Israel Restored
Acts 1:1-26
Preacher: David Williams
Acts 1:1-26. Israel restored. Sermon by David Williams.
Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 7 May 2023.
Have you ever heard a passage and thought – what is it doing here? The story of Matthias is unusual. Would we even miss it if it wasn’t in the Bible? We know all scripture is both inspired and useful, so it must be there for a reason. Let’s try and work out what that reason is.
3 parts
1. Where do the apostles fit? 2. Where does Judas fit? 3. Where do we fit?**1.** **Where do the apostles fit?** ***a.*** ***A unique link***
The apostles were unique. They stood at the crossroads in God’s story of salvation. They were all Jews. They followed the law under the old covenant (that is, the agreement God made with the Jews), they read the prophets. Like all faithful Jews, they looked forward to the Messiah – and knew that Jesus was that Messiah. And now they were waiting for the Spirit promised by Jesus. The Spirit who would launch the church. They were Israelites yet told to go to the ends of the earth. They stood at the crossroads -
- between old and new covenants, - between Israel and the church, - between the times of promise and of fulfilment o of promise – expecting the Messiah and his kingdom o of fulfilment – with the coming of his kingdom in the power of his Spirit.
Standing at the crossroads, the apostles were an essential link in God’s story of the salvation of his people. God’s plan began with Israel and ends with the church. His story looks like an egg timer. It flows like this. Israel was God’s unfaithful son, but God always promised to preserve a faithful remnant. On the cross, that faithful remnant was represented by just one man. Jesus was God’s faithful son.
Through Jesus, God called a new people into being – the church consisting of both Jews and Gentiles - all saved by faith in his Son. But the story doesn’t go straight from Jesus to the church.
12 tribes of Israel
v
Jesus
v
12 apostles
v
Church
The 12 apostles are the connecting link. They are the core of the new community that will serve the King.
***b.*** ***Why were the apostles special?***What did the apostles have that Israel lacked? Three things:
** * i.*** ***They were chosen and commissioned by Jesus***Just as Israel was chosen by God, so Jesus chose the twelve (Gen 18:10, 14; Dt 7:6-8; 9:6-7; Mal 1:2-3; Rom 9:13). Jesus commissioned them also. Before he ascended to heaven, Jesus gave,
commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
This commissioning is there in the gospels too. Jesus gave authority – not to the church in general but to the apostles - to preach and to heal and make disciples of the nations (Mt 10:1, 5ff; 28:16-20; Mk 3:13-19). Did you notice – it was not the eleven who chose Matthias – they only did the shortlisting. Then they asked Jesus,
show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship …
** * ii.*** ***They were eyewitnesses of Jesus.***
The Vatican has appointed a commission to deal with lots of mystics claiming to hear voices from Mary. They include fraudsters and people with a mental illness. Yet hundreds of people hang on their words – people are desperately grasping for answers in all the wrong places. How can you tell what is authentic? But Luke was a reliable reporter. He did not rely on voices in his head but on accounts from reliable eyewitnesses (Luke 1:1-4; Ac 1:3, 9). – especially from the apostles. The apostles were unique – they had been with Jesus throughout his ministry. They saw him die on the cross and they saw him rise from death. In finding a replacement apostle, he must be,
one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 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.
The resurrection: more than anything else, that was their message throughout Acts. They had seen the risen Jesus. Their boldness was striking - what could man do to them? For Jesus had conquered death.
** * iii.*** ***They received the Spirit.***
… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you
Sometimes, the Spirit came upon people for a limited time – with some of the kings and prophets of Israel. Even King Saul who went off the rails had the Spirit for a time. But Jesus was predicting something new.
you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now
This was the Helper or Comforter, the Paraklete Jesus promised earlier.
The Father will give you another Paraklete to be with you forever, Jn 14:16.
Unlike in former times, the Spirit would come to live within them and would never leave them.
So the apostles had what Israel lacked. They were specially chosen and commissioned by Jesus, they were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and they were about to receive the Spirit. This was all essential for the new and remarkable role they were about to be given, for the apostles were nothing less than Israel renewed.
***c.*** ***Israel renewed.***Through the apostles, God will restore his kingdom: they are the new Israel. Let’s look at five pointers to this:
i. Twelve ii. Prophecy fulfilled iii. Israel reunited iv. Gentiles included v. Judges of Israel** * i.*** ***Twelve***
The number 12 is important. The 12 sons of Jacob – or Israel as he was renamed – became the twelve tribes of Israel (Gen 35:10). Jesus chose 12 apostles because the promises to Israel were to be fulfilled through them. That is why all the fuss about Matthias. Now you probably don’t remember much about Matthias. Not surprising, for his name only comes up twice – both in Acts 1. His only role is to complete the number: the twelve apostles are again complete. Twice the phrase – numbered with the apostles is used – once of Judas, and once for Matthias.
