And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples all together the number of the names was about 120 and said men and brethren this scripture had to be fulfilled which this Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus for he was numbered with us with us and obtained a part in this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity and falling head long he had long he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out and he became and it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem so the field is called in their own language a kale dama that is field of blood 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 therefore of these men who have accompanied us to all or all the time that Jesus that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us beginning from the baptism of John to the day that he was taken up from us one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection and they proposed to Joseph called Barsavis who was surnamed justice and Matthias and they prayed and said you O Lord know the hearts of all show which of these two you have chosen to take part in this ministry an apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell that he might go to his own place and they cast their lots and the lot fell on Matthias and he was numbered with the eleven apostles amen may God richly bless both the reading and the hearing of his holy word now in our text this morning as we continue to work our way through the book of Acts we will see the beginning of what becomes a central and a defining feature of what it means to be a new testament as well as an apostolic church by the way I should point out that when we speak of apostolic church as when it is mentioned in our creed it should be distinguished from the apostolic denomination it's interesting that people get those things confused that because we know there is a denomination which is called the apostolic denomination that's not what we mean by apostolic church what is meant historically and hold in mind that the the Nicene creed six century is way before there was any denominations so what is meant by one holy and apostolic church is a church that is grounded in and holds to the doctrines that have been established by the apostles that the doctrine and the order of the church as it's established by the by the apostles that's what's meant by apostolic church in those in our in our creeds and historically that's what we mean and so when I speak of a defining feature of what it means to be a new testament in apostolic church that's what I mean a church as it is grounded in the teachings of the apostles now the particular feature of the apostolic church that's introduced to us in our text this morning can really be summarized as in a twofold manner number one a commitment to the scriptures of God and secondly the understanding that the scriptures are our holy spirit in spite Peter indicates both of those things in in our passage he in fact he caused the scriptures he he speaks of that which is that the holy spirit he says as speaking of the scriptures in verse 16 he says men and brethren this scripture had to be fulfilled which the holy spirit spoke by the mouth of David so in the understanding of the apostles and Peter would say this later in in one of his epistles that the scriptures were written by holy men who were inspired by God so that's that's foundational that that the scriptures that the scriptures are are to be the governing source for what we believe and that the scriptures themselves are inspired by God the Holy Spirit and so this morning I as we look at at this this continuation or the establishment of this practice and principle in the early church we want to look at three things relative to this passage this this particular text where where Peter demonstrates a commitment to the scriptures a commitment and by the way hold in mind that when they spoke of the scriptures in the New Testament they were only talking about the Old Testament scriptures or initially they were talking about the Old Testament scriptures and then the letters began to be written and Paul himself acknowledges that to receive if you receive him or if you receive the scriptures then to receive his word as an apostle as being the inspired word of God so there are three things though that we want to look at in particular from this particular passage relative to the apostles commitment to the authority of scripture in the first place it becomes a parent's that that these brothers have a Christ-centered understanding of the scriptures it becomes apparent that these men these these apostles have a Christ-centered understanding of scriptures they don't just read the scriptures but they understand the scriptures as being fulfilled in and through Christ Christ is the lens he's the glasses that they put on when they look at the scriptures in verse 16 Peter Peter cites the Psalms and he actually cites he he cites the spirit of the Psalms in and what he says is that David was speaking about Judas I mean do you get that what what Peter is saying that that he saying that first the scriptures are inspired by the spirit but he says that the scriptures had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David notice this concerning Judas I mean that's he's saying that the Psalms that David in the Psalms spoke as led by the Holy Spirit concerning Judas now the only way Judas could be alluded to in the scriptures is if the scriptures themselves are anchored in Christ and let me explain what I mean by that you see in other words this is this is if this is about Judas and understand that this discovery on the part of Peter is obviously the fruit of Jesus teaching them it is the fruit of Jesus having in the interim of his resurrection and his ascension in fact if you look in Luke chapter 24 verses 44 and 45 familiar passage of scripture but Jesus in speaking or Luke here says that Jesus the resurrected Jesus meets with his disciples and look what it says in verse 44 then he said to them these are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you all that the things are all that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms concerning me and he opened their understanding that they might comprehend the scriptures and so it seems to be that a proper comprehension of the scriptures has Jesus as the center and substance of all of the scriptures so here's what we see now in generally and in Psalms 41 verse 9 and even though Peter in this particular passage does not cite