Acts 1.1-26

In the first chapter of Acts, Luke addresses a man named, Theophilus who may have been a Roman official or perhaps governor (Luke 1). The first point of chapter one is the promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus orders His disciples after revealing Himself over a 40 day period to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father. Jesus told them that "John the Baptist baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Every believer is indwelled by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16) and is “sealed for the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30) at the moment they trust Jesus as Lord and Savior. From then on, the Spirit is conforming the believer to the image of Christ and empowering the believer for service. Where the power of the Holy Spirit is mentioned in Scripture, you see the Gospel of truth being shared, God being glorified, and people’s lives being changed. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer so we can do what the Lord commands us to do—specifically, to be His ambassadors in the world, introducing people to the love and grace of God available in Christ. We become effective witnesses only through the power of the Spirit.

In vv 6-11, when the disciples asked Jesus if He was restoring the kingdom of Israel. Jesus stated that it was not for them to know the Father’s will and wait until they received power from the Holy Spirit in order to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. After Jesus said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. Two men in white clothing asked the disciples, “why do you stand looking into the sky? Jesus has been taken to heaven and will return in the same manner." Amen!

Once the disciples returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet they entered into the upper room. Peter who was among them and many others, stood and talked about Scripture being fulfilled, when the Holy Spirit spoke through David concerning Judas’ betrayal of Jesus that led to his physical falling in a field where all all of his intestines fell out (vv18-19). This field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood. 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.” (Ps 69:25)

Judas needed to be replaced. So after meeting specific requirements, two men were presented, Joseph called Barsabbas who was also called Justus, and Matthias. Then the disciples prayed to the Lord asking Him who knows all hearts to pick one. Then the disciples casted lots for them and the lot fell on Matthias, who was selected as the Judas' replacement, and the twelfth apostle.

1 The first account, O Theophilus, I composed, about all that Jesus began to do and teach,
2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen,
3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over forty days and speaking about the things concerning the kingdom of God.
4 And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me;
5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
7 But He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set by His own authority;
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to THE END OF THE EARTH.”
9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.
11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
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 the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, 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 These all with one accord were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.
15 And in those days, Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (a crowd of about 120 persons was there together), and said,
16 “Men, brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.
17 “For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.”
18 (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his unrighteousness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out.
19 And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘LET HIS RESIDENCE BE MADE DESOLATE, AND LET NO ONE DWELL IN IT’; and, ‘LET ANOTHER MAN TAKE HIS OFFICE.’
21 “Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—
22 beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
23 And they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias.
24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen
25 to take the place of 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 to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.