1. Acts 1:26. Is the casting of lots a valid form of discerning God’s will? And, Is Matthias the 12^th Apostle?

The idea of leaving a matter up to chance and therefore to God via lots, was used throughout Old Testament times. It seemed to be the one impartial way to solve a difficulty. I am not aware of any such practice after the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit moved in to walk and live among the people of God, granting His constant wisdom in the fellowship of the new church.

Church historians and theologians therefore question the validity of the 12^th apostle, if indeed he was such. Can a decision that was made based on Peter’s interpretation of the situation, and the throwing of sticks into the air, be considered valid and allowed to stay with the church forever?

We know nothing from subsequent Scripture about Matthias. Which of course proves nothing, also. While some want to claim that Paul should fill that place, there is no revealed statement to that effect either.

All we have on either side is speculation and argument and reason, all of which falls short of revelation. The only revelation available is that someone’s name is etched on one of the 12 foundation stones of the New Jerusalem. No one that I know of has been able to read the name clearly yet, and until that happens, we have to say those most difficult words, “We don’t know.”

2. Acts 1:26. Acts 2:1-4. How many received the Spirit of God?

If the “they” of Acts 2:1 refers to the last verse of chapter 1, then there were only 12 such people. But if, as most suppose, it refers further back in the chapter to verse 15, where 120 are mentioned, then it is that number who received Him.

3. Acts 2:7-11. What was tongues about in Acts 2?

Very clearly, these tongues, though miraculous, were not “spooky”. The purpose becomes clear early in the chapter, when we see, not only people speaking in other tongues (languages), but we also see people understanding these languages, though coming to Jerusalem from points all over the Roman Empire.

God’s purpose was to be heard, to be understood, not just to create a spectacle. He wanted His Gospel out to as many people as possible on day one, and He accomplished this purpose by waiting until the nations had gathered in Jerusalem, then speaking a word to them in their own language by un-learned unskilled Galilean fishermen and the like!

4. Acts 2:17-20. Are we in the last days? What are the boundaries of those days?

Yes we are, per Joel, and Peter. They began when the Spirit of God was poured out here at Pentecost. They will begin to end when the sun goes out and the moon is blood-red and Jesus comes back to Earth.

5. Acts 2:25-28. What do we learn here about how the Psalms came to be?

As with all of His Word, and as the Holy Spirit demonstrated at Pentecost, God took human beings, and put inside of them His own thoughts and words, and they spoke and wrote those words, and passed them on.

6. Acts 2:38, 3:19. Is baptism a part of being saved?

There does not seem to be a case in all the Book of Acts where baptism is not mentioned as a part of the process. That said, the new birth is from above. God moves the human heart to love and receive Himself, then fills that heart with Himself. The immediate response of one so born of God is to ask “What can I do?” And the answer is baptism, to begin with. I am not personally aware of any saved person who has ever refused to follow the Lord in baptism.

7. Acts 4:30. Why is Jesus referred to as God’s “Holy Servant”?

See Isaiah 42 and other places, where the prophet foretold One Who would be called the Servant. God does not demean His Son here, but tells us the humble and giving nature of the One Who will save us from our sins. If He is the Servant, the Slave, one wonders who we are?

8. Acts 4:31. What happens when the Spirit comes upon a man?

Something. That is for sure. Every church has a different answer, but I leave it at this. Something happens.

9. Acts 4:32-37. What other attribute made the Christian message acceptable?