July 16, 2020, Psalms 126, Acts 1
Psalms 126
Our mouths were filled with laughter,
When the Lord restored the fortunes
of Zion,
we were like those who dreamed.
Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
The Lord has done great things for them.
The Lord had done great thing for us,
and we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, Lord,
like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them.
RESTORE our fortunes.....
Like streams in the Negev....
Translating may have its issues but meaning is never lost.
Acts 1
Jesus Taken Up into Heaven
In my former book, Tehophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the Kingdom of God.
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command:
"Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John Baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Them they gathered around him and asked him, Lord are you at this time going to restore the kingdom of Israel?
He said to them: 'It is not for you to know the times and dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
Men of Galilee, they said, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.
Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day walk from the city.
When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were
- Peter,
- John,
- James,
- Andrew,
- Philip,
- Thomas,
- Batholomew,
- Matthew,
- James (son of Alphaeus)
- Simon (the zealot)
- Judas (the son of James)
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, "Brothers and sisters, the scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.
(With payment he received for his wickedness, Judas brought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, (Field of Blood)
For, said Peter, it is written in the book of psalms:
May his place be deserted; let there be no one dwell in it,
and,
May another take his place of leadership.
Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.
So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justin) and Matthias, Then they prayed, Lord, you know everyone's heart, show us which of these two you have chosen to teak over his apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs. Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias, so he was added to the eleven apostles.
(The casting of lots in the Bible is similar to throwing dice or drawing straws.)
Their actions included:
Prayer
meeting together
I bet they encouraged one another
I like how they wanted God's will when choosing someone to replace Judas.
Peter thinks of them as family (cool) A church is a family.
Have a great day!
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