Jesus and the Apostles Acts 1:1-26 Sarah Berg
Parallels with Luke Theophilus means “friend of God” Both written by same author (“Luke”) to same person/recipient Acts 1:1 “In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning” Luke 1:3b “…to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus”
Order of the Apostles Luke 6:13-16 Simon, whom he named Peter and his brother Andrew James John Philip Bartholomew Matthew Thomas James son of Alphaeus Simon who was called a Zealot Judas the son of James Judas Iscariot Acts 1:13 Peter John James Andrew Philip Thomas Bartholomew Matthew James son of Alphaeus Simon the Zealot Judas son of James ONLY 11 Acts 1:13 Peter John James Andrew Philip Thomas Bartholomew Matthew James son of Alphaeus Simon the Zealot Judas son of James ONLY 11
So what’s the big deal? In Acts, two sets of brothers are split up, showing greater importance of John: See also Acts 3:1-11; 4:1-19; 8:14-25 Luke 6:14 Peter Andrew James John Acts 1:13 Peter John James Andrew
Why did Judas have to die? Because the Old Testament said so! Psalm 69:25 “May their camp be a desolation; let no one live in the tents.” Psalm 109:8 “May his days be few; may another seize his position.” Acts 1:20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it’; and ‘Let another take his position of overseer.”
Restoration of the Twelve Criteria for an apostle – “missionary, messenger, emissary” Read Acts 1:21-22 Is that an accurate description? Yes and No “become a witness to his resurrection” (1:22b) Witness = “to testify” = speaking Witness meant proclaiming, not just seeing