Acts 1:12-23 What Else They Believed In

My commentary continued describing the faith of the first Christians.  In the first twelve verses of Acts, they proved their belief in the Risen Christ.  In these verses, they also showed that they believed in each other.  "It is not enough for Christians to have faith in the Lord; they must also have faith in one another.  To these 120 people, the Lord had given the solemn responsibility of bearing witness to a lost world, and none of them could do the job alone.  They would experience severe persecution in the days ahead ... It was not a time for asking, 'Who is the greatest?' or, 'Who committed the greatest sin?'  It was a time for praying together and standing together in the Lord.  As they waited and worshiped together, they were being better prepared for the work that lay before them."

They also believed in prayer and in God's leading.  "The Lord Jesus was no longer with them to give them personal directions, but they were not without the leading of the Lord, for they had the Word of God and prayer ... Peter has been criticized for taking charge, but I believe he was doing the will of God.  Jesus had made it clear that Peter was to be their leader (see Matthew, Luke, and John).  Peter was first among equals, but he was their recognized leader ... we must also remember that the Lord had opened up their minds to understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:45)."

Father, open up my mind and show me what You would have me do.  Let Your Spirit guide me into Your will.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford