Acts 1
Yay for starting another book on our journey to draw closer to Him 🙂
Starting a new book means we’ve finished another one which in turn implies we’ve learnt more about the Word of God or at the very least, become one book more familiar with it. That’s something to rejoice over isn’t it?
In our last book, the gospel according to Mark, we’ve followed Jesus in His ministry on earth all the way to the cross. Upon the completion of this part of His earthly ministry, Jesus commissioned His disciples to be His witnesses ‘in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth’. (Acts 1:8) This marks the beginning of the church and we’ll be reading much about this early church in the book we’re starting today.
Let’s start off with today’s chapter.
Bible Passage: Â Acts 1
As I’m wont to do each time we start reading a new book, here’s a brief overview of the book after which I’ll bring up some points for discussion.
Overview
Author: The physician Luke, who is also the author of the gospel according to Luke.
Recipient: The ‘most excellent Theophilus’ (Lk 1:3) – most probably a person with high rank. (Consider this point the next time we are afraid of preaching to certain important, high-ranking people.)
Dating: Most probably between A.D. 60 and 64. This is because it records Paul’s house arrest in Rome which occurred around A.D. 60 (earliest possible date for the book’s completion) but did not mention the fall of Jerusalem (A.D.70) or Nero’s persecution of the Christians following the great fire in Rome (A.D. 64) which were significant events.
Sectionalisation: According to the words of Jesus, the book can be sectioned into three sections
- Witness in Jerusalem and Judea (1:1 – 6:7)
- Witness in Judea and Samaria (6:8 – 9:31)
- Witness to the ends of the earth (9:32 – 28:31)
It can also be divided according to the ministry of the early church workers
- Simon aka Peter (Chapters 1-6, 8-12)
- The deacons (Stephen and Philip) (Chapters 6-8)
- Saul aka Paul (Chapters 9, 13-28)
Historical Background: As mentioned earlier, this is the period of time of the early church after the crucifixion and ascension of Jesus. In the book, Luke covers events spanning from about A.D. 30 to approximately A.D. 60.
In this short period of 30 to 35 years, the gospel had spread rapidly from Jerusalem to Rome despite the persecution that rose not long after the church was established.
Special Characteristic: There seems to be no proper ‘ending’. The book ends rather abruptly by telling us about the house arrest of Paul in Rome and how he was ‘preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence’ (28:31). There is no mention of the deaths of Peter and Paul or what happened to the church later.
I always like to think that there is no ending because we in the True Jesus Church, the revived apostolic church, are continuing the story today. The work, the journeys, the acts, the sacrifices, the faith are all continued by us thousands of years later.
There is no end to the story because the story of the spread of salvation does not end until Jesus comes again in all His glory.      Â
Points of Discussion
Well, where shall we start? There’re just so many things we can learn from this relatively short chapter I don’t know how to begin. I guess since we’re supposed to spend *five* minutes on this (have we exceeded the time already?), I shall have to cut my usual ramblings short J. Here are some things we can consider, put as succinctly as I can. Feel free to comment and add more or add to the points I’ve brought up.
- Faith proven?
In the past, people used to think that while science is logical and rational, religion is superstitious and illogical. However, as time progresses, we see more and more of how science had shot itself in the foot from time to time (ahem*Darwin*ahem). At the same time, truths in the Bible prove to stand up to the test of time.
Long before our time, however, Luke has already established this. The ‘many infallible proofs’ that form the basis of our faith, including the resurrection of the Christ is something that tells us our faith is neither superstitious nor in vain. The book of Acts gives us further proof by recounting how the promise of Jesus to send a Helper after He leaves came to pass. Today, this proof, the Holy Spirit, is in our church and in us.
- Acts of the…?
How would you complete the above title for the book? Acts of the Apostles come to mind right? And it is fitting, seeing how it records the devotion and zeal of the apostles in preaching the gospel. However, it can also be the acts of the church and more importantly, the acts of the Holy Spirit.
Man, no matter how great an apostle he is, is still flesh. Without the Holy Spirit, what can man do? Also, without the support of the church, the work would be difficult, if not impossible. Therefore, let us remember that in order to prosper the church, all these must work together. Man must submit to the Holy Spirit and co-workers must support one another. Which brings me to my final point.
- With one accord?
