United by Jesus (Acts 1:12-26)
This week at Grace we're beginning a new series in the book of Acts. For the next three months, we're going to trace how the early church lived out Jesus' mission in unity. We won't cover every passage in Acts, but I think you'll see how often the tensions of ministry in a fallen world could have pulled Jesus' disciples apart in those early years and how significant it was for them to stay together.
This isn't to say Acts is an idealistic picture of unity. There are times prejudice, selfishness, and overlooking others created conflict among the early Christians. How they responded to those situations can help us today, too.
We'll begin in Acts 1 with an odd passage about the appointment of Judas' successor, Matthias (Acts 1:12-26). It comes between two of the most famous and impactful sections in Acts (Jesus' ascension and the coming of the Spirit on Pentecost), and sometimes is overlooked. But this passage has a lot to tell us about what it means to be unified in mission together, respond to disappointment in community, and live with humility before each other.
Looking forward to working through this new series with you!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
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.
- Acts 1:12-26