Between the Ascension and the Anointing
Acts 1
The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking about God’s Kingdom.Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me.For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”Therefore when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?”He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority.But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing,who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.When they had come in, they went up into the upper room, where they were staying; that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.In these days, Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said,“Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus.For he was counted with us, and received his portion in this ministry.Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness, and falling headlong, his body burst open, and all his intestines gushed out.It became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that field was called ‘Akeldama,’ that is, ‘The field of blood.’For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his habitation be made desolate. Let no one dwell therein;’ and, ‘Let another take his office.’“Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,beginning from the baptism of John, to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”They put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.They prayed, and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosento take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.”They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.
World English Bible (Public Domain)
There is a quiet, sacred space in Acts 1 that we often rush past on our way to Pentecost. The risen Christ has given His final commission, and the disciples have watched Him ascend into the clouds. The promised Spirit has not yet come. And in that in-between space — after the command and before the empowerment — the church does something profoundly instructive: they wait together in prayer.
Consider the tension these believers carried. They had seen the resurrected Lord with their own eyes, had heard Him speak of the Kingdom of God over forty days, and had received the clearest possible mandate: "You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth." Yet Jesus also told them not to go — not yet. They were to wait for the promise of the Father. This is the paradox of the Christian life distilled into a single moment: the urgency of divine calling held in tension with the necessity of divine dependence. The disciples could not manufacture the power they needed. No amount of strategic planning, no fervor of human effort, could substitute for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And so they prayed — with one accord, steadfastly, together.
Notice, too, that this waiting was not passive. Peter stood among the hundred and twenty and addressed the painful vacancy left by Judas's betrayal. Scripture had to be fulfilled. The apostolic witness to Christ's resurrection needed to be restored. They sought the Lord's will through prayer and the testimony of His Word, acknowledging that God alone knows the hearts of all. Their prayer over Matthias is striking in its simplicity and trust: "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen." They did not presume to know; they asked the One who does.
Many of us find ourselves in seasons of waiting — between a clear calling and its fulfillment, between promise and provision. Acts 1 reminds us that such seasons are not empty. They are given for prayer, for unity in the body, for attending to the work God has already placed before us, and for cultivating the kind of humble dependence that says, "We cannot do this without You." The power comes from heaven, not from us. Our part is faithful, prayerful readiness.
Think about
In what area of your life might God be asking you to wait in prayerful dependence rather than pressing forward in your own strength?
Prayer
Father, forgive me for the times I have rushed ahead of Your Spirit, relying on my own energy and plans rather than waiting for Your empowerment. Teach me the holy discipline of prayerful dependence. Unite my heart with Your people in seeking Your will. I confess that I cannot fulfill Your calling apart from the power of Your Holy Spirit. As I wait on You today, give me the faith to trust that Your timing is perfect and Your provision is sure. May I be a faithful witness to the risen Christ — not in my own strength, but in the power You so graciously supply. In Jesus' name, amen.