College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Acts 1:12-26
IN THE UPPER ROOM Acts 1:12-26
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is nigh unto Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey off.
And when they were come in, they went up into the upper chamber, where they were abiding; both 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.
These all with one accord continued stedfastly in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
And in these days Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren, and said (and there was a multitude of persons gathered together, about a hundred and twenty),
Brethren, it was needful that the scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spake before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to them that took Jesus.
For he was numbered among us, and received his portion in this ministry.
(Now this man obtained a field with the reward of his iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
And it became known to all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch that in their language that field was called Akeldama, that is, The field of blood.)
For it is written in the book of Psalms,
Let his habitation be made desolate,
And let no man dwell therein: and, His office let another take.
Of the men therefore that have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us,
beginning from the baptism of John, unto the day that he was received up from us, of these must one become a witness with us of his resurrection.
And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show of these two the one whom thou hast chosen,
to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.
And they gave lots for them; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
a.
Their return. Acts 1:12
Acts 1:12 Verse twelve is a transition verse linking up the two places designated on the picture on page 22. If you will read Luke 24:52-53, you will discover that they returned with great joy and that they were continually in the temple blessing God. So, we can say that they spent their time of waiting either in the temple or in the upper room. At least, the events described in the text would have taken place in one of these two places. The position of the mount called Olivet, from which Jesus was taken up, is about seven-eights of a mile east of Jerusalem. This distance is called a sabbath day's journey.
18.
What two points do we find in Luke 24:52-53 that are not mentioned in Acts 1:12?
b.
The prayer meeting. Acts 1:13-14.
Acts 1:13 Can you imagine the feeling of joy that must have surged through their hearts as they walked with eager steps down the slope of the mount of Olives, down into the Kidron Valley and looked up to the heights of the wall of Jerusalem? Never had those walls, which were so familiar to them, appeared as they did on that day, for they now were to enclose that place where the risen Lord had told them to wait.
Oh, that today, as we press on towards that new Jerusalem, we might believe in our hearts that Jesus is as much alive as He was in that day! The same holy confidence and joy can be ours for we have the same evidence; yea, more, upon which to found our convictions that He ever liveth and will keep His promises now even as He did then.
Verse thirteen speaks of the house in which the apostles had been living. There is good reason to believe that this house is the same one described in Luke 22:7-13. Be that as it may, Luke here tells us who those were that went into that upper chamber. It would be well to learn the names of the twelve apostles if you have not already done so. They are:
Peter and John,
James and Andrew,
Philip and Thomas,
Bartholomew and Matthew,
James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon the Zealot,
Judas the son of James.
Add to this list the name of Matthias and you have the twelve.
Acts 1:14 Immediately upon entering the city and the upper room the eleven along with certain women; Mary, the mother of Jesus; and the brethren of Jesus held a prayer meeting. They were in total accord one with another and so continued steadfastly in prayer for some time.
19.
In what two places did the events described in Acts 1:12-26 occur?
20.
How far is a sabbath day's journey? How did it come to be called a sabbath day's journey?
21.
What comparison can we make today with the event in Acts 1:12?
22.
What do you know of the upper room spoken of in Acts 1:13?
23.
Give from memory the eleven apostles as found in Acts 1:13.
24.
What was the first act upon coming into the city and entering the upper room?
c.
The place of Judas filled. Acts 1:15-26,
Acts 1:15 We must remember that all of the events described in the first chapter took place in the ten days that elapsed from the day of ascension to the day of Pentecost, Notice what is said to have happened in this period: (It is heard quite often that the eleven held a ten-day prayer meeting, They did something besides pray.)
a.
They held a prayer meeting in the upper room, Acts 1:14.
b.
They were continually in the temple blessing God. Luke 24:52-53.
c.
They transacted the business of filling the office of Jude 1:15-25.
The place where the filling of the office of Judas occurred is not mentioned in the textbut the text does indicate a lapse of time between the prayer meeting in the upper room and the business of filling the vacancy in the office of the twelve. This indication is found by realizing that in verse fifteen we have a multitude of one hundred and twenty persons gathered, whereas in verse fourteen, we find only the eleven, the women, Mary, and the brethren of Jesus.
It seems to the writer altogether possible, if not probable, that the gathering of the one hundred and twenty persons would have been in the large upper room. Here are the reasons for concluding that the selection of Matthias took place in the upper room and not in the temple or some other place of public assemblage:
a.
The fact that this was the place of residence for the eleven, and since this was a personal or private matter, it would not be reasonable to imagine them carrying out this selection in any public place such as the temple.
b.
The opposition to the work of Christ would prevent or hinder the apostles from transacting this matter in a public gathering. Their knowledge of the situation would make it unwise to do such a thing.
c.
The upper chambers of the city of Jerusalem were such as could accommodate a crowd of one hundred and twenty persons.
