Peter Leads The Prayer Meeting
May 21, 2022
Commentary
After the Lord Jesus ascended Peter became the recognized leader of the disciples. He was bothered by the empty space left by the treachery and suicide of Judas, and had decided that someone must replace the missing member of the Apostolic ranks. With this mind a prayer meeting was called in the Upper Room. We are told that the number of the disciples was about 120 (v. 15). These 120 simple folk were told to go out and evangelize the whole world. If ever anything began from small beginnings, the Christian Church did. Since there were about 4,000,000 Jews in Palestine, this means that fewer than 1 in 30,000 were Christians. We may well be the only Christians in our shop, our factory, our office, in our circle. These men gallantly faced their task, and so must we; and it may be that we, too, will be the small beginning from which the kingdom in our sphere will spread. In addressing these 120 of the Lord’s followers in the Upper Room, Peter proceeded to give a full description of the suicide of Judas (vv. 16-19). Peter believed that the person who took the place of Judas should be a man who had intimate personal knowledge of the Lord from beginning to end (vv. 20-22). Evidently there were several who qualified, but after a sifting process, just two people were left, Justus and Matthias (v. 23). We know nothing of these two men beyond their names. These believers prayed not for the Lord to choose, but that the choice He had already made be made known to them (vv. 24-25). The two names were then put on lots (probably small stones) and shaken out of a container (v. 26). The first lot to fall out was considered the Lord’s choice, and Matthias got it. This was in accord with Old Testament practice (Proverbs 16:33). With the coming of the Holy Spirit this practice is no longer necessary for Christians.
Application
What part does prayer have in this passage? I want to make prayer one of my special projects this coming year. I know that it is one of the weakest areas in my spiritual life.
Acts 1:15– 26 (NET)
15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a gathering of about 120 people) and said, 16 âBrothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through David concerning Judasâwho became the guide for those who arrested Jesusâ 17 for he was counted as one of us and received a share in this ministry.â 18 (Now this man Judas acquired a field with the reward of his unjust deed, and falling headfirst he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. 19 This became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so that in their own language they called that field Hakeldama, that is, âField of Blood.â) 20 âFor it is written in the book of Psalms, âLet his house become deserted, and let there be no one to live in it,â and âLet another take his position of responsibility.â 21 Thus one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time the Lord Jesus associated with us, 22 beginning from his baptism by John until the day he was taken up from usâone of these must become a witness of his resurrection together with us.â 23 So they proposed two candidates: Joseph called Barsabbas (also called Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, âLord, you know the hearts of all. Show us which one of these two you have chosen 25 to assume the task of this service and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.â 26 Then they cast lots for them, and the one chosen was Matthias; so he was counted with the eleven apostles.
Illustration: Dobson Tonto and the Lone Ranger
Tonto and the Lone Ranger were riding through a canyon together, when all of a sudden both sides were filled with Indian warriors on horses, dressed for battle. The Lone Ranger turned to Tonto and asked, ââŹĹWhat are we going to do?” Tonto replied, ââŹĹWhat you mean ‘we,’ White Man?”
(In Search of Unity, Edward Dobson, pp. 20-27).