00:20my brothers and sisters we were having
00:23the bible study on the acts of the
00:25puzzles and we had completed the
00:28introduction to the acts of the puzzles
00:30and we also started from the acts of
00:38studied in the last class in the bible
00:43jesus ascension of our lord jesus christ
00:46jesus was assumed to heaven
00:49so there is a difference between
00:50ascension and assumption
00:53mother mary was mother mary's
00:56going to heaven was called assumption
00:59jesus going to heaven is called
01:02so there is a difference between these i
01:05have seen many people
01:06using without knowing
01:09sometimes they use assumption for jesus
01:12so what is the difference between
01:14ascension ascension the spelling is a s
01:19n s i o n is ascension
01:22an assumption is a s s
01:28so these are the difference ascension is
01:30only jesus is ascended to heaven
01:34there are many people
01:36who had assumption for example
01:41went to heaven and that is called
01:44elijah was taken to have an assumption
01:47mother madi was taken to heaven
01:49assumption what is the difference
01:51between ascension and assumption
01:53ascension means with one's own power you
01:58good to heaven once on power that is
02:02assumption means by the power of
02:03somebody by the power of god you are
02:07that is called assumption so mother mary
02:10had no power to raise herself up
02:14god the father took her up to the heaven
02:17hanok had no power in himself to raise
02:20himself but god the power god the father
02:24took him up to heaven that is why they
02:26all have assumption but jesus had
02:29ascension because he is ascended by
02:31himself with his own power he went to
02:34heaven because he is god himself praise
02:37so let us continue reflecting about um
02:40these acts of apostle chapter 1 was 12 1
02:47then they returned to jerusalem from the
02:52which is near jerusalem a sabbath day's
02:57away so then it was a it was a sabbath
03:04that then they returned to jerusalem
03:08called olive which is near jerusalem and
03:12sabah days journey so from the place
03:14where jesus when went to uh as
03:17assumption happened from there they
03:20returned to jerusalem so they were um
03:24in the on the mount or leave jesus went
03:28so there are some people who still
03:30believe that jesus when he comes second
03:32coming will be on the same place
03:34uh in only mount of olives because jesus
03:37the the the angels came and said asked
03:40you have seen him going up he will come
03:43so therefore some people think but there
03:46is no guarantee for that there is no
03:48biblical support for that but still some
03:50people think jesus may come back the
03:52second coming may happen on the same
03:55anyway they they returned to jerusalem
03:58went back to jerusalem they are obedient
04:00because jesus said don't go anywhere
04:04i know that you don't belong to
04:06jerusalem your home town is somewhere
04:10be in jerusalem remain in jerusalem
04:12don't leave from jerusalem
04:14because in jerusalem the memories of
04:19all the other places they will be away
04:21from even memories of jesus because
04:24this is the time of emptiness
04:27which is the time of emptiness
04:29after the assumption ascension of jesus
04:32until the pentecost there is a 10 days
04:36until then for example
04:39jesus was there with the disciples for
04:42and then three days jesus disappeared
04:44that is when he died
04:46that was a terrible three days because
04:48everybody went back to the old
04:53they were so disappointed that is called
04:55the time of emptiness
04:58the time of emptiness
05:04after the ascension to jesus went to
05:07heaven but the holy spirit has not fully
05:11pentecost has not taken place
05:13so from ascension to the pentecost there
05:16are ten days of time these ten days
05:19without the presence of jesus without
05:22the strong presence of the holy spirit
05:24these are the 10 days
05:25these 10 days are called the time time
05:29and they are going through this time of
05:32emptiness absence of jesus presence
05:34and absence of the strong in strong
05:37powerful presence of the holy spirit
05:39therefore they were going through these
05:4110 days of emptiness and that time jesus
05:45said don't leave jerusalem
05:48at this moment of emptiness don't leave
05:50jerusalem means don't
05:59memories of jesus so that is what
06:01anxiety told so they are obeying jesus
06:03they went to jerusalem they're going
06:05back to jerusalem which is near
06:07jerusalem so the holy mount olive is
06:09just close to jerusalem those of you
06:11have gone to holy land you can see the
06:13mount of olives and jerusalem and cities
06:17and which is near jerusalem a sabbath
06:20day's journey what is sabbath day's
06:24what is that distance as sabbath day
06:27the jewish people are not allowed to
06:30more than a certain distance
06:32that's distance is called
06:362 000 cubits means it will be around
06:401.06 kilometers just above one kilometer
06:45not even one and a half just above one
06:47kilometer is called sabbath days journey
06:51that is the maximum they are allowed to
06:54on the sabbath day if they walk more
06:57than this distance they are breaking the
07:01these disciples they only traveled a
07:04sabbath day journey because they want to
07:06obey the law they followed the law
07:111.06 kilometers maybe around 1
07:15from the olive to the jerusalem city
07:19and then there was 13 we read like this
07:21when they had entered the city they went
07:23to the room upstairs
07:26where they were staying so there is a
07:28room the upper room upstairs room they
07:32they used to stay there why why it is
07:34written where they were staying
07:36because this upper room is very
