Today’s passage: Acts 1:12-26
Helpful thoughts:
- According to Jewish tradition, they were only allowed to travel about half a mile on the Sabbath day. This was believed to be the furthest distance anyone traveled to get to the tabernacle in the wilderness during the Exodus.
- Only 10 days passed between the ascension and Pentecost. The first meeting consisted of the disciples, the women who had accompanied them (such as Mary Magdelene, Mary and Martha, and the apostles’ wives), and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers (James, Joses, Jude, and Simon).
- Within those ten days, other followers of Christ joined them, including Barsabas and Matthias.
- The casting of lots was used at different times in the Old Testament. This is the last time the use of lots is recorded in Scripture…the Spirit of God came in the next chapter, followed by the apostolic ministry and the writing of the New Testament.
Questions to consider:
- How did David write the Psalms (Verse 16)? Who is the Author of the Scriptures?
- What kinds of things did the disciples of Jesus do while they waited for the promise of Christ to come happen? In what ways was their waiting a time of preparation for what was to come? How can this guide us as we await Christ’s return?
- How did Peter confirm or give evidence for his assertions? How did he prove that Judas’ betrayal was not an accident or a failure on God’s part? How did he convince the rest that it was best to have another man take Judas’ place as an Apostle? What was his source of information?