Scripture Reading : Acts 1:12-26
Theme : What to do while waiting for the Lord
- United in obedience. The Apostles returned to Jerusalem, just as the Lord commanded, to wait for the coming of the promised Holy Spirit. They did not wander off or engaged in their old trade of fishing, as they did before Jesus’ ascension into heaven (John 21:3).
- United in prayer. The Apostles prayed, “in one accord”, together with Jesus’ family (His mother, Mary, and His brothers). Jesus’ brothers (James, Joses, Judas, and Simon – Mark 6:3) did not believe in Jesus before His death (John 7:5), but they soon became believers after witnessing His death and resurrection. Even though they were just new believers, they were united in prayer together with the Apostles.
- United in doing God’s will. There is no reason to see Acts 1:18 as a contradiction with Matthew 27:5 (Judas hung himself). The simple explanation is that Judas hung himself on a tree which overlooked a cliff, and the rope or branch broke and his body “burst open” when it fell down the cliff. Peter was the leader of the Apostles, and he quoted from Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8 as the fulfilment of prophecy, so as to choose another Apostle to replace Judas. The Apostles cast lots, which was an Old Testament way of determining God’s will, because the Holy Spirit had not come yet. After the coming of the Holy Spirit, the practice of casting lots became unnecessary. Also note that a true Apostle must be an eyewitness of Jesus’ resurrection.
Praying the Scripture
- There are many Christians who claim to want to know God’s will about which career to choose, whom to marry, etc., but openly disobey the clear teachings of Scripture. It is the Christian’s responsibility to obey the clear teachings of Scripture, rather than to try to discern the secret will of God (Deut. 29:29). Let us pray that we will obey the Lord’s commands that are clearly reviewed in Scripture (e.g. love one another, giving thanks, submit to authorities, etc.) as we wait for His return.
- Christians who do not pray are depending on their own strength to fight the spiritual battle. Also, the Apostles and the believers were praying together (physically) and “with one accord”. Let us pray that many more believers will be committed to coming for church prayer meetings, so that we can pray together and with one accord.
- The Apostles were obeying the OT to select someone to replace Judas, rather than their own wisdom or special revelation. The Bible makes clear the qualifications of a true Apostle. Paul was later appointed a true Apostle because Jesus appeared to him. Because of this, there are no true Apostles today. Those claiming to be Apostles today are false teachers who are misleading many. God’s will is clearly reviewed to us in the Bible. We can only know God’s will if we study our bibles carefully. Let us pray that we will be diligent to study God’s Word in order to know His will, and be united in doing God’s will.
经文：使徒行传1:12-26
主题：等候主时当做的事
- 在顺服中合一。众使徒按照主的吩咐回到耶路撒冷，等候那应许之灵的降临。他们不像主被接升天以前那样走散，或者回到他们的本行（约21:3）。
- 在祷告中合一。众使徒“同心合意”地与耶稣一家（耶稣的母亲马利亚和祂的弟兄）祷告。耶稣的弟兄（雅各、约西、犹大、和西门—可6:3）在耶稣还活着的时候并没信祂（约7:5），但在见证了祂的死与复生不久后便成了信徒。虽然他们还是年轻的信徒，但他们与使徒在祷告中是同心的。
- 在遵行神的旨意中合一。使徒行传1:18与马太福音27:5（犹大自己上吊）并无冲突。其解释很简单：犹大吊死的那棵树就在悬崖上，因此当绳子或树枝断了后，犹大的尸体便在掉落悬崖时“身子仆倒”。彼得是使徒的首领，而他引用了诗篇69:25与109:8表示预言应验了，所以要另选一名使徒替代犹大。使徒们摇签选人；这是旧约断定神旨意的方式，因为圣灵这时还未临到。圣灵降临后，摇签这作法便费去了。文中也强调一位真使徒必须是见证耶稣复活的。
用经文祷告
- 许多基督徒自认他们想在各事上（例：选事业、配偶等）得知神的旨意，却公开违背圣经清楚的教导。基督徒的责任是要遵行圣经记载的清楚的教训，而不是辨认何为神隐秘的事（申29:29）。让我们祷告我们在等候主归来时能顺服神在圣经所命的清楚嘱咐（例：彼此相爱、感恩、顺服掌权者等）。
- 不祷告的基督徒是在依靠自己的力量打属灵的争战。另外，使徒与信徒也在一起“同心合意”地祷告。让我们祷告更多信徒能定意参加教会的祷告会，叫我们能在一起同心合意地祷告。
- 当使徒们另选人替代犹大时，他们是在服从旧约的教训，而不是依靠自己的智慧或特别启示。圣经清楚列下了作一个真实使徒当有的资格。今日自称是使徒的显然是引导多人偏离正道的假教师。神的旨意在圣经为我们清楚列下了。唯有当我们严谨查考圣经，我们才能晓得何为神的旨意。让我们祷告我们能殷勤学习神的话，叫我们能得知神的旨意，并在遵行神的旨意上合一。