07:38important this is the upper room where
07:41jesus had the last supper
07:46this is the upper room where they are
07:50this is the upper room a very special
07:52upper room it's very holy place that is
07:55where they used to stay
07:56they were in the closed room
07:58and who all were there and now again
08:02luke is giving the list of the apostles
08:04why why does he give the list of apostle
08:07because he wanted to point out
08:11one person is missing so where they were
08:14staying peter john james andrew philippe
08:18thomas bethlehemia matthew james son of
08:21alfies simon the zealot and judas son of
08:24james so these are the
08:27the people one is missing only 11 of
08:30so there is something is going to happen
08:33soon after this that is why
08:35gospel look luke is giving this list of
08:38apostles because there is there is need
08:40of a selection of the apostles soon
08:45the list of apostles were given here
08:48now verse 14 we read like this all these
08:52were constantly devoting all these
08:54people they were almost around 120
08:58they were all constantly devoting
09:00themselves to prayer together with
09:02certain women including mary the mother
09:05of jesus as well as his brothers so
09:08there were so many people
09:10and they were all gathered together was
09:1215 we read in those days peter stood
09:17up among the believers
09:20together the crowd numbered about 100
09:25and said so suddenly peter
09:28peter is known as the leader of all the
09:31suddenly peter got up
09:33and in the bracket it is written there
09:35are 120 persons why 120
09:39even if you take all the wives and
09:41children of the apostles
09:44still we won't get 120 persons
09:47but then there are some extra people
09:49there are some reasons some theologians
09:51say there is a reason why these 120
09:54people because according to jewish
09:57a leader should be at least
10:01leader of 10 people and in order to be a
10:04leader you should be a leader of 10
10:08and we have 12 apostles
10:11and all these 12 apostles are going to
10:14therefore in order to show the symbol of
10:19he is saying luke has put a number that
10:22is 120 so there are people who give
10:25different interpretations for these
10:27anyway let us continue
10:31friends the scripture had to be then
10:33suddenly peter is getting up
10:36out of all the 11 apostles while
10:39suddenly only peter is getting up
10:42jesus has already appointed peter as the
10:44leader and jesus said peter you are the
10:48rock on this rock i will build to the
10:51my church will be built on you
10:54so jesus had already proclaimed that
10:57peter is the foundation on on which
11:00jesus is building the temple therefore
11:02it was understood among all the apostles
11:05that they have to listen to the peter
11:08and now peter is saying this position as
11:11an apostle it is not just a position for
11:14now it is an office which should be
11:17substitute which should be appointed
11:19there should be successors for the
11:23so how do we know because when judas
11:25committed suicide now they are taking
11:28selecting another person to that
11:31that is why in the catholic church the
11:33succession of peter succession of the
11:36apostles is still continuing now it is
11:39not just for the first century it is for
11:41the for the centuries to come
11:44and therefore peter got up
11:48the script scripture had to be fulfilled
11:51which the holy spirit through david
11:53foretold concerning judas who became a
11:57guide for those who arrested jesus now
11:59peter is announcing you know the judas
12:03there is something written in the bible
12:06about judas we have to do that
12:10why did now they are going to select a
12:12leader for i mean substitute for judas
12:16many people who have got this question
12:19why jesus did not select a substitute
12:22when he was with the disciples 40 days
12:25jesus was with the disciples 40 days
12:29and why jesus did not select another
12:31another disciple in the place of judas's
12:34create who committed suicide first of
12:37all the second question why jesus did
12:40not tell the disciples okay you select
12:42another person instead of judas
12:45jesus never said this and jesus never
12:48selected another disciple in the place
12:50of judas then why are they doing it
12:54so this was a big question
12:56but we know from the bible
12:58it and also the theologians the early
13:01church fathers used to say jesus did it
13:03purposely because jesus wanted to teach
13:08how they are going to run this church in
13:12because in the future the successors
13:16selected by themselves
13:18not by jesus himself coming and
13:20selecting them the successors of the
13:22apostles will be selected by themselves
13:26so they should follow their there is
13:28there are certain conditions that they
13:31and they should learn from it they
13:34should learn how to follow this
13:36conditions the first condition is
13:38fulfillment of the scripture that is why
13:41peter says we are in emptiness we have
13:45jesus is gone and the holy spirit has
13:48now we need to proceed with our life and
13:51proceed with our church therefore let us
13:54look into the scripture so when and
13:57whenever you go through emptiness there
13:59are four conditions that you need to be
14:03need to follow first one obedience
14:07here the disciples are obeying what did
14:09they obey jesus told them not to go from
14:11jerusalem now they are staying in
14:15and the second one fellowship they are
14:18gathered together with one heart one
14:20mind in one place they gather together
14:23no dispute no arguments no confusion no
14:28that is fellowship third one they
14:31constantly devoted themselves in prayer
14:33in that room they were constantly
