Author Archives: Phillip

Fri 28^th August    –  Read Acts chapter 1:20-26:

V20:  Again, Peter speaks of OT Scripture fulfilled in Judas and his fate – he quotes and applies Psalms 69:25 and 109:8. These verses seemingly had a partial reference and fulfillment in enemies of David in his own lifetime, but this ultimate fulfillment in Judas. Some quibble at the application, but we realise this is now inspired Scripture – God’s word spoke so long before of what would happen to His Son.

V21-22:  One of that wider company of believers, beyond the 12, should be added to the now 11 to restore the full number – he must be one who had experienced the whole ministry of Jesus, and a witness to the resurrection – crucial for an Apostle. ( Perhaps among Paul’s ” more than 500″ in 1 Corinthians 15:6.)

V23:  2 such men are now nominated. ( We know nothing about either of them.)

V24-25:  Prayerfully they seek the Lord’s leading as to which of these men is His choice. We should still prayerfully seek the Lord’s will in appointing to office and leadership in the church, of course.

V26: The casting of lots follows an established OT practice, and is in prayerful submission to the Lord’s will. The lot indicates Matthias, and he is added to the number of the Apostles. Some suggest that since we hear no more of Matthias, this act was in error, for Paul was God’s appointed 12th Apostle ( 1 Corinthians 15:8-9.) but we need to remember that we know little or nothing of what most of the original 11 did either. Surely, they served the Lord faithfully, but Scripture does not record how – so, with Matthias.

Thurs 27^th August        –         Read Acts chapter 1:15-19:

V15:  Now Simon Peter takes an early lead – he had been prone to do so at times during Christ’s earthly ministry, of course, but surely this is now at the Lord’s leading – he stands up to address them, and we learn for the first time there were ” about 120″ believers gathered – gospel fruit is already evident.

V16-17:  He speaks of how OT Scripture was fulfilled in the betrayal of Jesus by Judas, how the Holy Spirit inspired David to speak prophetically of this ( Psalm 41:9.) Yet Judas was chosen by Jesus to be among the disciples! This is a mystery to us, and must remain just that, part of the sovereign will and purpose of God. Though all was preordained, Judas remained responsible for his sin – compare Jesus’ own words in John 17:12.

V18:  The horrible outcome for Judas is starkly recorded. Matthew 27:3-5 shows Judas falling into black remorse ( not repentance ) and hanging himself. We need to dovetail the 2 accounts, though we do not have the precise details to do so fully.

V19:  Again, we must compare this with Matthew 27:7-8, though the overlap of the 2 accounts is not straightforward. Perhaps Judas himself did not buy the ill-omened field ( Matthew 27:5 says he threw the blood-money back at the chief priests ) but they then used it to buy the field where, presumably, Judas had already hanged himself. How solemn these things are, how sure and awesome God’s judgement is!

Wed 26^th August   –  Read Acts chapter 1:12-14:

V12:  So they return to Jerusalem, to wait as Jesus commanded them. We learn here that the Ascension was from the Mount of Olives ( Olivet ). A “sabbath day’s journey” was the permitted distance under the law – only about 3/4 of a mile.

V13:  They go to a large upper room, where it seems they are all staying, waiting for the gift of the Spirit as the Lord has told them. Was it the same upper room of the Lord’s supper. and the precious teaching in John, chapters 13-16, we may wonder. The names of the ( now 11 ) disciples are given. In God’s purpose, we know very little about what most of these men went on to do. Legends and traditions abound, but Scripture is silent about them.

V14:  While they wait, they ” devote themselves to prayer” – this indicates a deep commitment, they give themselves whole-heartedly to prayer, a great example to us all ( and compare chapter 2 v42.) We learn they also have with them the faithful women who followed Jesus and whom we glimpse in the crucifixion and resurrection accounts in the gospels, as well as Mary, the Lord’s mother, and his brothers – i.e. those later sons of Mary and Joseph, who had not been believers during his earthly ministry ( John 8:5.) but have now come to living faith, and one of whom, James, went on to become the leader of the Jerusalem church, and the author of the epistle which bears his name.

Tues 25^th August   –    Read Acts chapter 1:6-11:

V6:  Luke now reverts to the day of the Ascension, the disciples asking Jesus if He will now ” restore the kingdom to Israel?”. Clearly at this stage they still think of the kingdom of God in terms of the nation of Israel and interpret all OT prophecies and promises this way. They have yet to learn from the Holy Spirit of the world-wide kingdom of God, and the inclusion of the Gentiles, which the gospel age will see.

V7:  The times and details of God’s final dealings with Israel and indeed all that the end of the age will bring are in God’s own hands and will – not everything is revealed even to the apostles- for God is Sovereign, working out His own purposes. ( See Deuteronomy 29:29.)

V8:  But their task is to be the first ” gospel ambassadors”, the first witnesses to Christ, once they have received the Holy Spirit and His power is at work in and through them.That witness will begin at Jerusalem, then spread to all Judea, to Samaria ( ” beyond the pale” for these 1st century Jews, remember ) and then into all the world. So Jesus speaks of ever-widening circles of gospel witness and fruit, of the growth of God’s kingdom “to the ends of the earth”. The book of Acts shows the beginning of that growth, but it is still going on and is the task of the church still today – and till Jesus comes again.