For Judas was numbered among us
the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
The most important task the apostles had before the Spirit could be given was to complete the number of twelve apostles.
** * ii.*** ***Prophecy fulfilled***
The apostles fulfilled prophecy. This psalm:
* Let another take his office.*
- they read it as a prophecy of Judas and they acted to fulfill it.
But they also fulfilled prophecy in a much deeper sense. The apostles asked Jesus,
“Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
At first sight, Jesus seems to ignore the question.
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
Jesus seems to ignore the question. That is what I said last time. But that is not strictly true. He did answer. And his answer was yes – but guys – it’s not as you think. The way Jesus went on to answer their question - *Will you restore the kingdom to Israel -*must have shocked them. For Jesus said, in effect: I have restored it and I am restoring it – how? Through you – through you 12 apostles! He said,
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses
The twelve apostles were now ready to begin the work that the twelve tribes had failed to do. This starts with Israel.
** * iii.*** ***Israel reunited***
The kingdom restored meant a kingdom reunited. But Israel was bitterly divided between the Southern tribes – occupying Jerusalem and Judea, and the Northern tribes in Samaria. Jews hated the Samaritans (Jn 4:9, 8:48). But the very first task of the apostles was to take the good news to both Jews and Samaritans.
8 … you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria…
As Jesus had promised the Samaritan woman at the well,
The hour is coming when neither on this mountain (of Samaria) nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father … but true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, Jn 4:21, 23.
With the New Covenant, geography no longer counted in God’s restored kingdom. The early church included both Jewish and Samaritan believers. And it didn’t stop there.
** * iv.*** ***Gentiles included in this new kingdom***
you will be my witnesses … to the end of the earth
Jacob-Israel was Abraham’s grandson. Abraham was promised that through his seed, all families of the earth will be blessed. Israel should have been a light to the nations – showing forth God’s glory. But they failed in this. So Jesus sent out his apostles. He sent them as witnesses of his glory to the ends of the earth. He sent them to restore God’s kingdom – that is, by including the nations, the Gentiles in God’s family. For Jesus said that the true children of Abraham were not descendants by blood but by faith, faith in Jesus (Jn 8:31-47; cf., Lk 3:8-9). God’s kingdom is being restored. Not by recreating the Jewish state but by renewing God’s people, Jew and Gentile. By fulfilling the promise to Abraham.
What has all this to do with the land or nation called Israel today? Probably nothing at all. Check out my last sermon! And remember Jesus’ words to one from Israel’s northern tribes,
The hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father, Jn 4:21.
This may trouble you, especially if you are a reader of the Scofield Bible, or you listen to certain podcasts. If so, can I encourage you to talk to me about it.
** * v.*** ***Judges of Israel***The apostles’ role will continue in eternity. Significantly, their role is not just to lead but to judge. Who? The twelve tribes of Israel.
Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, Mt 19:28. Also, Lk 22:24-30; Rev 21:12,14.
The apostles are Israel renewed. The significance of the number 12, the fulfilment of prophecies, the reunification of Jews and Samaritans, the inclusion of the Gentiles and their role as judges all lead to this conclusion.
**2.** **Where does Judas fit in?** (v15-20; 25) ***a.*** ***Judas = faithless Israel***
Judas represents faithless Israel. Israel had a history of betrayal. Betrayal is abusing the trust of another by treachery or deceit. The sons of Israel betrayed their brother by selling him into slavery – Joseph, like Jesus, was sold for silver (Gen 37:27-28). The nation betrayed their covenant with God and turned aside to idols. Israel is called an unfaithful wife, a prostitute, in Hosea – betraying God for Baal.
***b.*** ***I did it my way***
Judas turned aside from the place chosen for him – as an apostle. He turned aside from that place to go to his own place.
You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.
His own place – the term is deliberately vague. Judas chose his own way – not God’s way. By choosing is own place, he ended up in a place where he didn’t want to be – dead in his own field, and in hell. His own place could be pointing to all these terms.
What about us? We know what Jesus has called us all to do. As his followers, we are also to tell the good news: He is risen! Are you on board with his agenda for you? Or have you turned aside to go your own way, go it alone – apart from God’s people and God’s King?
You, Lord, who know the hearts of all
You may fool others, but you can’t fool God. He knows where your heart is. Friend, do you need to turn back to him today?
