Though Luke doesn’t join Paul until some 20 years after the events he records here in chapter 1, and though Luke doesn’t actually publish the Acts of the Apostles for another 15 years after that, he still gives us a first hand account of what took place after the resurrection of Jesus. Let’s take a look.
1) V1-3 – 1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. 3After His suffering, He presented Himself to them 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.
Luke begins with his audience, Theophilus, which means “lover of God.” Luke could have had a patron who actually carried this name, but some suggest he is referring broadly to the church as a whole, as one man, as Theophilus, the lover of God. It is likely that he wrote his gospel account just shortly before penning Acts, both recorded sometime between 56-64 AD.
Luke also refers to his gospel account in v1, in which he revealed the things Jesus began to do and the doctrines and applicable lessons He began to teach. In v2, Luke says that Jesus gave instructions through the Holy Spirit to the chosen apostles. In v3, Luke refers to the crucifixion and death of Jesus as “His suffering,” and he says that Jesus presented Himself to them and gave many convincing (infallible) proofs that He was alive. His physical presence with them – off and on for an unknown reason – lasted 40 days, during which He spoke to the apostles (and presumably the others to whom He appeared (1 Corinthians 15)) about the kingdom of God. Of course, Jesus had spoken many parables to them during His earthly ministry about the kingdom of God, and in fact, the gospel, the good news, is that the kingdom of God has come with Him! But I wonder if – and how – His post-resurrection speaking sessions on the kingdom differed from His pre-resurrection explanations…
2) V4-8 – 4On 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. 5For John baptized with [or in] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with [or in] the Holy Spirit.” 6Then they gathered around Him and asked Him, “Lord, are You at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. 8But 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.”
Luke relates the final visit Jesus paid to the apostles, after which he ascended into heaven (v9). But the importance of this particular visit includes the instruction to wait for the promised baptism of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem. Upon hearing this instruction, the apostles asked a question: “Lord, are You at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Is this question even related to what Jesus just said? Maybe the apostles think it’s part of the battle strategy, and they’re fully on board with a leader who conquered the grave. And ultimately, the Holy Spirit is a huge part of the battle strategy, but as Paul will later teach, our battle is not a physical fight. We’re in a spiritual war, and the Holy Spirit is our offensive weapon. The apostles didn’t seem to get that just yet, which is understandable, I suppose. Nevertheless, Jesus answers their question with a pretty direct answer: “It is not for you to know…” In other words, Jesus implies that there will be a time when the kingdom will be restored to Israel (Jesus is Israel…) But for now, we’re in the time of the working of the Holy Spirit. And as Jesus explains in v8, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” That’s why they need to wait; the apostles are powerless in a spiritual battle without the Holy Spirit. Once they receive the Spirit, they will be witnesses all over the world for the truth of Jesus Christ and grace and mercy available in the kingdom of God.
3) V9-14 – 9After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. 10They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11“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.” 12Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk [1 km or 5/8” mile] from the city. 13When 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. 14They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
As Jesus ascended into heaven, His final words about the power of the Holy Spirit no doubt echoing in the minds and hearts of the apostles, two angels (Michael and Gabriel?) appear, asking the apostles why they were looking into the sky. They explain, most interestingly, “This same Jesus…will come back in the same way you have seen Him go.” What a marvelous thought!
When the apostles returned, they literally waited, as Jesus had told them to do. The eleven joined constantly in prayer with the women who normally hung around Jesus. Also present with them while waiting prayerfully were the mother and brothers of Jesus, including Mary, James, and Jude. It appears now that Jesus’ brothers believe in Him, whereas before they may not have. Perhaps Jesus had already appeared to His brother, James, in a one-on-one event relayed in 1 Corinthian 15.
4) V15-26 – 15In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16and said, “Brothers and sisters [The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 6:3; 11:29; 12:17; 16:40; 18:18, 27; 21:7, 17; 28:14, 15], the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.” 18(With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20“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’ [Psalm 69:25], and, ‘May another take his place of leadership’ [Psalm 109:8]. 21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22beginning 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.” 23So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
Luke continues with the timeline, explaining that, during the 10 days or so that separated Jesus’ departure and the arrival of the Holy Spirit, Peter grasped the leadership role of the group of 120 believers in Jerusalem. Perhaps he thought of filling the void left by Judas, or perhaps the group had been mulling it over together. But Peter ties their decision to choose a replacement to Psalms 69 and 109, both of which are clearly Messianic when read in the context of Jesus and His relationship with Judas.
In v21-22, Peter lays out the requirements for Judas’ replacement. The chosen man must have been a disciple of Jesus – though not one of the Twelve – from the time of His baptism onward. And he must become a witness with the eleven of the resurrection. Two men were nominated – Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Nothing else in all of Scripture is mentioned about either of these men, so the whole thing may easily seem unimportant to us today. But it was extremely important to those in that room, for they prayed – acknowledging God’s omniscience and sovereignty and clearly despising Judas with righteousness, calling him out as one who went “where he belongs” – and cast lots about the decision. Matthias was chosen, and Clement of Alexandria identified him as Zaccheus; others tie him to Barnabas. Some say he went and preached in modern day Georgia (USSR), where he was crucified. Others say he was stoned and beheaded in Jerusalem. Still others say he died apart from martyrdom, out of old age. There is a “Gospel of Matthias,” considered even by the early church fathers as a heretical document of the second century AD. But the truth is that we know nothing of the rest of his life or ministry.
Footnotes
- 1:5 Or in
- 1:12 That is, about 3/4 mile (about 1,100 meters)
- 1:15 Greek brothers
- 1:20 Psalm 69:25
- 1:20 Psalm 109:8
Bible text from Gospelcom.net. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.