Apocalypse,
A few more thoughts on the Pentecost papers. By the way the fact that our Lord died during the week of Passover or Nisan 20 and not on Nisan 14 has been thouroughly discussed on this and other forums. However your examples that show the Insite book is wrong on such matters still holds.
1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath days journey.
Sivan 3 a Friday late in the day when the Sabbath would begin and Sabbath rules would apply.
:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. :14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
This is still Friday when the 11, family and friends gathered for the Sabbath observance. Now in the few days remaining before Pentecost and in another place entirely with 120 present we have the election of Matthias. It could have taken place in the temple or even on the ground floor of the same house if it was large enough to accommodate this many disciples. The exact location is not specified and it is not impossible for this many people to be packed tightly into a confined space. But it was another time during these few days so we have:
:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) 16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. 17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. 18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. {bishoprick: or, office, or, charge} 21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. 23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
This all sounds very scriptural, but none or them was authorized to make such a decision for Him. Only Christ could choose and appoint one of the 12. He even made this fact clear to them.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
And the promised blessing was not yet bestowed upon them. So while Matthias was numbered with the eleven, it does not say that he was now accepted by Christ as one of the twelve. He was merely numbered with the 11. Christ would appoint Paul personally in His own due time to this position. And we also know that the Apostles would keep the Law covenant for many years after this (called apostasy) until Paul finally put a stop to it as a consequence of his ministry and Apostleship. Luke recorded this because it caused so many problems for Paul his friend about whom he wrote in the Acts. But now Luke continues with another scene on another day the location of which again is not specified. And the number present is not specified either. It could be the 11 or 12 or even the 120. If we follow the context however the implication is that it was the 11 as specified earlier with family and friends pretty much as detailed earlier in the upper room.
2;1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
There is no problem with more than the 11 receiving the Holy Ghost as even Cornelius his family and friends received the same helper as described in chapter 10. And Matthias would not be punished for an error made by the 11. The Apostles were not punished for keeping the Law for many years afterward nor were they prevented from receiving the Holy Ghost were they? No! And many Jews would be selected afterward for this blessing so that speaking in tounges was commonplace among them. But only the Apostles were ordained to represent the faith in an official capacity. So it stands to reason that such Galileans took the lead when this event was completed. And Matthias is not identified as a Galilean. So we learn:
:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. {was: Gr. voice was made confounded: or, troubled in mind} 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
So when the incident was noised about or spread by word of mouth the people gathered together to find out more about it. Now this could have happened outside the temple, but it could also have happened outside the house as stated. And the Apostles as well as disciples would preach in the Temple, Synagogues, by the river or wherever Jews gathered for many years afterward.
If this took place at the Temple, then why was it necessary for it to be noised about before a crowd gathered? The location therefore and the number involved would indicate a rather limited event with only a few present as recorded by Luke in the upper room. Just a thought.
Joseph
Edited by - JosephMalik on 25 October 2002 1:23:34