14:35devoting themselves in prayer along with
14:39the fourth one there is should be
14:41scripture it should be written whatever
14:43that they are going to do should be
14:45scripture inspired there should not be
14:48anything that is opposite or
14:49contradicting to the scripture
14:53and the fifth one it should be the will
14:56these are the condition the fourth four
14:59should be met in order to fulfill the
15:01will of god that is why
15:03peter got up and said
15:05in the bible there is a scripture what
15:07is the scripture let us read those
15:09scriptures which saint peter quartered
15:11what did he caught he said in david
15:15you know through the holy spirit david
15:16foretold concerning judas who became a
15:18guide for those who arrested jesus was
15:22for he was numbered among us and was
15:25alerted his share in this ministry these
15:28judas is was in fact numbered among us
15:34and this tall number should be
15:36maintained so he he why did these 12
15:39number is very important in the
15:41because these 12 numbers
15:44there is also a prophecy by jesus christ
15:47gospel of matthew we read
15:50chapter 19 verse 28 gospel of matthew
15:53chapter 19 28 jesus said to them truly i
15:56tell you are the renewal of all things
15:58when the son of man is seated
16:00on the throne of his glory
16:04you who have followed me will also sit
16:07on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of
16:10jesus and the second coming when i come
16:13second time the second coming time all
16:15these tall apostles will be sitting on
16:17the twelve thrones of israel and will be
16:20judging the 12 tribes of israel
16:23now unfortunately one one throne is
16:27why because judas committed suicide
16:31in order to fulfill this prophecy of
16:34jesus it was a need to have a substitute
16:37somebody else should
16:39replace judas so what does it mean
16:42in the following of the lord in the
16:44ministry of the lord nobody is
16:47anybody can be replaced anyone can take
16:52and maybe unexpectedly anyone can be
16:57is something so no one is irreplaceable
17:01in the ministry of god
17:03that is why judas just disappeared
17:05another person is sitting there
17:07there is a ministry understood to us if
17:09we don't do it sincerely faithfully
17:12there will be someone else will be doing
17:15so he was numbered judas was numbered
17:18among the 12 but he lost it
17:20and now someone else get the opportunity
17:23always remember this in our ministry and
17:25anything that is entrusted by god
17:27it is not because we are somebody
17:29special but god is someone sub special
17:33he is chooses us not because we are
17:35worthy obvious we are eligible for that
17:38but because god is worthy he can do it
17:41for us and through through us praise the
17:44let's continue reading acts of apostle
17:46chapter 1 verse 17 for he was numbered
17:49among us and was allotted his share in
17:51his ministry was 18.
17:53now what happened to judas then there is
17:56given in the back bracket now this man
17:59acquired a field with the reward of his
18:01wickedness he judas in fact did not
18:04commit suicide instantly or immediately
18:07judas he took the money and brought a
18:11land with his wickedness he bought a
18:13land and falling and then he committed
18:16suicide he was hanging himself because
18:18in another gospel it is written he hung
18:20himself but he was hanging but he did
18:23not die when he was hanging maybe used a
18:28and then he fell head long and he burst
18:33and all his bubbles cast out so it was a
18:35very pathetic terrible death that he
18:38went through judas remember he was one
18:41of the apostles who was supposed to be
18:44we would have called if he was alive if
18:46you would did not do that act we would
18:49have called him saint judas's create but
18:52unfortunately he lost that title
18:55and he this is what happened to him my
18:58dear brothers and sisters we it is a
19:00reminder for all of us anyone who
19:03follows jesus can happen and have this
19:07experience in their life let's continue
19:11this became known to all the residents
19:13of jerusalem this everybody in jerusalem
19:16even the disciples that means it was
19:20everywhere so that the field was called
19:26means field of blood
19:29not the blood of judas
19:31but the blood of jesus because he got
19:35land with the money of the blood
19:38therefore that land is called the field
19:41of the blood okay let's read verse 20
19:44for it is written in the book of psalms
19:47let is homestead become desolate and let
19:51there be no one to live in it and let
19:53another take his position for of
19:56overseer overseer means a bishop
20:00bishops another name is called overseer
20:02so let another person sit on the seat
20:05in the there is a prophecy in the psalm
20:08which sum it is let us read this psalm
20:11from the bible praise the lord
20:19let's read 41 verse 9
20:23bosom friend in whom i trusted who ate
20:26of my bread has lifted the heel against
20:28me this is about jesus prophecy about
20:31what happened to jesus jesus under this
20:34a judas they ate together jesus in fact
20:36gave the bread to a uh judas but judas
20:40of the bread and lifted the heel against
20:45and let's also read psalm 69 verse 25
20:48psalm 69 verse 25 may their camp be
20:54let no one live in their tents
20:59for they persecute those whom you have
21:01struck down and those whom you so that
21:04let the camp be destroyed and psalm 109
21:08psalm 109 verse 8 we read may his days
21:11be few may another sees his position let
21:15another person take his position
21:18so these are the quotations which peter
21:20is quoting and let's go back to verse 18
21:2319 we read like this
21:27this became not okay verse 20.
