Acts 1 - analysis

In Acts 1, the Apostles finally meet the Holy Spirit. Of course, he has been here forever, and they have seen his work during Christ’s ministry, such as at his baptism. However, the Gospels record no reference of Jesus’ disciples speaking to the Holy Spirit or understanding His nature as God. Jesus spoke of the Comforter to come, but the Eleven seem confused at this reference. As with much of God’s plan, they did not fully grasp it until after the Resurrection.

 

In chapter 1 of Acts, we see the disciples and the Holy Spirit come together three times. The first is in verse 2.

...until the day when Jesus was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.

 

 Dallas Willard makes a point about this verse that I had not thought of or heard mentioned before, but he points out Jesus was addressing His followers in person as the bodily resurrected Christ at the end of the Gospels, including the one according to St. Luke. Now in the 2nd part of Luke’s biography of the Early Church, he speaks of Jesus addressing his disciples through the person of the Holy Spirit. See in verse 2 where Jesus gives orders by the way of the Holy Spirit. Thus, Jesus was teaching his believers that they could know and communicate with the risen Lord without his actual physical presence because of the work of the Comforter.

The dilemma with that point is that it appears to contradict the popular understanding that the disciples did not know the Holy Spirit until Pentecost. While I have often stayed at a Holiday Inn Express (in fact I am a Priority Club member there), I don’t want to try to be too smart and go against common Christian understanding. However, verse 2 speaks of the fact that Jesus was speaking to the disciplines through the Holy Spirit. Regardless of how that affects our understanding of Pentecost, that is great assurance to those who follow him now that Jesus can indeed speak and give guidance to us.

 

Verse 8 is quite well known as it has Christ’s general direction to the work of the Church.

"...but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

 

As has been pointed out in numerous sermons, and we continually need to hear this, the Church can not do its work without the power of the Holy Spirit. I have longed been intrigued by this idea of power that comes from living in the Kingdom of Heaven. What does it look like? How do I know I have it? How does it differ from “my” natural power? That is question I am hoping to gain insight into from this study of Acts.

 

As I said in a previous post, I am most interested in learning how the Early Church reached decisions. We see our first decision in the latter part of Chapter 1. The key verses are 14 and 24-26. Verse 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.

 

Then Peter speaks of the fall of Judas, how it was foretold by the Holy Spirit in Scripture and how they are to replace his office. In verse 24-26, their method for choosing the replace is given.

And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen to occupy this ministry 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 added to the eleven apostles.

 

Three points on this selection process. One, they speak to and ask guidance from the “Lord” whom I take to mean Jesus Christ. This collaborates with the idea from verse 2 that the disciples were learning they could communicate with Christ even though he was absent physically. So before Pentecost, the Early Church understood Christ was to be personally involved in their daily lives.

 

Two, the disciples were not quite there yet in their maturity. Hey, it’s pre-Pentecost so may be that is to be expected. But drawing lots shows they were still struggling to perfectly understand Christ’s voice and his will. I assume they felt confident the Lord’s will was either Matthias or Barsabbas, but there was some disagreement among the group on the pick. I suppose you could take it as an example that God’s will is not always clear, but I don’t think that jives with the rest of Acts and the other New Testament writing. We will see as we go through Acts. Still, drawing lots is more Biblical method for decision making then a popular voting, but that is a post for another day.

 

Finally, and what I find most important from this chapter, is the example in verse 14 of the Early Church in one mind through intimate community and prayer. I am expecting we will see this several times in Acts. I will hold off making more analysis until then, but this may be the key to understanding the Lord’s will within the Church.