V9:  After this, the Lord is taken up into heaven in a cloud. What it must have been  to witness that mystery, a visible sign to show that He was indeed ascending to the Father’s glory, through the physical heavens to the spiritual realm of heaven beyond our comprehension, but where He has gone to prepare a place for all His people. ( John 14:2-3.)

V10:  The disciples still gaze up where He has disappeared from their sight, when ” 2 men in white robes” appear to them – clearly, angels, who in some resurrection appearances are also described in this way ( Mark 16:5: Luke 24:4-5.) But if their physical form was human, there was clearly also something awesome about them, as these gospel references indicate.

V11:  They ask the disciples why they are gazing after Him ( as if expecting His immediate return?) but declare that one day He WILL come again from heaven in a similar visible way. ( See 1 Thessalonians 5:16; Revelation 1:7.) This is a great and only partly revealed mystery. We still wait for that day, but never let us doubt it’s reality. Christ will come again!

Mon 24^th  August   –   Read Acts chapter 1:1-5.

V1:  Luke, the author of Acts, writes it first for ” Theophilus”, probably a real individual, though since the name means ” lover of God” some suggest that it is a general title for believers. The “first book” is his gospel ( was that also sent first to Theophilus? ) where he says he wrote about what Jesus “began to do and teach” in His earthly life. This book, then, records what the Lord continues to do and teach, through His apostles.

V2:  His gospel ended on the day that Jesus ascended into heaven, having commanded His disciples – now called Apostles – literally, “sent ones”, with Christ’s gospel commission – as to what they must now do. ( See Luke 24:44-51.)

V3:  Luke emphasises the reality of the Risen Christ’s appearances to His disciples over a period of 40 days, when He continued to teach them – clearly more appearances than the gospels record. ( Compare 1 Corinthians 15:5-7. )

V4-5:  Jesus told them they were not to begin their mission until they had received the promised Holy Spirit – the Father’s promise, through Jesus ( see John 14:16-17; 15:26-27; 16:12-15.) Our ministry today, like theirs, is not to be in our own strength, but by the power of the Spirit. ( So, Zechariah 4:6.)

Sat 22^nd August           Read 2 Kings chapter 2:16-18:

V16:  Yet they show how little they understand what has happened, asking to be allowed to go and search for Elijah – with the rather bizarre idea that God’s Spirit has caught him up only to deposit him somewhere else. Clearly, they had not seen clearly what happened,  and we remember v10 – the gift to see what God did in taking Elijah up was indeed the seal on Elisha’s ministry, as Elijah had said.

V17:  As they keep begging to be allowed to search, Elisha finally lets them do so – knowing it will be in vain, as 3 days fruitless search proves. Perhaps we are reminded here that we can never achieve something we want, if it is not God’s will.

V18:  Elisha reminds them he said their search would be in vain, and with this, the record of Elijah’s life and ministry is complete. Elisha is now ready for the work God has called him to – his training and “apprenticeship” is over. Again, let us realise God’s work never depends upon any one servant, however gifted and godly, however greatly used, but only on God Himself, who will call and appoint His chosen servants to the work He has for them, to His own glory.

Fri 21^st August       Read 2  Kings chapter 2:13-15:

V13:  Elisha takes up Elijah’s cloak – the symbol of the prophetic office, remember – which had fallen from his shoulders. He has seen, he has the cloak, God has endorsed his call and the role he now has, and he returns to the Jordan.

V14:  He strikes the water with that cloak, just as Elijah had done, and calls on Elijah’s God to show that He is with him, and the waters part, as they once had to endorse that Joshua was God’s appointed man to succeed Moses – so here for Elisha to succeed Elijah – God’s work does not depend on any human servant in himself, but only on God’s own sovereign power.

V15: The sons of the prophets, watching from a distance, recognise that the same Spirit of God that had equipped Elijah does indeed now rest on Elisha – his request has been granted. So, they show him reverence, as the Lord’s chosen servant.

Thurs 20^th August  –  Read 2 Kings chapter 2:11-12:

V11:  A remarkable and unique work of God’s sovereign grace and will is described, in so far as our minds can conceive it – chariots and horses of fire appear, and Elijah is taken up in a whirlwind to heaven. We can do no more than wonder at this, we can not understand it and should not speculate beyond what Scripture tells us – remember Deuteronomy 29:29.

V12:  And Elisha does see it, the given sign to confirm his own office, now to succeed Elijah. Perhaps his cry ” My father!”  in some sense emphasises he is indeed Elijah’s “heir”, and the cry ” the chariots of Israel..” his awareness of God’s identification with His people – or is it simply that he doesn’t know what to say, rather like the disciples on the mount of transfiguration ( Mark 9:5-6.)? His tearing of his own clothes is a traditional sign of grief and mourning, just as we grieve for lost loved ones, even though we know they are with the Lord.