21:30for it is written in the book of psalms
21:32let his homestead become desolate and
21:34let there be no one to live in it and
21:37let another take his position of
21:41so one of the men so now they are going
21:43to select a leader so how are they going
21:46to select a leader because they are not
21:48getting visions the holy spirit and
21:50gifts of the holy spirit is not active
21:53unless pentecost comes so this is before
21:56pentecost and after ascension jesus is
22:00and the holy spirit is not active
22:04days of emptiness and that moment they
22:07are taking a very important step
22:10taking a selection of the 12th apostle
22:14they are they are taking a decision who
22:16should be selected and they said this
22:18condition should be followed which are
22:20the conditions so one of the men who
22:23have accompanied us during all the time
22:27that the lord was jesus went in and
22:28about out of among us
22:31every time the one was above with us
22:34so we know only 12 apostles were always
22:39then who are these other people
22:41that also shows there may be some others
22:44the outer circle of disciples who are
22:46following jesus at a distance
22:49the 12 apostles are inner circle of
22:51disciples but there are outer circle of
22:53disciples who are following jesus at a
22:56distance who were kept at distance but
22:58at the same time they were following
22:59jesus from the beginning
23:03beginning from the baptism of the day
23:05jesus was baptized in jordan river
23:08these people were there
23:10until the day when he was taken up to
23:16somebody who's witnessed all these
23:19one of these must become a witness with
23:21us to his resurrection
23:23the one who was a witness has seen and
23:26experienced these should be and who was
23:29witnessed with us to his resurrection
23:32one of the most important qualification
23:34is the one who has seen the resurrection
23:37not the one who is seeing the death
23:40but the one who has seen the
23:41resurrection so resurrection is the one
23:44of the biggest quality i mean the the
23:46one who witnessed the resurrection one
23:48who believe in the resurrection
23:50is the biggest quality to become a
23:52christian and also a follower of jesus
23:56it is not enough that we believe jesus
23:58died for us we have to believe that he
24:03praise the lord so these are the
24:07these are the conditions they put
24:09together praise the lord
24:14after these conditions they put all
24:15these conditions the one was with us all
24:18these years and the one was witness the
24:22that should be the person who should be
24:29the condition is the one who
24:32knows about jesus christ no that is not
24:34what he says the one who knows jesus
24:37christ there is a difference between one
24:39who knows about jesus christ second one
24:42the one who knows jesus christ
24:44there are so many theologians the one
24:47who knows about jesus christ they may be
24:49able to give a big lecture about the
24:51whole life of jesus christ
24:54but they may not know jesus christ
24:57there are so many people including
24:59priests and others who knows about jesus
25:01christ but very hardly hardly a few a
25:05few may be found who knows jesus christ
25:08who experienced jesus christ who lives
25:11the life of jesus christ
25:14when apostles were selecting the 12th
25:16apostle they were not talking about the
25:19one the one who knows about jesus christ
25:21should be selected no
25:23the one who knows jesus christ one who
25:26experienced this resurrection one was
25:28seen and experienced his life should be
25:32this is the biggest problem today in the
25:38in a with a very good intention select
25:40the people i really doubt
25:43this aspect is taken very seriously or
25:46not praise the lord thank you jesus
25:48praise you jesus thank you our father
25:51anyway let us continue reading these
25:54passages so they proposed
25:56two two people were found only two
25:59people were called i mean found uh who
26:01are worthy to be uh considered
26:05fulfilling these conditions
26:06one of one of them joseph called
26:10birth sabas joseph called bhasabas the
26:13second one is called justus
26:18and who was also called known as justus
26:20and the second one is called matayas
26:23so mathias is the word mathias means
26:27so the mathias is the second person so
26:31these two options are come so now what
26:34so how to know this is the one who is
26:36chosen so they found an easy way to find
26:39the myth find the message of god because
26:42they don't have the gifts of the holy
26:44spirit active by then because pentecost
26:46has not taken place and they they have