Acts 1:16 Notice the content of the sixteenth verseread it. Let us mark the circumstances: The eleven were promised by Jesus that they would be baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5), and that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit was come upon them (Acts 1:8). With these promises impressed upon their hearts, they walked into the city to wait for the fulfillment. But here we have them gathered in a formal meeting to carry out a specific work. Isn-'t it a bit strange? It is, unless we understand that the apostles knew they were going to be baptized in the Holy Spirit according to promise and prophesy and that there should be twelve in the group. Because of this, Peter directed the selection of one to fill this vacancy left by the betrayal of Judas. This truth lends still more force to the thought that only the twelve were baptized in the Holy Spirit.
25.
What three things happened in the 10 days from the ascension to Pentecost?
26.
How do we know there is a lapse of time between the prayer meeting and the filling of the office of Judas?
27.
What reasons do we have for concluding that the filling of the office of the twelve occurred in the upper room?
Acts 1:17-20 Seven hundred years before the angels sang of the advent of the Messiah, that man after God's own heart wrote these words: Let his habitation be made desolate, and let no man dwell therein and, His office let another take. Little did David know that it would be seven hundred years before these words would find their fulfillment in Judas, the betrayer of the Christ. But the same Spirit that spoke these words to the mind of the Psalmist directed their fulfillment. Peter arises in the midst of the one hundred and twenty brethren to tell of this son of perdition in whom this prophecy finds its consummation. Peter gives five things about Judas in verses sixteen through twentynote them:
a.
Who was guide to them that took Jesus, Acts 1:16 b.
b.
He was numbered among us i.e. he was counted as one of the twelve. Acts 1:17 a.
c.
And received his portion in this ministry i.e., he had as much a part in the ministry to which Jesus called the twelve as any other. Acts 1:17 b.
d.
Obtained a field with the thirty pieces of silver. This was done indirectly through the priests. Although the field was purchased by the priests, it was counted as being purchased by Judas since it was his money that made the transaction. Acts 1:18 a. Cf. Matthew 27:3-8.
e.
He fell headlong into the field from his hanging position and burst asunder in the field. Hence, the name given to the field by those living near there: The Field of Blood.
Acts 1:21-26 In the six remaining verses, we have an account of the actual business at hand. First, Peter very carefully gave the qualifications of the man who could properly occupy the vacancy left by Judas. It would have to be one of those who have companied with us (them) all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us (them), beginning from the baptism of John, unto the day that he was received up from us (them). Acts 1:21-22 a. Peter also specifically stated the purpose of this selection. It was so this one could be, along with the eleven, a witness of His resurrection. It is significant to note that even before the day of Pentecost, the apostles took the words of Jesus: Ye shall be my witnesses to mean that they were to be witnesses or proclaimers of His resurrection. Acts 1:21-22. The apostles were to be witnesses in the sense of ambassadors, Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:20.
28.
Show the connection of the selection of one to take the place of Judas and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
29.
Give from memory in your own words the five things concerning Judas mentioned by Peter.
Later we are to read in Acts 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen.. A similar incident took place herethe statement of Peter pleased the whole multitude of the one hundred and twenty and they put forward two: Joseph called Barsabbas who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
When we know what God said in regard to a certain matter and yet a selection must be made as to how this matter will be executed only prayer can determine God's will. By asking for His providential leadership His will can be made known. This was the procedure in the case of the eleven. Notice the steps and mark them well as an example for our discovery of God's will in some matters.
a.
To know that God wants something to be done. In this case it was the filling of the office of the twelve.
b.
To know that now is the time for action. This they knew from the coming day of power, not many days hence.
c.
To have a man (or men) who is (are) qualified to occupy the place of God's servant. This they had in Barsabbas and Matthias.
d.
To pray an unselfish and dependent prayer for God's leadership. This was surely the prayer of the eleven as recorded in verses twenty-four and twenty-five. It would be well to look closely into the content of the prayer, demonstrating as it does their utter dependence upon God for His knowledge of who was fitted for this place.
Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show of these two the one whom thou hast chosen.
It is also of interest to find within this prayer a reiteration of a very bluntly stated fact: that Judas fell away from this ministry of apostleship to go to his own place. Being as he was a son of perdition we can have no hesitancy as to what place is here meant.
30.
What were the qualifications given by Peter for the one to take the place of the apostle Judas?
31.
What was the purpose of this selection?
32.
Did the apostles know God's will in the case at hand? If so, why the prayer?
33.
State in your own words the five steps in finding the Lord's will in this situation.
34.
How can we know God's will today?
35.
How can we know the time for action in the will of God?
e.
Make, then some move on your part in which the providence of God can be manifested. This was the reason for the casting of lots. Otherwise, there would have been, of necessity, some direct operation of the mind of God upon the mind of man, in which, such information would have been given. But since it is not the nature of Jehovah to thus convey knowledge when there is some other more natural method, we find the eleven casting lots. And the lot fell upon Matthias and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
The question as to whether Matthias was in truth an apostle should be settled with these words the Holy Spirit spoke through Luke:. . and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.