that in in particular but in Psalms 41 verse 9 it certainly this would would be Judas or Peter's understanding of Judas and Psalm 41 it says this even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted who ate my bread has lifted up his heel against me now Jude or Peter in understanding the scriptures would probably understand the the personal pronouns in Psalms 41 verse 9 about my own familiar friend in whom I ate or whom I trusted who ate my bread as referring to Jesus and the one who ate my bread and lifted up his heel against me would refer to Judas even though David in the writing of that Psalm knew no Judas but Peter understood the scriptures as being the words of the Holy Spirit to point us to specifically the work of Jesus and so this is no doubt this is no doubt the fruit of Jesus spending this time with his disciples to show them a more excellent way to understand the scriptures and certainly this is the gist of his statement what you see in Psalm 41 verse 9 that this is the gist of his statement when about Judas that Judas when he says and this is his description of Judas he became a guide to those who arrested Jesus so what and the interesting thing is that Peter sees this from scriptures not just scriptures in general but the Old Testament and in particular from the words of David but Peter is even more explicit in finding Judas in the Psalms because of his understanding of the scriptures being about Jesus in verse 20 when he describes the circumstances of Judas's death he says this is the fulfillment of the Psalms the particular Psalm he has in mind is Psalm 69 verse 25 and in that passage in fact if we would you would look there it's actually quotes the the Psalm itself for it is written he says in the book of Psalms let his dwelling place be desolate and let no one live in it now what Peter is doing and he's he's not doing it indirectly he's doing it very directly Peter is saying no matter what David had as his immediate point of reference Peter is saying that passage is fulfilled in the manner in which Judas himself dies in fact the the the parenthetical statement in verses 18 and 19 is what describes the circumstances of Judas's death and Peter says the way to understand that is in light of Psalm 69 verse 25 now the the point here is that the apostles as demonstrated by Peter the the apostles had a Christ-centered understanding of the scriptures now this point will will return to it over and over again as we work through the book of of of act and you'll see it especially in Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost that that he preaches in light of his understanding of the scriptures as being centered in the person and work of Christ brothers and sisters here's something that we should learn from the apostles the scriptures are first and foremost God's revelation about his saving purpose fulfilled in the only in his only begotten son Jesus Christ the scriptures are not principally and primarily about how to have a happy life about how to have to be a successful young adult it's not principally about how to have a happy fulfilled marriage or how for you to be a happy fulfilled Christian woman or Christian man the the scriptures are primarily about the revelation of God's saving power in the person and work of his son that is principally and that means when we talk about principally that is the grit that by which we are to interpret God's ultimate message now it can be applied in a number of different ways and we will see throughout the New Testament how various scriptures are in how they are applied but how they are interpreted is through Christ and I think one of the the pitfalls of our generation is that we've made or we try to make the scriptures all about us and less about Jesus what's in it for me that's that's basically what we and it's we will not be able to enter properly or profitably of what's in it for me unless I know what's in it about him it must begin and Peter shows this and in such a way notice was taking place here that Judas is gone from their midst and they want to know what what do we do and so Peter turns to the scriptures and here's how he sees the scriptures you could not imagine in fact if I came to a Bible study and I did a Bible study on Psalm 41 and said that that passage was about Judas you you might be polite and say well you know I think passage reading way too much into that okay or if I said Psalm 69 was about Judas again you you might be too polite to say you know that you're you're out of your tree on that one but you would think well it's I don't see that but Peter does it Peter does it Peter takes us to Psalm 69 and he says David through the Holy Spirit is talking about Jesus that's how we got the the New Testament letters by the way it was through these men of God as they understood the message of God salvation contained in the Old Testament see there is no New Testament without the Old Testament all the New Testament letters are doing is interpreting and going forth with what has been established for us in the New Testament or in the Old Testament there's a second thing we see in this scenario secondly we also see in verse 20 that Peter is convinced from the scriptures from his understanding of the Psalms that Judas should be replaced look at the way that way he expresses it in fact he cites here Psalms 109 verse 8 he first cites Psalm 69 verse 25 about that what will happen that he should dwell in that his place should be desolate but then he goes on in verse in Psalms and also later in verse 20 and he cites from Psalms 109 verse 8 and here's his rationale and here's the passage by the way let another take his place and what Peter is convinced of is that this this is to be fulfilled by them seeking to replace Judas and and notice the the the context here he says in verse 20 for it is written in the book of Psalms let that his dwelling place be desolate and let no one live in it and then he takes us to the other Psalm let another take his place so then how does he open verse 21 therefore let us so in other words here's what what this is a pattern that's really followed in the church that God's word is the standard not only that governs our doctrine or what we believe but in the church and the New Testament church part of what it means to be an apostolic New Testament church is that God's word is to govern how we function and so Peter sees the need he doesn't say well you know we we miss Judas and you know we it's 12 is such a nice round number it just doesn't sound right to say we only