Peter and the Apostles recognized the deity of Jesus the Christ but had no concept that His salvation would be offered by grace to the world and not only to the Jews.
Acts 1:3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Acts 1:6-8 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:15-26 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, 16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; 17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. 19 And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’ 21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” 23 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” 26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
The Apostles were given the direction of Holy Spirit of the need to secure the 12th Apostle who would rule in the return of Jesus for eternity.
Paul would not fit any of the parameters as the 12th Apostle he himself said the he was an apostle out of time. Paul would be the apostle to testify of the Gospel of Grace to non Jewish believers who would form the Body of Christ. Peter and the 12 would be Apostles to Israel and the Jewish regulations that bound them in the Law.
Matthew 19:27-28 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” 28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The rewards of the 12 Apostles who followed Jesus in His life here on earth would be that in the life to come they will be the benevolent judges of Israel. Now Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father pleading the case of those who believe in Him for salvation.
Matthew 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.
At His return to Israel then He will reign in His full glory as King of Israel and the world. Now He is the head of the Church and the Redeemer King of the Jews. Everything happens according to God’s plan from before the beginning of creation and that is written for us in the Scriptures. Jesus, the risen Savior, will reign forever as the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
Matthew 25:34-40 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Acts 1:8-11 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
The indwelling of Holy Spirit was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. The Apostles thought that Jesus would return in their lifetime. They lived in perpetual expectation of His return. At the end of His life Peter came to the realization that it would be after the fullness of the Body of Christ, by faith in the the grace of God, received adoption then the end would come. Carla
The Jewish worldview of Jesus’ day envisioned the present age ending with a time of tribulation, followed by divine judgment. Then God’s kingdom—the age to come—would be fully inaugurated. This schema also is reflected in the books of Daniel and Revelation. The actions described here (and in the next verse) reflect obedience to the command to love one’s neighbor—and thereby demonstrate love for God, as well (22:37–39). Jesus’ remarks here call for Christian care to reach all the way to the bottom of the social structure, thus inverting earthly values. Faithlife Study Bible
The kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world indicates that this kingdom has always been God’s goal for humans. The NKJV Study Bible
Isaiah 58:7
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Ezekiel 18:7
If he has not oppressed anyone,
But has restored to the debtor his pledge;
Has robbed no one by violence,
But has given his bread to the hungry
And covered the naked with clothing;
James 2:15–16 if a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
Ezekiel 18:16
Has not oppressed anyone,
Nor withheld a pledge,
Nor robbed by violence,
But has given his bread to the hungry
And covered the naked with clothing;
Truly, there are some situations only God can get the credit for. May this…be our reminder that God values humility and calls us to surrender our journeys to Him. Even the giftings and talents God has given us were never meant to be our personal badges of honor but opportunities to give God all the glory He deserves.
Lord, I thank You for the resources, giftings and abilities You have given me. I pray You would help me not to take anything for granted. Help me to appreciate the small blessings and the life-changing moments only You deserve the credit for. I pray, Lord, not to fall into pride as I operate in what You have called me to do. Teach me how to lean on Your power and not my own ability. In Jesus' name, amen.
God always provides. First5
The Hebrew word that we translate as holy in English is, qudosh, (kedusha) is often defined as “set apart” but which would be more accurately translated as life intensity. To be holy in the Hebrew context is to be fully alive, not sedate and restrained.
Perhaps this translation misunderstanding has led to the loss of vitality and “life intensity” in the life of faith today. The holy life should be intently dynamic, ever changing, and ever realizing. The concept that holiness is restrained, controlled, has made the holy life unattractive to those in the world who are seeking life at its fullest because all they see is closed and stuffy lives filled with “don’t” and “can’t”, instead of celebrate and revel. Live as richly and as passionately as possible: that’s as close to the meaning of holy as you can get. Sabbath Moments
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