Reading for April 10th

Read Acts 1.12-26
Restoring the twelve.
In verse 13: on the named apostles, see  also Lk 6.13-16.
In verse 14: Luke again draws attention to the presence of the women at a critical occasion of God's action (Lk 8.1-3; 23.49; 23.5-10), specifically Jesus' mother Mary (Lk 1.35).
In verses 15-20: peter again affirms the the scripture had to be fulfilled (Lk 24.25-26, 44-47), and his first speech in Acts is a scriptural testimony interpreting what has happened on the basis of Ps. 69.25 (68.26: LXX) and 109.8 (LXX 108).
In verses 16-18: On Judas' active conspiracy, see Lk 22.3-6, 47-48.
On his death, compare Mt 27.5.
In verse 22: On the baptism of John as Jesus' anointing by God, see Lk 3,21-22, Acts 10.38).
To be a witness to his resurrection (Gk.,"martyr") will be suffering and death even to those who were not "eyewitnesses" from the beginning (Lk 1.1; Acts 7; 24.14-21).
In verse 23 Neither Joseph called Barsabbas nor Matthias is ever mentioned again in the New Testament.
In verse 26; casting lots was a traditional Jewish practice for discerning God's choice (Lev 16.8; Num 26.55; 33.54; Josh 19).
The eleven must be restored to twelve because of Israel's twelve tribes (Lk 5.13; 9.1; 22.30; Acts 26.7).
Comments or Questions..