Bible ReadingActs 1:1-26 “In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, 'you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.' So when they had come together, they asked him, 'Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.' And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.' 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 the upper room, where they were staying, 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. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 'Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.' (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, 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." So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.' And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, 'You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.' And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”
[49:01]Psalm 69:25 “May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents.”
[52:37]Psalm 109:8 “May his days be few; may another take his office!”
[52:37]Matthew 28:20 “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
[01:14:22]Observation questions- After Jesus ascended, what did the disciples actually do first, and what were they doing together in the upper room? [49:42]
- Who is specifically named as being with the disciples in prayer, and what stands out about Mary and Jesus’ brothers being there? [50:04]
- What qualifications did the group use when choosing the man who would take Judas’s place among the apostles? [55:14]
- What steps can be seen in the way the group made this decision—what role did Scripture, prayer, and casting lots each play? [56:50]
Interpretation questions- Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem before they moved outward in witness. Why might waiting be a real act of obedience instead of wasted time? [49:26]
- Judas walked closely with Jesus and still did not surrender his heart. What does that reveal about the difference between being near Jesus and belonging to Jesus? [54:14]
- Peter understood Judas’s fall through the words of the Psalms. What does that show about God’s knowledge and rule even in painful and confusing moments? [54:41]
- Acts 1 ends with lots being cast, but Acts 2 brings the Holy Spirit to dwell with God’s people. How should that shape the way believers seek guidance now? [57:21]
Application questions- Where is waiting hardest right now—in family life, work, health, a ministry burden, or an unanswered prayer? What would it look like to treat that waiting as obedience instead of frustration? [01:10:47]
- Mary is last seen in Scripture praying, and Jesus’ brothers are found in the believing place after once doubting him. What would it look like for this group to be marked by that same humble, steady prayer? [51:05]
- Sin is not neat or harmless; it is ugly and deadly. Where is there a temptation to make peace with a “small” sin because it does not seem serious yet? [53:25]
- A person can know the stories, know church language, and still keep the heart from calling Jesus Lord. Is there any area where closeness to Christian things has been replacing real surrender? [54:07]
- Scripture and prayer are enough for real decisions. What decision or burden right now needs less panic and more time in God’s Word and honest prayer? [57:56]
- God often works through uncomfortable, frustrating, and ordinary moments. Can anyone share a time that looked like a waste at first but later proved to be a place where God was moving? [01:00:11]
- Jesus is with his people always. In what place has loneliness, fear, or weariness been speaking loudly, and how does the promise “I’ve never left you” need to be heard there? [01:14:22]