26:49jesus is not there with them because
26:51jesus is gone ascended into heaven so
26:53now they are checking how to find the
26:55truth how to know that message of the
26:59read like this verse 24 then they prayed
27:03and said lord you know everyone's heart
27:06show us which one of these two you have
27:09chosen they prayed seriously and then
27:14prayed like these choose one whom you
27:18to take the place in this ministry an
27:20apostleship two things
27:22do the ministry of the lord and the
27:24position of apostleship that means the
27:27apostleship is an office
27:31just called the name given to the twelve
27:34apostles apostle ship is in office it
27:38that is why in the catholic church the
27:40apostleship is continued through the
27:43from which judas turned aside to go to
27:46his own place verse 26
27:49and they cast lords for them now they
27:52are they have found that the best way to
27:54find the method message of the lord is
27:56to cast lord so what how did they do why
28:01what is the president's precedence is
28:04there any did god jesus tell them to do
28:06the lord did jesus do lot anytime
28:10to know the message of the lord
28:12why did they choose this aspect taking
28:16there is a reason because in the bible
28:19you can see so many examples where they
28:22were taking lord putting lord and taking
28:24lord we read leviticus chapter 16 verse
28:278 leviticus chapter 16 verse 8 we read
28:31an iron shall cast lords on the two gods
28:35and one lord for the lord anand and the
28:37other lord were assassin
28:39so even aaron the high priest he cast
28:42lords to find the right answer
28:46he did it in the past
28:47we also know proverbs chapter 16 was 33
28:52proverbs chapter 16 verse 33 the lord is
28:55cast into the lab but the decision is
28:59when you cast a lot god's decision will
29:04there is a fulfillment through the
29:06prophets the proverbs and then also we
29:09know from the book of jonah chapter 1
29:13you know the sailors said to one another
29:15come let us cast lord so that we may
29:17know on whose account this calamity has
29:20come upon us they cast lords and the
29:24so there also you can see a precedence
29:27casting lords and even in the book of
29:30zechariah i mean not book of sagaraya
29:32the father of john the baptist zakaraya
29:35he got the lord to serve in that temple
29:38and that is when angel gabriel came and
29:40spoke to him so casting lot was a very
29:43common thing practiced among the jewish
29:46leaders when they have confusion regard
29:48regarding following the message of god
29:51and that is why they as they took this
29:54method of knowing the will of god
29:56casting net sorry casting loads uh to
29:59know the truth praise the lord
30:03for them and the lord followed mathias
30:05and he was added to the eleven apostles
30:10now my brothers and sisters before
30:12now when i say this many people may
30:14think okay it's a very good idea let me
30:16from cast the lord from tomorrow onwards
30:18for every decision that they take if
30:20anyone thinks like this remember there
30:22should be a condition felt and condition
30:25should be met which are the conditions
30:27before you cast lords you have to
30:29fulfill certain conditions first one
30:32obedience to god you have to make sure
30:34that you're obeying god in everything
30:36every aspect of your life here the
30:38disciples they were asked to go back to
30:40jerusalem and stay there they obeyed god
30:43second there should be fellowship unity
30:45among the people who are staying in the
30:48if you are going to cast a lot in your
30:50home make sure that in your house in
30:52your community in your family there
30:54should be unity and fellowship
30:56and third one they should be in prayer
30:59strongly devote themselves in strong
31:02and they were with the pr in prayer and
31:07it should be according to the decision
31:09that you are planning should be
31:10according to the scripture it should be
31:12for your spiritual growth and holiness
31:14and something spiritually uplifting in
31:17your family spiritually blessing you and
31:20something helping you only then you can
31:25casting loads praise the lord now with
31:27these we complete the chapter one
31:29tomorrow we will continue chapter two
31:31and my dear brothers and sisters
31:33after reading and listening and
31:35reflecting all these bible passages you
31:38have learned a lot from these bible
31:40passages especially the acts of the
31:42apostle chapter one let's thank the lord
31:44for this wonderful chapter
31:46and the wonderful things that we have
31:47learned from these bible passages
