Acts (Part 4) - Acts 1:12-16

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Acts (Part 4) - Acts 1:12-16 1. Act 1:12 – Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. A. Mount Olivet is also called the mount of Olives. B. The mount of Olives was a significant place in our Lord’s life. i. Jesus was known to spend time on the mount of Olives (Joh 18:1-2 c/w Mat 26:30). ii. Jesus was wont (accustomed) to go to the mount of Olives (Luk 22:39). iii. Jesus sometimes abode on the mount of Olives for the night (Luk 21:37; Joh 8:1-2). iv. Jesus went to the mount of Olives prior to His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Mat 21:1; Luk 19:37). v. Jesus gave the prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem, the His second coming, and the end of the world on the mount of Olives (Mat 24:3), which is why it is referred to as the “Olivet Discourse.” vi. It was in the garden of Gethsemane at the base of the mount of Olives that Jesus went to pray and was arrested the night before His crucifixion (Mat 26:30, 36-39). vii. Jesus left this earth from the mount of Olives (Act 1:9, 12). viii. It appears that He may return to the mount of Olives (Zec 14:1-9). C. The apostles returned to Jerusalem as they were instructed (Act 1:4). D. Mount Olivet was a sabbath day’s journey from Jerusalem, which is about 2/3 of mile. 2. Act 1:13 – And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. A. The upper room might have been the same place where Jesus ate the Passover with them and served them the first communion (Luk 22:12-20). B. These were the remaining 11 apostles. C. By comparing the accounts in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts, it is clear that Judas the brother of James in Act 1:13 and Luk 6:16 is another name for Thaddaeus in Mar 3:18 and Lebbaeus Thaddaeus in Mat 10:3. 3. Act 1:14 – These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. A. They had a prayer meeting wherein they were all in one accord as Christians are supposed to be (Php 2:2; 1Co 1:10). B. This was a meeting of the first church (Act 1:15). C. There were women in the church at this time, including Mary the mother of Jesus. D. These were probably some of the same women that followed Jesus and ministered unto Him (Mat 27:55-56). E. Jesus’ brethren were believers by this point, but they had not been earlier in His ministry (Joh 7:5; Mat 13:57). 4. Act 1:15 – And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) A. Peter was the prominent leader in the early Jerusalem church. i. Jesus had given Peter the keys to His kingdom/church on this earth (Mat 16:18-19).  ii. Peter went from a weak, immature Christian who still needed to be converted in areas of his life (Luk 22:31-32, 54-62) to a bold leader in the church (Act 4:13). B. There were about 120 members in the Jerusalem church at this time. i. It appears that they had a membership roll with names of each member written down. ii. Church membership is Biblical (1Co 12:13-14, 27). 5. Act 1:16 – Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. A. The scripture Peter is referring to is Psa 69:25 and Psa 109:8 which he later quotes in Act 1:20. i. We will look at these prophecies when we get to Act 1:20. ii. Additionally, it was prophesied in Psa 41:9 that Judas, a familiar friend of Jesus whom He trusted and ate with, would lift up his heal against Him. iii. Judas was the guide of the soldiers who arrested Jesus (Mat 26:47-49). B. These prophecies must needs have been fulfilled because whatever God declares will come to pass (Isa 42:9; Isa 46:10). C. The Holy Ghost spoke through David when he prophesied of Judas betraying Christ (2Sa 23:1-2).