Peter takes the Lead in Prayer
January 14, 2023
Commentary
Following Christ’s instruction (v. 4), the disciples returned to Jerusalem to wait and pray (v. 12). When faced with an important task or decision, we should not rush in and hope for the best. Instead, prayer for the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance should be our first step. They assembled in the upper room (v. 14), approximately 120 people (v. 15). Notably, the brothers of Jesus were now present, having finally believed in Him after his resurrection. We see here a wonderful unity that bound them together in Christ. It has been said that prayer is both the thermometer and the thermostat of the local church. The “spiritual temperature” either goes up or down, depending on how much God’s people pray.
After the Lord’s ascension, Peter was recognized as the leader of the disciples. Bothered by the empty space left by the treachery and suicide of Judas, Peter decided that someone must replace the missing member of the Apostolic ranks. Peter gave 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 would 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 is the role prayer in this passage? What would I have prayed for under similar circumstances? I know that prayer is one of the weakest areas in my spiritual life, so I want to focus on it more in the coming months.
Acts 1:12– 26 (NET)
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called the Mount of Olives (which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away). 13 When they had entered Jerusalem, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Peter and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James were there. 14 All these continued together in prayer with one mind, together with the women, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a gathering of about 120 people) and said, 16 “Brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through David concerning Judas—who became the guide for those who arrested Jesus— 17 for he was counted as one of us and received a share in this ministry.” 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, “Field of Blood.”) 20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his house become deserted, and let there be no one to live in it,’ and ‘Let another take his position of responsibility.’ 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 us—one of these must become a witness of his resurrection together with us.” 23 So they proposed two candidates: Joseph called Barsabbas (also called Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, 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.” 26 Then they cast lots for them, and the one chosen was Matthias; so he was counted with the eleven apostles.