United in Purpose

Unity is the aim of Christ for His Body

God’s Spirit is not yet present and resident in this body, so this passage takes place under the old covenant’s parameters.

Act 1:12-26

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Act 1:12 (ESV) Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.

2000 cubits or 3000 feet… Just over half a mile. This was the distance that the Israelites had to walk while passing through the wilderness in the encampment God laid out.

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Act 1:13 (ESV) 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.

Upper room here may refer to the room where they had the last supper. But upper rooms were very common in Jerusalem and throughout that culture.

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Act 1:14 (ESV) All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Unity was the signature or identifying characteristic of this assembly.

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Act 1:15 (ESV) In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said,

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Act 1:16 (ESV) “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.

Act 1:17 (ESV) For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”

Act 1:18 (ESV) (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.

Act 1:19 (ESV) 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.)

Act 1:20 (ESV) “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.’

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Act 1:21 (ESV) So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

Act 1:22 (ESV) 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.”

I am reminded that Peter has had several instances where is impetuosity or need for immediate action has led to mistakes. In light of the fact that God called Paul as an apostle, there is a distinct possibility that this was human reasoning leading.

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Act 1:23 (ESV) And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.

Clearly the monumental decision as to who was to be one of the guiding leaders in the founding of the church was decided with the involvement of the whole church body, not just the sanctified leaders.

Although there is question as to whether this process was fulfilling God‘s purpose or man’s, either way what we see is a very unified, non-divisive decision taking place on a very big element. In many ways this illustrates faith in God. Get your direction and move. Trust that God will resolve any issues by His sovereignty.

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Act 1:24 (ESV) And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen

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Act 1:25 (ESV) to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”

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Act 1:26 (ESV) And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

United in Purpose

Unity is the aim of Christ for His Body

Joh 17:9-23 (ESV)

Eph 4:11-16 (ESV)

It is God‘s intent that we be unified, not divided, in our differences. We can accomplish that by taking on Paul’s perspective on differences…

Php 3:15 (ESV)