門徒的改變
使徒行傳一章13至26節
13進了城，就上了所住的一間樓房；在那裡有彼得、約翰、雅各、安得烈、腓力、多馬、巴多羅買、馬太、亞勒腓的兒子雅各、奮銳黨的西門，和雅各的兒子（或作：兄弟）猶大。
14這些人同著幾個婦人和耶穌的母親馬利亞，並耶穌的弟兄，都同心合意的恆切禱告。
15那時，有許多人聚會，約有一百二十名，彼得就在弟兄中間站起來，說：
16弟兄們！聖靈藉大衛的口，在聖經上預言領人捉拿耶穌的猶大，這話是必須應驗的。
17他本來列在我們數中，並且在使徒的職任上得了一分。
18這人用他作惡的工價買了一塊田，以後身子仆倒，肚腹崩裂，腸子都流出來。
19住在耶路撒冷的眾人都知道這事，所以按著他們那裡的話給那塊田起名叫亞革大馬，就是血田的意思。
20因為詩篇上寫著，說：願他的住處變為荒場，無人在內居住；又說：願別人得他的職分。
21所以，主耶穌在我們中間始終出入的時候，
22就是從約翰施洗起，直到主離開我們被接上升的日子為止，必須從那常與我們作伴的人中立一位與我們同作耶穌復活的見證。
23於是選舉兩個人，就是那叫作巴撒巴，又稱呼猶士都的約瑟，和馬提亞。
24眾人就禱告說：主阿，你知道萬人的心，求你從這兩個人中，指明你所揀選的是誰，叫他得這使徒的位分。這位分猶大已經丟棄，往自己的地方去了。
25-26於是眾人為他們搖籤，搖出馬提亞來；他就和十一個使徒同列。
信息分享
首先，他們都聽從基督給他們的最後囑咐(見第4節)。當基督升天之後，他們大可以互相道別，然後各自歸家；可是，他們並沒有這樣做，反而聽從基督的吩咐，留在耶路撒冷繼續等候。
第二，他們專心等候那位應許中的聖靈。他們知道自己太軟弱，根本無法獨力去做任何事情。基督雖然沒有告訴他們要等多久，但他們都願意聽從基督的吩咐去等候。他們沒有等不及神便馬上行動，也沒有嘗試憑藉己力去做任何事情。
第三，他們同心合意地一起禱告。在等候期間，他們如何打發時間？他們一起禱告。這時離開聖靈降臨還有十天的時間，在等候期間，他們都願意以禱告來準備自己。
第四，他們一起學習聖經，亦表現出對聖經的尊重。復活後的耶穌曾多次向門徒顯現，並藉機向他們講解舊約的道理，那是他們過往並不明白的。如今，他們學會了從神的話語來看每件事物；他們看到猶大的結局，為他感到難過，因為他們畢竟是朋友，過去三年更是一起生活，但他的錯誤抉擇卻把自己送上死路。透過猶大的悲慘結果，門徒更清楚知道自己該聽從神的話語而行。
第五，門徒藉著禱告，把他們的問題與決定帶到主的面前。他們先想出兩個最佳的人選，來接替猶大丟棄的使徒位分，然後便求告主說：「主啊，求你向我們顯明，你最後揀選誰。」結果，神向他們顯明了祂的心意。
透過以上所勾劃的圖畫，我們豈不看見一幅門徒的美麗寫照？他們都忠心地聽從主的吩咐，一起等候祈禱，一起學習聖經，而且，無論作任何事，他們都尋求主的引導。難怪他們最終得著聖靈的充滿，和被聖靈大大使用了。
WHAT WERE THE DISCIPLES LIKE?
Acts 1: 13 – 26
13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son 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 brothers.
15 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.
Message
Firstly they were obedient to Christ’s words (see verse 4). Left to themselves, they could have separated and gone back to their homes. But Christ had said ‘stay in Jerusalem’ and they did what he had told them.
Secondly, they were to wait for the promised Holy Spirit. They were too weak to act alone. They were not told how long they would have to wait, but again they did what Christ had told them to do. They did not run ahead of God, nor did they try to do anything in their own strength.
Thirdly, they were united in prayer. How did they spend the waiting time? In united prayer. There were ten days of preparation for the Holy Spirit’s coming and they spend the whole time in prayer.
Fourthly, they knew and honoured the Bible. Jesus had helped them to see many things in the Old Testament which they hadn’t understood before. Now they saw everything in the light of God’s Word. They were sad and sorry about Judas; he had been their friend for over three years. Now he was gone for ever from them. But they knew what they had to do, because their guidance came from God’s Word.
Fifthly, they brought their problem and the decision they had to make to the Lord in prayer. They chose the two best men they could think of, then they said, ‘Now Lord you make the final decision not us!’ And God told them what his will was.
Isn’t that a wonderful picture of these disciples? They were obedient, they spent time in prayer, they knew their Bible and they looked to the Lord for guidance. Is it any wonder that God the Holy Spirit was able to fill and use them as he did?