' When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."

Almost an aside -- Peter takes his Jewish listeners back to promises of Moses and Abraham.

The quote in verse 23 is from parts of Deuteronomy18:15-19.  The quote in verse 25, part of God's covenant with Abraham, is from Genesis 22:18 and Genesis 26:4.

The religious leaders will notice the turmoil in the temple and will not be happy.  The events that follow are the subject of the next chapter of Acts....

Acts 2: 22-47, Peter's salvation message

Peter continues his sermon to the crowd that shows up at Pentecost.  After having defended the miraculous signs of that morning and quoting the Old Testament prophet Joel, he continues with the real theme of the event, the Messiah Jesus.

Acts 2:22-24
"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

The Greek translated here "wicked men" is literally, "those not having the Law", a euphemism for the irreligious Gentiles (NIV footnote.)  Note Peter's appeal to his audience's witnessing some of these events.

Acts 2:25-31

"David said about him: `I saw the Lord always before me.  Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'

"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay.

The quote in verse 28 is from Psalm 16:8-11, from the Septuagint translation of the book of Psalms.

In verses 31 and 36, the word, Christ, means "the anointed one", a Greek word for the Hebrew word "Messiah."

Acts 2:32-36

"God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, `The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."'

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Peter is confident is his claims as a witness.  The events of the resurrection are recent and vivid and there appears to be no one there to contradict his claim.  The eyewitness accounts compelled this new group into the center of Jewish life in the first century!

The Old Testament quote in verse 35 is from Psalm 110:1.

Acts 2:37-40

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with  them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."

Peter ends his sermon with a now classic call, an invitation to respond immediately.

Acts 2:41-47

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Notice the daily growth and the daily meetings!  Such enthusiasm, such contagion, such community! Luke records their commitment to the teaching of the apostles, the common fellowship, the practice of "breaking of bread" (presumably referring to what we now call "communion" or "the Lord's supper") and, of course, to prayer.

The word “saved” here is interesting and has come to have various meanings over time. What does Luke intend it to mean here?

Acts 2: 1-21, The Holy Spirit at Pentecost

The life of the early church continues, shortly after Jesus's has left his small core of followers.

Acts 2:1-4
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

"Other tongues" could easily be translated "other languages"(NIV footnotes.)

The Holy Spirit is not a significant theme in the Old Testament, although the Spirit of God does descend upon men and women in Old Testament times.  But in the New Testament, following the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:33) and Ezekiel (Ezekiel 36:26-27), the Spirit of God within people plays a major role, a significant theme.

Acts 2:5-13
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"

I am impressed with the list of attendants at Pentecost.  Presumably Luke is quoting someone who was there.

Acts 2:13
Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."

All this babbling might just be drunkeness.  (NIV footnote says "wine" is "sweet wine", but I don't know the signifance of the word "sweet."  Maybe it was wine easy to drink? Or more alcoholic?)

Acts 2:14-21

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: `In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' 

Regarding verse 15: living in a college town, I'm aware that one could be drunk at nine in the morning!

Peter links the miraculous works of Pentecost to a fulfillment (partial) of the apocalyptic prophesy of Joel.  The quote is from Joel 2:28-32.

In the second half of this chapter, we will see one of the first effects of the Holy Spirit's appearance.

Acts 1, Jesus Leaves & a Young Church Begins

The Book of Acts is a sequel, written by Luke, to his gospel account.  Here, Luke continues his story of the life of Jesus with a history of the young Jewish church.

Acts 1:1-3

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had  chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

Theophilus means, literally, "Lover of God."  Is Theophilus a particular individual who has, presumably, taken "God-lover" as a nickname?  Or are Luke's letters directed to anyone who wishes to be a lover of God?

The first few verses summarize the earlier letter, the gospel of Luke (also written to Theophilus.) There is no reason to doubt that we are getting a second letter, carefully written, possibly for one individual, but with a larger audience in mind.

Acts 1:4-5
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

In this transition to the future, Luke prepares us for the rest of the book.  We, the modern reader, have accepted that the Holy Spirit will play a role in this book but the idea of the Holy Spirit as main character was rather new to the Jewish believer of that day.  The Holy Spirit is a relatively minor representation of God in the Old Testament.