This phrase is used eleven times in the book. In the original language, it is actually two words that mean ‘same’ and ‘mind’. This is a major factor in the prospering of the apostolic church and the love that it results from is also a defining characteristic of the assembly of the disciples of Christ (Jn 17:21). Today, we should consider if we have this like-mindedness in our service in church and whether or not we can be defined as Christians because of the love we have for one another.
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biblereadingcompanion
Just a brief question for me to think about….
“Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus” was among the earliest of the disciples of Christ. He was a witness of all that the apostles themselves had seen “beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us”.
When there was a need to find a replacement for Judas, Justus was one of the candidates. The other was Matthias. Both were equally worthy but when the lot was cast, it was Matthias that was chosen to be the twelfth apostle, not Justus.
The questions to myself is this….
If I were Justus, how would I feel? Would this affect my future service to God? What about my relationship with Matthias? And even the rest of the apostles?
Will I get angry and upset? Miffed that another has been chosen over me… especially when I think that I am the best candidate for the job?
I could go on and on but I am sure you get the picture.
It is not nice to be so publicly ‘rejected’ from a work or position. And if I were Justus, my pride would be most awfully hurt.
I read this quote from one of our writers recently…
“Choices define us, they don’t dictate us…”
How we choose to respond to a “setback” in our service determines who we are and where we stand before God.
After this incident, there is no where else in the New Testament where we read about Justus. So I am not sure how his story ends.
And if I am in the same situation as Justus, I would not like my story to end without an impact.
Instead, I take inspiration from John Mark. He was rejected by Paul as being unsuitable for the missionary work. But later, because Mark persevered in his service, Paul admitted that he was useful to him in the end (2 Tim 4:11).
After all, God knows our hearts at any point of our work (Acts 1:24). He knows whether we are suitable for the work or not … at that moment – He knows best!
Just some more things to think about in my service to God today.
Hyssop
As Luke didn’t record any response from Barsabas after the election and from the later parts of Acts we find the members were very united, we can understand that he actually submitted to the will of God. This is something we should learn today. Some people strive to become elders, deacons or leaders of the church. Certainly, if it is out of a sincere heart to love God and people, it may not be something bad, just like what Paul said “desires a noble task”. However, we should understand that everyone has his own gifts from God and it is also up to God to decide who should be the leaders of the church. So today, even if we haven’t been selected by the church to do certain tasks, we should learn from Barsabas to be submissive and supportive. Maybe it is not the right time and God wants me to have more spiritual cultivation. Maybe it is not a task for me and God wants me to serve Him in another field. And the most important thing is, no matter we are the leaders or normal members, we should still strive to live for Him.
appleofHiseye
The choosing between Justus and Matthias reminds me of once when I was chosen to do a certain divine work. At that point in time, I really considered it and so I accepted the work. I remember being encouraged that age and ability didn’t matter as long as you had the heart to do it. So I tried to carry out the responsibilities of this work and a year passed by. Then they told me that someone else had been chosen for the position, so I didn’t need to fill in.
I might have felt something at that moment, that maybe I didn’t have the skills or maybe I was too young. But then I realised that while I worked for that one year in that divine work, I lacked a lot, and my opinions weren’t in one accord with my co-workers, which is essential in divine works. And aquillofGod pointed out that working “…with one accord” was mentioned eleven times! Therefore I don’t think my heart was wholly able to serve God, but He gave me that opportunity to learn. And now I realise even though I wasn’t chosen (or “rejected”), I can still persevere in other works or maybe I can try again in that divine work at a later stage. I hope to learn to choose to accept God’s will and the choices made by the church, and keep on serving Him with a sincere heart.
And thank you biblereadingcompanion for the sum up…”After all, God knows our hearts at any point of our work (Acts 1:24).” He knows whether we are suitable for the work or not … at that moment – He knows best!”
PS
Lord Jesus was with them for forty days before He ascended to heaven. If choosing someone to replace Judas was important, why did they not ask Lord Jesus when He was with them? No answer.
If it was not important, why did they do it? still no answer.
Acts 1:3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
John 14:5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
John 20:27-28 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at my hands; and reach your hand here, and out it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
(Did Lord Jesus retain His scared hands and side just to testify to me-of-little-faith?)
If i was Thomas, when Lord Jesus was speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, did “i” absorb every words He said and retain them in my heart?
Lord Jesus’ last command was “when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Did “i” know the way after the forty days? Did “i” know my commissions?
Or was “i” one of those who still asked Lord Jesus, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
Am i a witness for Lord Jesus?
Or will the Holy Spirit be a witness against me?