Jesus had commanded his disciples to sweep away the entire world. How wonderful! They did not set out purely by their own power, nor did they speak empty words with human eloquence, but isolated themselves for prayer, and carried out Christ’s second command, that is to wait for the Promise of the Father. The world’s distress is terrible, and the multitudes of those that are dead in sins are like a flood. Woe to the believers who intend to preach the world in their personal wisdom, for they will fall to the mainstream of our time, and certainly sink. Do not think you can reform anyone, or guide anyone to Christ through your personal skill, or your artful smartness. Be silent, and pray waiting for God’s work. Be aware that the history of the Acts.of the apostles began with prayers, and not with big words. The first act of Christ’s apostles was praying and waiting. They knew well that our ability would result in nothing, for we are all going astray quickly. But the true Man, chosen by God, strives for us. Do you ask who the only winner is? His name is Jesus Christ. He is the only one who saves, redeems, and overcomes. We follow his steps, and testify his triumph.
The disciples did not withdraw into a cave or wilderness, nor did they meditate on the mysteries of the universe pessimistically, looking with disdain upon the world of hatred, but met and prayed in communion, and gave themselves continually to prayer together. The content of their meetings was common prayers. They praised God for Jesus’ Acts.which they had experienced, repented sincerely of their own failure, made prayers out of their experiences and expectations, and spoke to their heavenly Father about all their life concerns, thanking, confessing, asking, and supplicating. Prayer was their main business, profession, and effort.
The upper room was probably the meeting place. It may have been the scene of the Last Supper where Jesus ate the Passover with his disciples, and told them that as the bread went into their stomachs so he dwelt in them, and as the wine went into their veins so his blood cleansed their bloods and purified them completely that their being might be renewed truly through his centering in them.
Who were the men who were united with Christ in a new covenant in this room, who attended continually the meetings in this sacred center? First, we distinguish Peter, the hasty, active fisherman, who denied his Lord, and received his forgiveness through a personal meeting with him who was raised from the dead. He is firstly mentioned among the names of the apostles, for he was the one entrusted by his Lord to head his fellows, and speak for them. Next to him, we see John, the meek, quiet, gentle, and young disciple, who used to lean on Jesus’ breast. He saw the glory of the Lord and testified of it more than anyone else. Beside him prayed his brother James, who wished to sit at the right hand of the Son of God in his kingdom, and became the first martyr among those who were present, glorifying Christ in his death. James was a friend of Andrews, the big man who believed in Christ before them all, and guided his brother Peter immediately to the Savior (John 1: 40- 41). Among those who were praying was Philip, one of the early disciples, whom Jesus sought and found, and called with one word: “Follow me” (John 1: 43- 45). He immediately looked for his friend “Nathanael”, also called “Bartholomew” who was sitting under the fig tree, pouring his heart out before God. Christ saw him from afar, and called him for continuous prayers to see he and his fellows the heaven open, and the angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man and his followers.
In this circle of the six first disciples from Bethsaida of Galilee, we find Thomas sitting down out of trouble. This formerly critical skeptic had obtained through his piercing questions a deeper knowledge of God than all the other disciples that he worshiped to Jesus crying out, “My Lord and my God!” Among those who were waiting for the Holy Spirit we also see Matthew, the tax collector, trader, accountant, and skilful translator who answered Christ’s call obediently, gathered his words, described his works, and glorified him with his glorious gospel that we may be filled with the power gifted to him even today. We do not know much about the life of the other three apostles. As the rest, they received power from Jesus to heal the sick, and cast out demons. They were glad for their names were written in heaven. So they glorified Jesus with the gospel of salvation in their surroundings. We do not know much detail about their life. Yet, this is not important, for Luke did not want to describe all the Acts.of the apostles, but brought into view the work of the living Christ in his honorable apostles. They opened their hearts to his guidance, and prayed altogether.
How wonderful! We also see among the communion of prayers women who participated in this series of meetings. Those were the ones who stood alone near the cross, and were commissioned by the Lord to bring the good tiding of his resurrection on the first day of the week. They waited with all the others for the descent of the power of the Holy Spirit who was prepared not only for men, but also for women without distinction.
Mary the mother of Jesus was in the communion of those who waited for the Promise of the Father. This is the last time that she is mentioned in the New Testament. She did not appear as the queen of heaven, but as a humble prayer who was in need of the power of the Holy Spirit.
Luke, the evangelist who knew Jesus’ mother personally, and inquired her about her Son, also testified clearly that Jesus had brothers who had already prevented him from carrying out his work as Savior, lest all the family would be refused by the nation (Matthew 13: 55; Mark 3: 21; 31- 35; 6: 3; John 7: 3- 8). But after his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his brother James (1 Corinthians 15: 7) who was so shaken at Jesus’ divinity that he brought the rest of his brothers to the circle of the apostles. They prayed together, became converted, and waited for the Promise of the Father. Thereafter James was filled with the Holy Spirit. He became model of prayers, and one of the pillars of the Early Church(Acts 12: 17; 15: 13; Galatians 2: 9).
He who was raised from the dead united the best part of his followers, the faithful women, and his family according to blood relationship altogether in a praying church. So they all became one heart and one soul, and strived together in prayer. Do you pray in the communion of brothers and sisters with all longing and determination? Or do you pray alone? The best group of prayers is the starting point of the Acts.of the apostles and of the whole church.