Acts 1:6-8
So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"

He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

The kingdom of God has been a major theme of Jesus’s ministry.  The disciples are still fixated on the future restoration and the kingdom of Israel.   But God has other plans.  Does this paragraph reflect some angst, some concern of the early church, that Jesus was to come back -- but hadn’t (yet)?  

Someone else has pointed out that verse 8 is the theme for this letter -- we will watch the disciples become witnesses, first in Jerusalem, but then quickly spreading out through Judea, into Samarian and eventually to “the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:9
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

What was this like??  Did he really go into a cloud?  Or fade out?  or...?  (C. S. Lewis apparently has a comment on this but I can't find it.)

Acts 1:10-11
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking  into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

Were the men really dressed in white?  Is this just describing their clothing? Or something else?

Will it really be the same?  (How similar?)  

The simple followers of Jesus were addressed as people of Galilee, a rural northern region of Judea.

Acts 1:12-14
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city.  When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

A Sabbath day's walk is about 3/4 mile (about 1,100 meters)

I always appreciate Luke mentioning the women.  Here he even mentions Mary, the mother of Jesus. (Joseph, Jesus's father, has presumably died by this time?)  The upstairs room is that of John Mark, according to tradition; see Acts 12:12-13.

Acts 1:15-20
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested  Jesus- he was one of our number and shared in this ministry." (With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all  his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) "For," said Peter, "it is written in the book of Psalms, "`May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,' and, "`May another take his place of leadership.' 

One hundred and twenty is probably quite a lot of people, given that Jesus was recently crucified.

From an NIV footnote, the term translated "believers" here may mean "Greek brothers".

Did Judas fall headlong?  Or hang himself? Or both??  Matthew 27:3-10 records that Judas committed suicide by hanging himself.

These quotes are from Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8.

Is this a (typical) stretching of the Old Testament?  Is there any reason for someone to believe these scriptures spoke of Judas?  Or is there some principle Peter is trying to state?  Whichever, Peter is getting ready for the next step.  (Notice the eager anticipation that Jesus might return at any moment and we need "twelve" when he comes!)

Acts 1:21-26
Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection."

So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Who decided these qualifications?   They are pretty strong requirements!  The two, Justus and Matthias, appear here without introduction.  Why don’t we hear, before this, of these two? I want to know more!  

The casting of lots is a bit weird.  Why not vote?  Does the “casting of lots” (introducing some type of randomness) somehow allow God to get involved?

So Judas is replaced.  Some argue that Peter is in a hurry and God really wanted Judas replaced by Paul.  But is it really such a big deal that there are 12?  We don’t really hear about the twelve much after this.  (Some argue that the disciples hurried in finding the 12th apostle; had they been patient, they would have eventually appointed Paul.  I find this a bit unrealistic.)

An Introduction to the Book of Acts

As we have just finished reading through one of the gospel accounts of Jesus's life, it is appropriate that we move on to the one New Testament book that tracks the history of the church after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The "Book of Acts" was written as a sequel to an account of the life of Jesus, apparently by Luke, a physician who traveled with Paul at one point.  The book begins in Jerusalem, shortly after the resurrection of Jesus, and chronicles the early church in Jerusalem, its breakout into the surrounding area (mainly northward into Syria and towards Turkey) and eventually the church's recognition of the non-Jews, those confused, irreligious "Gentiles".  The last half of the book describes the journeys of the individual Saul/Paul as he increasingly focuses on the Gentiles.  The narrator, Luke, enters the story several times, switching his narration from third person to first person as he describes events that he witnessed.

We will spend five weeks working our way through the 28 chapters of Acts.  But if you'd like a much shorter study, here is Acts in 3 minutes.  Or, for the one in a hurry, here are 28 tweets which summarize the chapters!

There are, of course, more serious resources.  A brief summary of Acts is available here at biblestudytools.com (click on "Summary") and also here.  A summary of the book, followed by studies of individual chapters, is here at GotQuestions.org.  And, of course, the Wikipedia page on Acts is good.

We will examine (slowly!) 28 chapters in 31 days, just over five weeks.  Join me!