have 11 disciples there for let us go ahead and fill out this number so we can get back to 12 no he says this is what the scripture says Peter is convinced that that Psalms 109 is about replacing Judas you see in other words here's what he here's what we get here's the pattern that's set by the apostles how we function within the church the structure of the church and and and the order of the church is according to what we understand the scriptures to teach when we have questions of structure when we have questions of order or of function within the church we should be able to reason from scriptures profitably and properly what is the proper course of action that's what's lost I've said it in different aspects of the church relative to some of the practices of the church some of the the things that take place in the context of church order church structure even the content of worship that many of the things that have have have been on the table for debate in our generation isn't because we have tried to reason from the scriptures it's because we've tried to reason according to our own affections and our own appetites that we've tried to function according to documents or things or standards or practices that have nothing to do with the scriptures now it doesn't always mean that it's always going to be wrong but it means that we we and we'll see it in fact in a moment that even with their reliance on the scriptures they were wrong on something but here's what at least they did and we see this practice throughout the New Testament in fact when we get the first church counsel in Acts 15 over the issue of how then do we receive these these Gentiles as they come into the faith how do we receive them you know how they come to a conclusion they reason from the scriptures brothers and sisters we cannot expect to be proper and profitable in our service to the Lord and ignorance of the scriptures we can argue all day long about order and decorum and protocol and priorities but as long as we are are ignorant of the scriptures seeing them fulfilled in Christ seeing them about Christ then we will always miss each other and we will only be right according to what seems right in the season here's the pattern that we see established by Peter established by these these founders of the Church of Jesus Christ is that they were dependent upon the scriptures so when they wanted to know what do we do next this is even before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit these men wrestled with the truths of God's Word understanding that the scriptures the Old Testament scriptures were inspired by the Holy Spirit so therefore how do we move forward Peter says well what does the scriptures say and I find it interesting of all of the passages you talk about finding a needle in a haystack how in the world does he land on Psalms 109 relative to Judas and the empty office that has been vacated by Judas because the same Holy Spirit that inspires the Old Testament writers unbeknownst to them in many cases speaking the truths of God concerning his son that same Holy Spirit alums the hearts of heroes to see in his Word the revelation and fulfillment of Jesus Christ you see in other words I think we would learn in our day and denominationally and and even at a local level that as we wrestle with issues as we seek to bring a sense of order that our guiding has to be what God says in his Holy Word but here's the third thing that we see in third consideration in this passage given the overall history of it and that is we see in these apostles humility in submitting to the Holy Spirit and the resurrected Christ in correcting faulty understandings we see it's it's not here directly but but we see in the pattern that's established here the pattern that's established in this in this setting in this context the pattern that becomes a pattern for the New Testament Church is the humility of godly men to to allow the Holy Spirit and the living Lord to correct their faulty understanding of the scriptures we see it later with Apollos who was this gifted preacher this gifted speaker of the gospel and and and he was missing something and and this husband and wife couple they heard him and they knew that he was missing something but they so they they didn't confronting they didn't just jump all over you know people love to correct everybody preaches better after you preach it you know every we they always you know it's it's always easier and and and and so sometimes we we we we get we we we we become so critical and so corrective that we can't we we we forget to be humble and the Quillen Priscilla they hear Apollos and and they hear his eloquence and and they're not overwhelmed by it they they see something missing and they go to him and they show him a more excellent way and Apollos becomes a more profitable tool or instrument in God's service so it is with these apostles that that they they miss something because all of us I like what Paul says he says we see in part and we understand in part and and and and certainly the apostles of no exception here you see they they receive correction because notice what Peter does we we see that that Peter reasons from the scriptures that they needed a replacement for Judas and and and so we'll you'll notice that in verses 21 and 22 that what they do is they establish a criteria or the qualifications for the replacement they they they establish a criteria that we need we need a replacement for Judas we all know what happened to Judas and and and and the scriptures they are led by the scriptures not by sentimentality not by numerology they are led by the scriptures that they need to replace Judas but here's where they're wrong even though I and I've heard good teachers go on and emphasize the fact see this is why we don't have apostles today because it says right here that you had to be with them from the time of Jesus baptism and and you had to be a witness to his resurrection that's what they say and you know what they do say that but God doesn't affirm that because you notice that in this passage we see in verses 21 and 22 as they establish the quite criteria or the qualifications for the replacement they settle on two candidates they settle on these two candidates and then they go and they pray to God and they pray that God would guide their choice and then in verse 26 they cast lots and they cast lots between Joseph called Barsobis and Matthias and and and the ultimate winner is Matthias but here's an interesting footnote this is the last time in