Acts 1:14

Acts 1:14 says, These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.  These eleven disciples continued in one accord, praying and making supplication for others, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brethren.  We as Christians need to always be in one accord and uplifting others in prayer.  The group was getting ready to move the world.  As we follow today, we are already filled with Holy Spirit from the time we accept Jesus as our Savior, so we need to be united in doing His will.  Verse fifteen adds, 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,) Though there were only eleven disciples who had been the closest to Jesus, they weren’t the only disciples.  When Peter stood to address them, there were about one hundred and twenty disciples gathered there.  We should never feel thar we are alone in serving Jesus. Verse sixteen continues, 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.  Verse seventeen continues, For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. One of them, Judas, had betrayed Jesus.  He hadn't done it for noble purposes, but for his own reward.  If Jesus was not going to set up an earthly kingdom, then Judas was not going to be left with nothing.   Verse eighteen states, 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.  He bought a plot of ground with his money, and he fell on his sword and died there.  Verse nineteen adds, 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.  The field that Judas purchased and killed himself in became known as the field of blood.  Nothing that we obtain by rejecting Jesus will ever be of lasting value to us.  Verse twenty continues, 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.  This was the fulfillment of a prophecy which also stated that another should take Judas’s place.  If one person fails God, He will always have another ready to take his or her place.  Peter felt the need to replace Judas, but where would they find a replacement?  Verse twenty-one says, Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,  Verse twenty-two adds, 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.  He was to come from the approximately one hundred and twenty men who had followed them since the baptism of Jesus by John.  We have never heard much of them, but they were there.  We may never hear a lot about future leaders in the church today until they are needed and called.  Verse twenty-three continues, And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. Two were selected as possible replacements for Judas, but only one was to be called.  We should be ready to serve if God calls us, but we should also be ready to support someone else if they are called,  Verse twenty-four says, And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, The disciples prayed for God’s guidance because He knew the hearts of men, and so must we today as we chose leaders of the church.  Verse twenty-five adds, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.  There was no confusion on the part of the disciples as to why Judas betrayed Jesus.  He did it because of the sin in his heart so that he might profit materially.  We should never attempt to justify the actions of Judas, nor our own if we sin against God.  Verse twenty-six adds, And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. Though we don’t cast lots to choose church leaders, but this was the way that God’s will was often decided in the Old Testament, and we should seek God’s guidance through prayer. Mathias was chosen, and we hear nothing of his great works, but that doesn't mean he did nothing.  Not all who follow Christ are going to be remembered by the world.  Most probably won't be, but they are no less important.

In the rest of the first chapter of Acts, even while waiting, Peter began to take action to move the disciples forward.  One of them, Judas, had betrayed Jesus.  He hadn't done it for noble purposes, but for his own reward.  If Jesus was not going to set up an earthly kingdom, then Judas was not going to be left with nothing.  He bought a plot of ground with his money, and he fell on his sword and died there.  Peter felt the need to replace Judas, but where would they find a replacement?  He was to come from the approximately one hundred and twenty men who had followed them since the baptism of Jesus by John.  We have never heard much of them, but they were there.  Mathias was chosen, and we hear nothing of his great works, but that doesn't mean he did nothing.  Not all who follow Christ are going to be remembered by the world.  Most probably won't be, but they are no less important.  It will soon be three weeks since I started this blog, and I pray that someone is finding it useful in bringing them closer to God.  I guess that I had hoped to get comments or see that there were followers of the blog, but like those unnamed disciples, my task is to follow what God says do, so I will press on toward the mark.  This coming week, I pray you will do the same.