Acts 1:12 - 22

         Remarkably, all of the apostles stuck together. They were all witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. And they all saw him ascend into heaven.

         God used two angels to confirm to the apostles that someday Jesus would return from heaven. That is Jesus’ style. He always does things creatively and in a way that shows His love for us. And that’s what we see here. Even though the apostles had not yet received the Holy Spirit, promised by the Father, Jesus sent these two white-robed men to say, “Stop staring at heaven. Jesus is gone. He will return.” God has a similar message throughout Scripture. It is the responsibility of believers to work hard, get moving, and be useful.

This small band of 11 brothers (soon to be 12 again), the motley men of Galilee, would soon multiply greatly on the Day of Pentecost. God’s church never stops growing; it will continue to grow until the Day of Jesus’ return.

         From the start, the apostles show us unity in prayer. That was Jesus’ prayer for them: unity. I believe it remains God our Savior’s prayer for us. Let us seek unity in obedience to Christ.

Note that Jesus’ mother, Mary, was with them. And several other women. And Jesus’ brothers. Jesus’ brothers, after the resurrection, were believers in Jesus as Messiah and God. James, Jesus’s brother, calls himself a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus was their brother, and now, their Lord and their God. Wow. What a transition. Jesus cares about family. It is holy because He made it holy. As Christ-following men, be reminded of how important it is to lead your family well. Remember that family is sacred to God.

         It was Peter’s time to stand and lead. Like all men of Christ, Peter leans heavily on Scripture. He knew the Psalms by heart. That’s a lesson for those of us who seek to lead. How well do we know Scripture? Are we intaking God’s word daily? To understand what to do in a time of crisis, to obey Jesus, and care for his people, as Peter does in this introductory chapter on the church, we must know God’s word. Inside and out. Peter explained that the Holy Spirit predicted Judas’ betrayal 1,000 years before Jesus’ death. And like Peter, we should be able to teach. And, like Peter, we must not just listen to God’s word; we must put our faith into action to make our faith complete.

         Seeing 120 gathered in one place early in this story is a bit of a shocker. Remember that we have fellow believers in Christ whenever we feel alone and isolated. We are not in this life alone, thank God! After referring to King David’s prophecy, Peter turned to the Psalms regarding the direction of what to do. All Scripture! The church must know all Scripture. God directs us through Scripture. We are to incorporate Scripture into our discussions and our decisions. All Scripture is useful to help us, to teach us. It is a good habit to read one chapter of Proverbs per day. It’s a healthy leadership discipline. Just use whatever day of the month it is to guide you. Don’t worry if you miss a day. It’s ok.

         Peter set the standard right here at the outset of the church, that a leader must be experienced in ministry (in relationship to Jesus) (v. 21). The 12th apostle had to be able to give a full testimony/witness about Jesus, from his baptism to his resurrection. We have the Holy Spirit, the Gospels, and our experience with the Lord God to enable us to be witnesses and ambassadors for Christ. But don’t forget, as you are choosing your leaders, to ensure they are trustworthy and battle-tested.

Thank you, Lord, for the example of your apostles. Thank you for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you for our families and our Chruch family. Direct us today, Lord Jesus. May we seek to be united in Christ. And may we be as Holy Spirit guided and as decisive as Peter and the early Church. Amen.