[:en]SCRIPTURE: ACTS 1
“It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7-8)
INTRODUCTION:
Acts was the second book written by Luke, a physician. This book tells about the missionary work of Peter and Paul. Peter focused on the Jews and Samaritans while Paul concentrated on the Gentiles. It reveals the coming of the Holy Spirit, the gift which the Father had promised.
JESUS TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN (vs. 1-11)
Christ was on earth for 40 days after His resurrection. He instructed the apostles to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit so that they will be His witnesses on earth. Then, they saw Jesus taken up and a cloud hid from their sight. Suddenly, 2 men dressed in white said to them: “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven” (vs. 9-11)
MATTHIAS CHOSEN TO REPLACE JUDAS (vs. 12-26)
The disciples gathered together in prayer. Among them were Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James, son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot and Jude, son of James. They were eleven in all. Since Judas Iscariot had betrayed Jesus, he used the reward to buy a field and, on that field, he fell head-long, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. So that field was called Akeldama, meaning Field of Blood (vs. 18-19). Therefore, they decided to choose one to replace Judas Iscariot by drawing lots between Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. The lot fell to Matthias, so he was added to the eleven apostles.[:]