Luke the physician wrote how “Peter” stood among the people in the upper room in Jerusalem and told them they needed to choose a replacement for “Judas Iscariot” who was no longer a disciple of Jesus. “They appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias”, and in chapter one and verse twenty-four of the book of Acts Luke wrote how “they prayed, and said, you, Lord, which knows the hearts of all men” where we read:
And they prayed, and said, You, Lord, which know the hearts of all men,
show whether of these two you have chosen,
The verse begins, “And they prayed, and said, You, Lord, which know the hearts of all men, ...” Luke began with the words, “and they prayed” which means “and the original disciples along with Peter made orations and supplications to God”, “and said” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “you, Lord” which means “you, One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah”, “which know the hearts of all men” or “who understands, perceives and discerns the soul, passion and intention of each, every, the whole and everyone whether male or female”. Luke shared how “Peter” and the disciples “prayed” to God whom they knew “understands” the “heart” within every person.
The verse continues, “... show whether of these two you have chosen,” Luke added the words, “show whether of these two” or “pronounce, exhibit, indicate and appoint which of the two men” “you have chosen” which means “you, Lord God, have selected”. Luke shared how “Peter” and the other disciples deferred the selection of the new disciple to the Lord .
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter” and the other disciples knew to “pray” to the “Lord” for His choice concerning this new “disciple” who would join the original eleven who remained after Jesus went back to Heaven. We shall see who they select in our next couple verses, but for now let us be influenced by “Peter and the other disciples'” decision to “pray” before they made this decision. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they yield to Him, they gain audience with Him for any decision they need to make. God wants to forgive the sins within people so the separation between them and a “Holy God” will be removed, and they may plead with Him for their every need. Those who are wise will yield their lives to Jesus and receive access to the God of the Universe who cares when they need to make a decision.
Next time Luke shares how the disciples wanted the newly chosen apostle to, “take part of this ministry and apostleship”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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