Power From On High – Acts 1

Joy:  You’re listening to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Episode #90.  Today we’ll read the 1st chapter of Acts together:  The apostles were promised power from on high; Jesus ascended to the Father; and Matthias was chosen to take the place of Judas Iscariot.

Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast.  I’m your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me as we simply read God’s word together.  Some things require discipline and sometimes that’s just not easy to muster by yourself, no matter how badly you want to do it or how much you know you should.  It’s just easier to do it with a friend.  So refill your coffee or tea, get comfortable in your favorite chair and follow along as I read aloud.  I’m so glad you’re here!

Welcome

We are starting a new section today!  The Old Testament has twelve books of History, but the New Testament has only one – The Book of Acts, also known as The Acts of the Apostles.  Please don’t do what I did when I was younger.  I always dreaded reading Acts because I thought it was boring!  What was I thinking?!  It’s critical history for our faith. 

You’ll meet real people who have no idea what they’re doing but the Church grows in spite of that.  Kind of like today!  Acts is like a jigsaw puzzle for which Jesus only constructed the frame. With each of its 28 chapters, you will add pieces to the puzzle and soon begin to see a picture forming. 

The power of the Holy Spirit was working in ways that had not been seen before or since.  Now it’s the disciples performing the miracles.  That rag-tag group of coarse fishermen, rascals and ne’er do wells were on fire to bring Christianity to the world.  Coincidentally, there is a moment in Acts when it may have looked like the apostles were actually on fire! 

Paul

You will also meet Paul in this chapter.  Raised a Pharisee (one of those religious leaders we’ve been criticizing for the last four chapters), Paul actually started out as a self-appointed destroyer of The Way, which is how people of the time referred to Christianity. 

Believers were first called Christians in a harbor town in modern day Turkey called Antioch, and you’ll read that in Acts too.  This is the story of the beginning of Jesus’ Church, His precious Bride.  You’ll want to bookmark your Biblical map so you can trace Paul’s three missionary journeys and locate places where the church was scattered, all so the Gospel could be known to the ends of the earth. 

As we begin, notice the receiver of this letter is again Theophilus, so we know that the author is our friend Luke.  Remember that Luke was not one of the twelve apostles.  He was an historian and personal physician to Paul and accompanied him on several of his missionary journeys.  This included the trip to Jerusalem where he had access to many eyewitnesses to Jesus’ ministry. 

Acts Chapter 1

1 I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day He was taken up, after He had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 After He had suffered, He also presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 

You Will Receive Power

4 While He was together with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “This,” [He said, “is what ] you heard 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 asked Him, “Lord, at this time are You restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

9 After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven.” 

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olive Grove, which is near Jerusalem-a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 All these were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers. 

United in Prayer

15 During these days Peter stood up among the brothers-the number of people who were together was about 120-and said: 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David spoke in advance about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was one of our number and was allotted a share in this ministry.” 18 Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages; and falling headfirst, he burst open in the middle, and all his insides spilled out. 19 This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that in their own language that field is called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood. 

Matthias

20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: Let his dwelling become desolate; let no one live in it; and Let someone else take his position. 21 “Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us- 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day He was taken up from us-from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of His resurrection.” 

23 So they proposed two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “You, Lord, know the hearts of all; show which of these two You have chosen 25 to take the place in this apostolic service that Judas left to go to his own place.” 26 Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was numbered with the 11 apostles.

Closing Thoughts

So imagine the eleven apostles, heads back facing the sky, watching Jesus ascend into heaven.  He was truly gone.  What would they do?  And God provides two angels to remind them – and us – that Jesus will come again in the same way He left.  So the apostles came back together in Jerusalem where they were to be baptized by the Holy Spirit.  I wonder if they even knew what that meant. 

One thing you have to give them though, they knew their Scripture.  As you recall, Judas Iscariot was a thief and betrayed Jesus for money.  After realizing Jesus was innocent, he took that money, bought a field and hanged himself.  But according to Ps 109:8, he had to be replaced.  Quite a few men had traveled with Jesus from the beginning, and Matthias was chosen by lot to be the new twelfth.  They were ready.  Let’s pray. 

Prayer

Lord, here it is.  The beginning.  The apostles were about to create the blueprint for Your church; the same church we identify with today.  Thank You for that community; a place to learn, to be comforted, to be encouraged, and a place also where we can encourage others.  Help us to always care for that Body, for whom You are the Head.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Thank you for joining me here today.  I pray God will grow in you what has been planted and watered here.  In this time of unprecedented struggle worldwide, we can look to God for guidance and comfort.  Be sensitive to those in your circle of influence who need a word of encouragement and invite them to join us.  If you like this show, it would be great if you give it a five-star review.  Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  See you right here tomorrow.  Be well!

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible(r), Copyright (c) 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible(r) and CSB(r) are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.