Thursday 031325
Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by GRACE you have been SAVED through FAITH; and this is not of yourselves, it is a GIFT of God…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
Let’s together, open the Word of God this morning, and study what we have been given. Allow me to help you in your study and search the Bible what God has intended for us to hear.
The verses we are going to study tonight:
Matthew 27:5; Acts 1:12-26, 9:15, Matthew 19:28; Acts 8:1, 10:13-16, 9:15.
So, we begin this morning’s lesson with Jesus saying to the original twelve apostles…
FOLLOW ME.
Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus and as a result he hung himself.
Matthew 27:5 ‘…And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and left; and he went away and hanged himself…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
After the crucifixion and Judas was dead, the remaining apostles and others that were present (Acts 1:15), they chose a replacement for Judas. Nowhere is it said that Jesus ‘chose’ the replacement for Judas other than in Acts 1:24-25, where the people prayed to God and asked for His help.
In Acts 1:26a however ‘…And they drew lots…’
This does not sound like Jesus saying: FOLLOW ME.
Acts 1
vs12 ‘…Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away…’
vs13 ‘…When they had entered the city, they went up to the upstairs room where they were staying, that is, Peter, John, James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James…’
vs14 ‘…All these were continually devoting themselves with one mind to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers…’
vs15 ‘…At this time Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters (a group of about 120 people was there together), and said…’
vs16 ‘…Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus…’
vs17 ‘…For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry…’
vs18 ‘…Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out…’
vs19 ‘…And it became known to all the residents of Jerusalem; as a result, that field was called Hakeldama in their own language, that is, Field of Blood…’
vs20 ‘…For it is written in the book of Psalms: May his residence be made desolate, And may there be none living in it; and May another take his office…’
vs21 ‘…Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us…’
vs22 ‘…beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection…’
vs23 ‘…So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias…’
vs24 ‘…And they prayed and said, You, Lord, who know the hearts of all people, show which one of these two You have chosen…’
vs25 ‘…to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place…’
vs26 ‘…And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
Jesus, however, did chose Saul to be His ‘chosen vessel.’
Here are several different versions for you to see:
Acts 9:15 (this is Jesus talking to Ananias)
AKJV
‘…But the Lord said unto him, go thy way: for he (Saul) is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
NIV
‘…But the Lord said to Ananias, go! This man (Saul) is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel…’ NIV (New International Version)
GNT
‘…The Lord said to him, go, because I have chosen him (Saul) to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles and kings and to the people of Israel…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
NLT
‘…But the Lord said, go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel…’ NLT (New Living Translation)
CEV
‘…The Lord said to Ananias, go! I have chosen him (Saul) to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me…’ CEV (Contemporary English Version)
Allow me to insert one (1) verse in here for you.
Acts 13:9 ‘…Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
So, Jesus then, ‘DID’ choose thirteen apostles.
When the apostles picked a replacement for Judas, is that why Jesus chose not to use the remaining original eleven because they followed their own way instead of following Jesus’ way?
Another point, Jesus told the original twelve to FOLLOW HIM and since Jesus was gone from this earth, the apostles needed to lead now and they could no longer, follow. Maybe they couldn’t lead.
When Jesus walked this earth, He told the apostles he had chosen them to sit on a throne and rule over the twelve (12) tribes of Israel.
Matthew 19:28 ‘…And Jesus said to them, truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
There have been several comments made that this could be the very reason the remaining apostles needed to fill Judas’ spot so when Jesus returned to set up His Kingdom, there would be twelve (12) apostles to sit on the twelve thrones, not only eleven.
Another point that has been made is the apostles just never left Jerusalem to go out and teach all the nations about Jesus.
We know this by Scripture, when Stephen was martyred by stoning, the apostles still remained where they had been, in Jerusaslem.
Acts 8:1 ‘…Now Saul approved of putting Stephen to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
The apostles hadn’t left Jerusalem.
In Acts 10, Peter does travel to the house of Cornelius to minister to the Gentiles but in Acts 11, he returns to Jerusalem to tell the other apostles what he had done.
Before the part where Peter leaves to travel to Cornelius’ house, Peter has a dream on the rooftop about eating food, food that a Jewish person would never touch, not even thinking about attempting to eat such a thing.
Acts 10
vs13 ‘…A voice came to him, get up, Peter, kill and eat…’
vs14 ‘…But Peter said, by no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean…’
vs15 ‘…Again a voice came to him a second time, what God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy…’
vs16 ‘…This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
Peter’s ‘Jewishness’ was once again getting in the way of God’s wishes.
It was before this event on the rooftop, that Jesus had already decided on his choice by using Paul.
This verse is found in Acts 9:15, I’ve already shown this once in this lesson, but here it is again, so many times the Bible teaches us of the importance in repeating what has been earlier said.
Here I have shown several versions for you to read.
Acts 9:15
AKJV
‘…But the Lord said unto him, go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
NIV
‘…But the Lord said to Ananias, go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel…’ NIV (New International Version)
GNT
‘…The Lord said to him, go, because I have chosen him to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles and kings and to the people of Israel…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
NLT
‘…But the Lord said, go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel…’ NLT (New Living Translation)
CEV
‘…The Lord said to Ananias, go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me…’ CEV (Contemporary English Version)
Jesus chose Paul, maybe because the original would never leave or change their manmade ways.
Whatever the reason, we will one day, ultimately find out the entire story.
Until that day, keep your Bibles open and continue to read of what God has given us.
Study the Word and use it as a ‘SWORD’ and know what is and what is NOT written in the Word.
Don’t allow another human being to tell you what they think, back up your thoughts with what has been written.
I love ALL of y’all.
Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen InHIM. ><)))o>