WEEK 14 – WAITING AND PREPARING

Chapter One: 40 Days Until Pentecost: Read chapter 1,verses 12-26.  At the time of Jesus was resurrection, there were only 120 followers. But during the next 40 days more people would meet the Risen Lord and would believe.  Not yet possessing the Holy Spirit as Jesus had promised, the disciples were operating by what they understand from their tradition and what they discerned from reading the Torah. the Psalms and the prophets.  With Judas gone, they felt it necessary to fill in the vacancy, so to speak.

1. What reason do they give for this action?  What do you think of two requirements they put forward in selecting their candidates?

2. What method do they use for their final selection?

3.  And they cast their lots: Many people have questioned the method for choosing one of the two men – after all these great spiritual steps, they end up rolling dice to pick the winner.  Is this any way to choose an apostle? Note this observation that someone has made.

i. Their reliance on God is notable.  Though they were not yet filled with the Holy Spirit, as they would be, they still wanted to choose a method that would make them rely on God. The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. (Proverbs 16:33)

ii. The casting of lots may be an imperfect way to discern God’s will, but it is much better than the methods many Christians use today, relying on emotions, circumstances, feelings, carnal desires and so forth.