Monday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 1:12-14
12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. 13 When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying.
Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James). 14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. 13 When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying.
Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James). 14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
Commentary:
1:12 A Sabbath day’s journey was the maximum distance one could travel on the Sabbath without it constituting work. This was not an explicit OT law but a later Jewish tradition. The rabbis set the limit at 2,000 cubits (about 0.6 miles or 1 km). Jews at Qumran had a lower travel limit.
1:14 The women in the upper room likely included those who ministered to Jesus’ followers (Luke 8:2–3), accompanied them from Galilee (Luke 23:55), and witnessed the crucifixion and empty tomb (Luke 23:49, 55–56; 24:2–11). Jesus had four brothers—James, Joses, Judas, and Simon (Mark 6:3). The main activity in the upper room was prayer. Jesus had told them “to wait for the promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4), but “waiting” on God and prayer are closely related in several places in the OT, and therefore it is likely that they were praying constantly that the promised Spirit would descend.
1:14 The women in the upper room likely included those who ministered to Jesus’ followers (Luke 8:2–3), accompanied them from Galilee (Luke 23:55), and witnessed the crucifixion and empty tomb (Luke 23:49, 55–56; 24:2–11). Jesus had four brothers—James, Joses, Judas, and Simon (Mark 6:3). The main activity in the upper room was prayer. Jesus had told them “to wait for the promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4), but “waiting” on God and prayer are closely related in several places in the OT, and therefore it is likely that they were praying constantly that the promised Spirit would descend.
Questions:
- In verse 12, we see Jesus' followers being obedient and waiting in Jerusalem for the coming of the promised Holy Spirit. But during those weeks they didn't just sit around and twiddle their thumbs. Verse 14 says they "all met together and were constantly united in prayer." The first thing we can learn from these early believers is that they were UNIFIED. This group was devout and committed. After all, they had been with Jesus! The greek word used for "united" literally means "of one mind." Why is unity so important in a church community? Have you ever seen a lack of unity in a church body?
- Part of being united is making sure we are all chasing the same things. It's all about being united in our desire to follow Jesus, to pray for his will, to read his Word and to do things HIS way and not just our own. So the first step is to make sure that YOU are after these same things. Is this true of your life? Is your heart at all divided between God and the world?
Pray:
- That you would be following Jesus with all your heart.
- That you would seek to be united with other believers that are seeking the same things.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
5. Why do I follow Jesus? I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
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