***c.*** ***Jesus forgave. Will you?***
For those on the receiving end – to be betrayed is worse than having someone die. By night Judas handed over his innocent friend to those who would kill him. Jesus knew betrayal, yet he died even for Judas. Sometimes we hang onto our hurts and refuse to forgive. To forgive is hard, but to refuse forgiveness is worse. It will eat away like a cancer on your soul. Can you, will you open your heart to forgive even the one who has betrayed you? Friends, I know that is a very hard word, but it needs to be said.
3. Where do we fit in?
The apostles are on centre stage in Acts one. It is perhaps the most important chapter in the Bible for understanding the apostles’ role. The teachings, commands and promises are given to the apostles, not to Jesus’ followers in general. Jesus chose the apostles. Jesus presented himself alive to them, he appeared to them after his resurrection and taught them about the Kingdom. He promised to baptise them with the Spirit. They asked about restoration of the kingdom and Jesus declared that they would be equipped with power to be his witnesses. The ascension into heaven was seen by the apostles and the promise of his coming again was given to them. They are listed by name – one of only 4 places in the Bible where they are listed. The leading apostle, Peter, spoke of the defection of the apostle Judas, and led them in praying for a replacement apostle. Get the picture? The focus is on the apostles.
2 Jesus had given commands … to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them … 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.”
These teachings, promises and commands were for the apostles. Are they relevant to us today? How we read scripture is important. We should first ask, who was it first written for, and for what reasons. Only then can we sometimes carry it on and apply it to ourselves. There are two clues that these teachings were not just for the apostles alone.
***a.*** ***Others were mentioned.***While the apostles are central, there were others – 120 in all. In time, these other followers also began to share the good news. Mary is mentioned – for the last time in the New Testament. Mary was unique: She alone saw both the birth and death of Jesus (and possibly also the resurrection). Luke wrote much about Mary in his first book, the gospel. As we saw last time, Luke was a careful historian who took statements from actual eyewitnesses. It seems likely that he obtained all the information about the birth of Jesus directly from his mother.
Jesus’ brothers are also mentioned. Before his resurrection, his brothers did not believe in him (Mark 3:20-21; 6:4; Jn 7:2-5). Yet now they are thoroughly on board.
All with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer
It could have been otherwise. Jesus’ family could easily have become a separate and divisive faction. This unity was essential for the early spread of the gospel. The world is shocked by this unity – Jew and Gentile together - but rightly critical at the hypocrisy they see in disunity.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another, Jn 13:35.
How damaging it is when believers divide. Sometimes we must – as with Judas, when someone denies the truth of who Jesus is and what he did, or they live immorally while claiming to be a disciple. Sometimes we must separate.
But whenever believers divide on secondary issues, we make a mockery of the gospel. It dishonours Christ - who brought peace between even Jew and Gentile. We can disagree on many issues – yet we are still family. What family doesn’t disagree? We should not reject one another because we disagree on baptism, or end times, or the Lord’s Supper, or Israel, or the Spirit, or Bible versions, or COVID or because we don’t get on with the person in the next pew.
***b.*** ***The apostles carried on the teaching of Jesus.***
What did the apostles teach? It wasn’t just what Jesus taught before he died. In the forty days after his resurrection, he taught them,
about the kingdom of God, Acts 1:3 (Also, Lk 24:27; 44-47).
Where did Jesus get his teaching? Much of it was from the OT. Many prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus. The apostles continued this tradition of quoting the OT, as we see in Acts and the letters.
«< SPIRIT »>
Prophets > Jesus > Apostles > NT > Us
The Spirit was instrumental in this process. As Jesus promised, the Spirit reminded them of the things that Jesus had taught them; he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he guided them into all the truth (Jn 2:22; 14:26; 16:13; Lk 24:8, 32, 45, 1 Cor 2:10). The apostles’ teaching didn’t stop in the first century when they died out. Soon, their teaching was written down. The NT books are either written directly by the apostles or are based on their testimony and teaching as with Luke’s writings. We have the apostles’ teaching – which is none other than what Jesus had taught them.
People say, if only we had sat at Jesus’ feet, or even at the feet of the apostles. Friends, we do this whenever we open God’s word. Indeed, we are in an even better position than they, for we have the Spirit’s full teaching before us – not just parts of it.
Lord, thank you for sending your apostles to witness to your risen life. By sending them, we too – at the end of the earth – we can experience your risen life; we can be part of Abraham’s family through faith in you. Amen.
Source*:* Peterson D. (2009). *The Acts of the Apostles*. Eerdmans/Apollos.
Series: Acts
Topics: #Acts; Israel;Apostles