Acts 1:15-26
Lesson 219
Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."
In this lesson:
The church holds its inaugural meeting.
First on the agenda? Replacing Judas Iscariot.
Matthias.
Who was -
Peter -
Peter was the oldest of the twelve disciples. He was also called Simon Peter (2 Peter 1:1), Simeon (Acts 15:14), Simon Bar-jona (Matthew 16:17) or just Simon (Matthew 10:2). The Greek translation for Peter is Petros (meaning rock), the Aramaic is Cephas (John 1:42), and the Latin is Petrus. Peter was born in Bethsaida (John 1:44) on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee. His father was Jona, also called Jonah or Jonas, (Matthew 16:17; 21:15-17) and his younger brother was the disciple Andrew (John 1:40;6:8). Peter was a simple fisherman in Capernaum (Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16) and partners with James and John (Luke 5:10) when he met Jesus. Bold but uneducated (Acts 4:13), Peter (along with Andrew) became the first disciple (Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18) and part of Jesus' inner circle. Whenever Jesus was in Galilee, He used Peter's home as His base. Peter wrote the First and Second Epistles of Peter (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1), walked on water (Matthew 14:28-31), performed the miracle at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:1-10), witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36; 2 Peter 1:16-18), the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane as He waited to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34). Peter rose up before the mob to resist Jesus' arrest (John 18:10-13) yet within hours denied even knowing Him three times (Matthew 26:69-75). After the crucifixion, Peter became the rock on which Jesus built His church (Matthew 16:16-19) and helped spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to Rome. Whenever the Bible lists the twelve disciples/apostles, Peter is always listed first (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19) and Roman Catholics call him their first Pope. Peter was married (Matthew 8:14; Mark 1:30; Luke 4:38) and brought his wife on his missionary journeys (1 Corinthians 9:5). Although Jesus told Peter he would be crucified when he "shalt be old" (John 21:18-19), the Bible gives no details of his death. However, the Christian writers Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus (AD 160-220) and Origen Adamantius (AD 185-254) report that Peter was crucified upside down by Emperor Nero in Rome about AD 70, approximately three years after writing 2 Peter.
Judas -
This is Judas Iscariot. Iscariot is Hebrew for "man of Kerioth," a town in southern Judea. Judas was the son of Simon Iscariot (John 6:71; 12:4; 13:2; 13:26) and one of the original twelve disciples (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:19; Luke 6:16). He is the only one of the twelve who was not a Galilean. Judas was a thief (John 12:6) who joined Jesus and was put in charge of the group's finances (John 13:29). Jesus predicted that he would be betrayed (Matthew 26:21-25; John 6:70-71; 13:21), and soon after the prophecy, Judas sold out the Messiah (Mark 14:10; Luke 22:3-4; John 13:2) for "thirty pieces of silver" (Matthew 26:14-16). He then committed suicide (Matthew 27:5) out of remorse. Whenever the Bible names the twelve disciples, Judas is always listed last (Matthew 10:2-4). In this passage, the apostles chose his replacement.
Barsabas -
Means son of Saba (the Sabbath). Barsabas was a teacher, prophet, and a leading figure in the early Jerusalem church.
Matthias -
Means gift of God. Matthias appears only in this passage; not much more is known about him. Some historians believe he crisscrossed Judea preaching until he was stoned to death. Others say he was crucified in Ethiopia.
Peter -
Peter was the oldest of the twelve disciples. He was also called Simon Peter (2 Peter 1:1), Simeon (Acts 15:14), Simon Bar-jona (Matthew 16:17) or just Simon (Matthew 10:2). The Greek translation for Peter is Petros (meaning rock), the Aramaic is Cephas (John 1:42), and the Latin is Petrus. Peter was born in Bethsaida (John 1:44) on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee. His father was Jona, also called Jonah or Jonas, (Matthew 16:17; 21:15-17) and his younger brother was the disciple Andrew (John 1:40;6:8). Peter was a simple fisherman in Capernaum (Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16) and partners with James and John (Luke 5:10) when he met Jesus. Bold but uneducated (Acts 4:13), Peter (along with Andrew) became the first disciple (Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18) and part of Jesus' inner circle. Whenever Jesus was in Galilee, He used Peter's home as His base. Peter wrote the First and Second Epistles of Peter (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1), walked on water (Matthew 14:28-31), performed the miracle at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:1-10), witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36; 2 Peter 1:16-18), the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane as He waited to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34). Peter rose up before the mob to resist Jesus' arrest (John 18:10-13) yet within hours denied even knowing Him three times (Matthew 26:69-75). After the crucifixion, Peter became the rock on which Jesus built His church (Matthew 16:16-19) and helped spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to Rome. Whenever the Bible lists the twelve disciples/apostles, Peter is always listed first (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19) and Roman Catholics call him their first Pope. Peter was married (Matthew 8:14; Mark 1:30; Luke 4:38) and brought his wife on his missionary journeys (1 Corinthians 9:5). Although Jesus told Peter he would be crucified when he "shalt be old" (John 21:18-19), the Bible gives no details of his death. However, the Christian writers Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus (AD 160-220) and Origen Adamantius (AD 185-254) report that Peter was crucified upside down by Emperor Nero in Rome about AD 70, approximately three years after writing 2 Peter.
Judas -
This is Judas Iscariot. Iscariot is Hebrew for "man of Kerioth," a town in southern Judea. Judas was the son of Simon Iscariot (John 6:71; 12:4; 13:2; 13:26) and one of the original twelve disciples (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:19; Luke 6:16). He is the only one of the twelve who was not a Galilean. Judas was a thief (John 12:6) who joined Jesus and was put in charge of the group's finances (John 13:29). Jesus predicted that he would be betrayed (Matthew 26:21-25; John 6:70-71; 13:21), and soon after the prophecy, Judas sold out the Messiah (Mark 14:10; Luke 22:3-4; John 13:2) for "thirty pieces of silver" (Matthew 26:14-16). He then committed suicide (Matthew 27:5) out of remorse. Whenever the Bible names the twelve disciples, Judas is always listed last (Matthew 10:2-4). In this passage, the apostles chose his replacement.
Barsabas -
Means son of Saba (the Sabbath). Barsabas was a teacher, prophet, and a leading figure in the early Jerusalem church.
Matthias -
Means gift of God. Matthias appears only in this passage; not much more is known about him. Some historians believe he crisscrossed Judea preaching until he was stoned to death. Others say he was crucified in Ethiopia.
Study Tip:
The more we know about the Old Covenant and the Mosaic Law the more we understand the New Testament. Always click on the links to the Old Testament passages, they are an important tool that help us understand God's plan for mankind.
The more we know about the Old Covenant and the Mosaic Law the more we understand the New Testament. Always click on the links to the Old Testament passages, they are an important tool that help us understand God's plan for mankind.