scriptures that you will read the name of Matthias or the casting of lots so in other words here's what we see and I think it's it becomes clear that Judas that Peter is right and it is the will of God to replace Judas we we see that that will be the case that it is the will of God to replace Judas but here's what they forget they don't get to choose the apostle they didn't call themselves God will only have 12 apostles and Jesus will appoint Judas' replacement the same way that he that he called the others personally and directly so even though yes I do agree that that if we want to say well the office of apostle was closed today because and we look at the qualifications in verses 20 and 21 I mean 21 and 22 that's okay that would eliminate all of the would be apostles but I think there's a greater expression of their elimination and disqualification as apostles we don't have to be an apostle because we understand that the Bible which is the word of God makes room for only 12 now let me just conclude with a few observations here number one especially relative to both the scriptures the commitment to scriptures and the office of the apostle number one it is Jesus that calls and appoints his apostles Jesus calls and appoints his apostles in the gospels and he calls and appoints his apostle his replacement apostle in the book of Acts see it's no different remember this the book of Acts is about the continuing work of the crucified resurrected and ascended living Lord Jesus and it was the Lord Jesus Christ who called the original 12 apostles and you notice that that that that Luke says that there were at least 120 disciples gathered all of them didn't think they were apostles they knew they weren't those who had been appointed by Jesus as apostles are the ones who occupy that office and so this will be the same when it comes to the replacement of Judas so Jesus is the one who calls apostles so therefore now I know what brothers are gonna say well you know Jesus showed up my at my house last Tuesday night about two o'clock in the morning I was just sitting there and he said come and be an apostle you're a liar you're liar I'm not gonna try to explain what did or did not happen to you at two o'clock in the morning last Tuesday but I know for fact he didn't call you to be an apostle and here's why I know that we know that because in Revelation chapter 12 when the writer when John by the way who was one of the original apostles and who was there for and by the way he's mentioned in verse 13 as being in this meeting he was one of the original apostles and he wrote the book of Revelation and when he describes New Jerusalem and he described he says this now the wall of the city had 12 foundations and on them were the names of the 12 apostles of the land notice what it doesn't say it does not say and on them were the names of 12 of the apostles it doesn't say that it doesn't say that well you know it doesn't imply well it was a bunch of and if I wanted to I could name but I'm just going to name 12 it's not he there are 12 there are 12 he says 12 foundations of the walls and the walls and the those foundations have the names of the 12 apostles now here's what I know that those names do not include Judas and it doesn't include Matthias it has to be Paul why because Paul boldly by the spirit writes in his letters Paul and apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ so unless your name is on one of those foundations of the walls for the city of the New Jerusalem you are a lot of things but an apostle is not one of them you say whatever you want and you can make your case for whatever you want but Jesus is the one who appoints apostles and it seems to be a fixed number and even the apostles got it wrong they cast lots they they did the right thing and they prayed and I love the way they pray they remind us of how we pray sometimes we and subtly very subtly not intentionally not maliciously they said Lord your word tells us we need a replacement so here are the two you tell us which one of these two you want one and God says none of them neither one of them one of them choice is yet persecuting his church but it's his choice nonetheless here's a third point in closing here we see brothers and sisters we see here that that also the problem of apostles and self-professed apostles is a problem that plays the church in the first century and it's followed us on into the 21st century hasn't it revelation chapter two the church one of the churches is commended because they stood up when others claimed to be an apostle John says or Jesus says to them that you proved that they were not I wish we had those kind of Christians in our day I wish when when when a pastor reaches a point where he says well I'm an apostle that the church says well we we thank you we're apostolic therefore you need to go because there's no room for any more apostles so we see that there's a problem with false apostles even as early as the first century we also see as earliest is in second Corinthians chapter 11 Paul warns again of false apostles so here's the point it's not only false apostles and false doctrines will be with us until the Lord returns and the best defense that we have is the defense that Peter stands on and that is we must know the word of God through the lens the interpretive grit of the person and work of Jesus Christ and we must submit to his governing rule and authority it's not gonna it's not gonna make him go away no there it's gonna be with us it's gonna we're gonna have false doctrine and false claims until the Lord returns but we should follow the pattern of the apostles to know God's word through Christ so that we can defend ourselves against false claims and false doctrines brothers and sisters the Holy Spirit does not descend upon them yet it hasn't happened yet but when the spirit comes he will sharpen the minds of the renewed hearts of God's people that they would see his word as they ought and they would be guided and directed by his word I do pray that we would recapture the apostolic commitment to God's word I pray that we would regain the the apostolic understanding of Christ being the center and the fulfillment of the scriptures and I pray that we would gain the apostolic humility because see they didn't force Matthias on anybody else they that's the last time you see his name mentioned and they do receive Paul as an apostle that I pray that we would have this humility to say you know what I just missed that thank you Lord for showing me a more excellent way amen