Acts 1 ~ Alive to them

Acts 1

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with:

All that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs,
appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."



6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"

7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."


12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 

16 "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry." 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 "For it is written in the Book of Psalms, "'May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it';and "'Let another take his office.' 

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us--one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection." 

23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said,

 "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.






The well-known horrible God of the Old Testament. Is the exact same Father God of the New Testament.

Once again we see God rising up and leaving poor humanity... after dying to save us. Dying in a way no one would ask to die.




There are dark days and we have left Holy Week, Good Friday and found Easter. If you ever have dark days of wondering if God is that god our God avoids for dire sacrifice of blood and unrelenting wrath - Read John 21 and Acts 1.

Jesus has said several times, "Rise up." "Let us Rise from here."

Jesus graciously lets us know He is found in Heaven with His Father. He has not left to be with the Greek Dispersion. He is alive and doing His Father's Work.

Father God graciously explains the Disciples are left from the years with Jesus as bold, resolute, compassionate, wiser, enabled, eager to have and do the Great Works of God. Father God has left them better than they ever were. We speak easily and routinely about the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the Poor have Good News preached to them.


We are sometimes the Poor in Spirit, we have times just like the New Testament where we are down as David in Psalms. Jesus with absolute confidence told us we will have suffering and doubts. People looked at the Son of God, in His eyes, after all of His Miracles, and were honest to say they doubted. And in being comfortable to be themselves, Jesus strengthened them. In Acts 1, the disciples tell us about ourselves today. Jesus strengthened them. The People of Jesus stand on their feet and get the job done. Whatever work God has put to our task. God gives us the ability to rest, to think, to worry, to overcome and to do the work and will of God Himself.

When Jesus traveled to Bethsaida, He was able to call this the hometown of "Peter, Andrew and Phillip" because Jesus is so very quick to love and include others. And when a disciple needs a replacement, the Disciples are not able to snap their fingers and point at the next favorite. All of the 72 Disciple extras and the 500 in the company of the Victorious Jesus have been Loved. Almost all organizations could call up the next batch with little effort. Not the men of Jesus, they were LOVED. Included even if not a Disciple and going to Bethsaida.

This is a God we could Love for being so very Loving.

How would they pick the next Disciple? They would go back to David finding the outstanding Mercy of God Himself. The Disciples would trust the Word of God would send and establish His Word and Work. The answers are in God's Living Word.

Abba, Father God,

You speak of what shall be. And as You told us of the Holy Spirit we could see Your Beloved are prepared for Your Holy Spirit.

You did never leave us as orphans, You came to us to bring us

Proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. Words given in opening mouths boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel. brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

You Living Word is alive giving us all a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” The righteous are bold as a lion.


Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. And Let me speak the Life the Spirit gives. Let Your Crown of Love and Encouragement be the Light of God.

Warm the hearts of my loved ones. The people You have given me. Let us sing together what God has given us. What Wonderful Jesus has fed from His days among us as Grace upon Grace and the Love flows for Millenniums.

Our Hearts warm and love and receive Jesus. Amen to being Easter People. Amen.