Some believe Peter and the other 10 apostles were hasty and should have waited for the appointment of Paul. Do you agree? Why? Compare the decision-making process of the Church in Acts 1:15-26 in selecting a replacement for Judas with the selection of deacons in Acts 6:2-6. What can we apply from these two events to our decision-making in our church today? What is the criteria for your decision-making?

2. The cobbler said to his indecisive customer, "This will
teach you to never let people make decisions for you."
The cobbler asked,
"Do you want square toes or round toes?"
Ronald Reagan said, "I learned right then and there if you
don't make your own decisions, someone else will."
Today in the Word, MBI, August 1991, p. 16.

3. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your
heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He
shall direct your paths.

8. Acts 1:11 “Men of Galilee, why do you stand
gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was
taken up from you into heaven, will so come in
like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

9. John R. Stott: "There was something fundamentally
anomalous about their gazing up into the sky when
they had been commissioned to go to the ends of the
earth… Their calling was to be witnesses, not
stargazers."
Why do you stand gazing up into
heaven?

10. How did Jesus prepare His disciples before He ascended?
• TEACHING — insight into the plan and purpose of God
• VISION — called to be witnesses
• STRATEGY — Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, the uttermost
• COMMUNITY — one another other
• EXAMPLE — follow “in His steps”
• PROMISE of power, and hope — even the greatest
enemies (death & Satan) have been conquered.

11. 1. 11 apostles left the Mount of Olives & returned
to Jerusalem with great joy (Luke 24:52)
2. They stayed in the “upper room” in Jerusalem.
“Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip,
and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew,
James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes,
and Judas the brother of James.” Also, with
them was Jesus’ mother, Mary and His
family. (Acts 1:13-14)

12. The
Upper Room
Acts 1:13 And when
they had entered,
they went up into the
upper room where
they were staying…

13. 3. They “all continued with one accord in prayer
and supplication” (Acts 1:14)
4. Peter initiated the process of replacing Judas
Iscariot (Acts 1:15-22)
5. The 120 “elected” Matthias (Acts 1:23-26)

14. Acts 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the
midst of the disciples (altogether the number of
names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,
• 120 is the smallest number in Jewish tradition
for a population that could have its own council,
its own synagogue (M. Sanhedrin 1:6).
• 120 is the smallest number each judge should
rule or represent at least 10 members (1QS 6:3-
4, 1Qsa 2:22, CD 13:1-2).

15. Acts 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the
midst of the disciples (altogether the number of
names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,
• 120 is mentioned by Luke as a confirmation that
this congregation of Christ-followers had
become a community and that a 12th leader was
required.
• The 12 were to bear witness to Israel of Jesus'
resurrection to overcome their ignorance that
produced Jesus' death (Acts 3:17), and to gain
Jewish repentance (Acts 2:38).

16. Acts 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the
midst of the disciples (altogether the number of
names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,
• Prophetic symbolism demands 12 Witnesses for
the 12 Tribes. The replacement for Judas is part
of the preparation for the mission that's about
to begin.
• 120 (10x12) may symbolically refer to the
restored 12 Tribes of Israel. Compare this to the
Jewish tradition that 120 elders confirmed the
Law in the time of Ezra.

17. Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in
prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary
the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Acts 1:16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to
be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the
mouth of David…
ἄνδρες (andros) = men, males
ἀδελφοί (adelphos) = fellow believers

18. 2 Peter 1:21 for prophecy never
came by the will of man, but
holy men of God spoke as they
were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to
be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the
mouth of David…
γραφή (graphē) = writing, passage

19. Acts 1:16–18 “…concerning Judas, who became a
guide to those who arrested Jesus; 17 for he was
numbered with us and obtained a part in this
ministry. 18 (Now this man purchased a field with the
wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open
in the middle and all his entrails gushed out…)
1
2
3
4

20. Acts 1:19 And it became known to all those dwelling
in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own
language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)
5

21. Acts 1:20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let
his dwelling place be desolate, and let no one live in
it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’
1
2
3
Psalm 69:25 Let their dwelling place be desolate;
let no one live in their tents.
Psalm 109:8 Let his days be few, and let another
take his office.

22. Acts 1:21-22 “Therefore, of these men who have
accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went
in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism
of John to that day when He was taken up from us,
one of these must become a witness with us of His
resurrection.”
1
2
3

23. Acts 1:23 And they proposed two: Joseph called
Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
Joseph “Barsabas” Justus
Matthias (abbreviated form of Mattithiah)
1
2

24. Acts 1:24–26 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord,
who know the hearts of all, show which of these two
You have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and
apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell,
that he might go to his own place.” 26 And they cast
their lots…

25. Acts 1:26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on
Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven
apostles.
Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the LORD.

26. Temple Baptist Church
Philadelphia, PA
Hatti Mary Wiatt
Russell H. Conwell
$ 0.57
“This is to help build the
little church bigger so more
children can go to Sunday
school.”

28. 941-729-6600
941-981-5387
http://faithbiblechurchefc.com
http://TRUTHtransforms.com
sanctitas@aol.com