Part Three

Replacing the Traitor!

Acts 1:12-26 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to

Acts 1:12-26 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,

Acts 1:12-26 and Simon the Zealot, and Judas, the son of James. These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the

Acts 1:12-26 mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. And at this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together)

Acts 1:12-26 And said, “Brethren, 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

Acts 1:12-26 Jesus. “For he was counted among us, and received his portion in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wicked-ness; and falling headlong, he

Acts 1:12-26 burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama,

Acts 1:12-26 that is, Field of Blood.) “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead be made desolate, and let no man dwell in it; and his office let another man take.’

Acts 1:12-26 It is therefore necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us – beginning with the baptism of John,

Acts 1:12-26 until the day that He was taken up from us – one of these should become a witness with us of His resurrection.” And they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who

Acts 1:12-26 was called Justus), and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, “Thou, Lord, knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two Thou hast chosen to occupy this ministry

Acts 1:12-26 and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven

Acts 1:12-26 apostles.

First we should notice the submission of the disciples in verse 12-15.

Acts 1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.

Jesus gives some final instructions to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit.

Luke 24:49 And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothes with power from on high.

Acts 1:4 And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised…

John 16:7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

John 16:8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment…

Thankfully, they didn’t run away, but obeyed the Lord and went to Jerusalem.

Acts 1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.

Mount Olivet overlooked Jerusalem from across the Kidron Valley to the east.

It was 400 feet above the valley and 200 feet above Jerusalem.

Jesus ascended from the back side of the mountain near Bethany.

Acts 1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.

Does anybody know how far a Sabbath day’s journey might be?

A Sabbath day’s journey was the maximum distance one was permitted to travel on the Sabbath.

According to Rabbinic law it was fixed at 2,000 cubits or about one half to three quarters of a mile.

Acts 1:12-13 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to

Acts 1:12-13 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,

It was very common for homes to have upper rooms.

They were used for entertaining and a great place for guests.

By this time the apostles have gained a measure of courage from their encounters with Jesus.

They would be in the temple by day and return to the upper room as needed.

Luke 24:52-53 And they, after worshipping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God.

Some 120 of the 500 who had witnessed the risen Christ were waiting for the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:13 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.

Acts 1:14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

They devoted themselves to prayer with one mind!

Devoted

G4342 προσκαρτερέω pros-kar-ter-eh'-o To be earnest towards, to persevere, be constantly diligent: - attend (give self) continually (upon), continue (in, instant in, with), wait on (continually).

Prayer

G4335 προσευχή pros-yoo-khay' From G4336; prayer (worship); by implication an oratory (chapel): - X pray earnestly, prayer.

With One Mind

G3661 ὁμοθυμαδόν hom-oth-oo-mad-on' Adverb from a compound of the base of G3674 and G2372; unanimously: - with one accord (mind).

In addition to the list on men found in verse 13, some amazing women were there as well.

Including Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary and Martha, and Salome.

Jesus’ brothers were there as well: Joses, Judas, and Simon.

We see them listed in Mark 6:3.

They were obeying Jesus and doing their best to wait patiently for the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:15 And at this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together)

Acts 1:16 And said, “Brethren, 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

Acts 1:17-18 Jesus. “For he was counted among us, and received his portion in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wicked-ness; and falling headlong, he

Acts 1:18-19 burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama,

Acts 1:19-20 that is, Field of Blood.) “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead be made desolate, and let no man dwell in it; and his office let another man take.’

The joy of those gathering together was tempered by one sad reflection, the tragic suicide of Judas.

Peter was attempting to reassure everybody, that even though Judas had violated their trust, God’s plan would be accomplished.

Acts 1:16 And said, “Brethren, 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

Acts 1:16-17 Jesus. “For he was counted among us, and received his portion in this ministry.”

He was counted among us, and received his portion in this ministry.

Judas certainly makes for an interesting topic.

Here are a few scriptures that help us piece his story together.

John 6:64 “But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.

John 6:70-71 Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?” Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was

John 6:70-71 going to betray Him.

John 17:12 While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture

John 17:12 would be fulfilled.

The son of perdition refers to ruin and/or destruction.

G684 ἀπώλεια ap-o'-li-a Ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal): - damnable, destruction, die, perdition, perish, pernicious ways, waste.

Matthew 26:21-25 As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?”

Matthew 26:21-25 And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by

Matthew 26:21-25 whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?”

Matthew 26:21-25 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.”

Judas represents the greatest example of a wasted opportunity.

He had the rare privilege of being one of twelve to live, walk and minister along side Jesus Himself.

But what He wanted was more important than God’s plan.

John 12:3-6 Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the

John 12:3-6 Perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?”

John 12:3-6 Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.

He was counted among us, and received his portion in this ministry.

He got out of this ministry exactly what he put into it.

Acts 1:18 (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wicked-ness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.

Acts 1:19 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.)

Acts 1:20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead be made desolate, and let no man dwell in it; and his office let another man take.’

Falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.

How many people have their bowels gush out when they hang themselves?

This word for hang doesn’t always mean to get a rope.

Hang: Get a rope! Hang on a tree w/out a rope. Crucifixion Impaled on a stake. Falling on a sword.

Acts 1:19 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.)

Acts 1:20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead be made desolate, and let no man dwell in it; and his office let another man take.’

Here are some of the verses being referred to by Peter.

Verses: Psalm 55:12-15 Psalm 69:25 Psalm 109:8

Then, instead of waiting for the Holy Spirit, they decided to select a new disciple.

Acts 1:21-22 It is therefore necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us – beginning with the baptism of John,

Acts 1:22-23 until the day that He was taken up from us – one of these should become a witness with us of His resurrection.” And they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who

Acts 1:23-25 was called Justus), and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, “Thou, Lord, knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two Thou hast chosen to occupy this ministry

Acts 1:25-26 and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven

Acts 1:26 apostles.

Sometimes we can come up with the grandest of ideas, but the timing is all wrong.

Do you think the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit would have proven beneficial to the selection of a new disciple / apostle?

Sometimes we may grab hold of God’s Word and say…

“Thanks Lord! I’ll take it from here.”

May we always remember to slow down and follow the combined leadership of the Spirit and the Truth.

Here’s a quick review of what we covered tonight.

The Traitor Replaced: The Submission of the Disciples (Acts 1:12-15) The Suicide of Judas (Acts 1:15-20) The Selection of Matthias (Acts 1:16-21)

Amen!