等候期间
使徒行传一章15至26节
15那时，有许多人聚会，约有一百二十名，彼得就在弟兄中间站起来，说：
16弟兄们！圣灵藉大卫的口，在圣经上预言领人捉拿耶稣的犹大，这话是必须应验的。
17他本来列在我们数中，并且在使徒的职任上得了一分。
18这人用他作恶的工价买了一块田，以后身子仆倒，肚腹崩裂，肠子都流出来。
19住在耶路撒冷的众人都知道这事，所以按着他们那里的话给那块田起名叫亚革大马，就是血田的意思。
20因为诗篇上写着，说：愿他的住处变为荒场，无人在内居住；又说：愿别人得他的职分。
21所以，主耶稣在我们中间始终出入的时候，
22就是从约翰施洗起，直到主离开我们被接上升的日子为止，必须从那常与我们作伴的人中立一位与我们同作耶稣复活的见证。
23于是选举两个人，就是那叫作巴撒巴，又称呼犹士都的约瑟，和马提亚。
24众人就祷告说：主阿，你知道万人的心，求你从这两个人中，指明你所拣选的是谁，叫他得这使徒的位分。这位分犹大已经丢弃，往自己的地方去了。
25a-26于是众人为他们摇签，摇出马提亚来；他就和十一个使徒同列。
信息分享
门徒目睹基督升天这一幕不可思议的景象之后，便由橄榄山回到耶路撒冷。如今，他们该做些甚么呢？基督已嘱咐他们去完成一项使命，同时又吩咐他们要先等候圣灵，可是，却没有明确说出圣灵降临的时间。
首先留意门徒留在哪里。基督吩咐他们不要离开耶路撒冷(一4)。若不是听见基督这样吩咐，恐怕门徒第一件会做的事，就是离开耶路撒冷，不是回到加利利的老家，就是去到其他地方谋生了。
然而，他们听从基督的吩咐，继续留在耶路撒冷。这是以色列的宗教中心，可是，他们留在那里，却不是为了这个原因。基督在生的时候，已屡次告诉门徒圣灵会降临(参约十四、十五和十六章)。到祂升天之前，祂又再次嘱咐他们必须等候圣灵的降临，然后他们才有能力去事奉祂。
好了，在等候期间，他们该做些甚么呢？就在教会开始之前，他们用了十天时间同心祷告。这是等候的时间，但同时也是充满期待的时间。他们在这期间，彼此之间有美好的相交；在交谈间，觉得有必要另选一人来取代犹大的位置。在决定人选的过程中，他们做了他们当作的一切事情，接着便将结果交在主的手中。
这班门徒便变成了教会的骨干份子。他们为我们留下了顺服、祷告、忍耐，和愿意与主同行的美好榜样。试想我们本身的教会，她又留下甚么榜样呢？
THE WAITING PERIOD
Acts 1:15-26
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
The disciples had returned from the Mount of Olives after witnessing one of the most remarkable happenings-the ascension of Christ. Now what should they do? Christ had given them certain instructions but does not seem to have set a date for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Notice first of all where the disciples stayed. Christ said (v. 4) 'Don't leave Jerusalem'. Left to themselves this is what they probably would have done. Some would have gone back to their homes in Galilee. Others would have gone elsewhere.
But they obeyed Christ and stayed together in Jerusalem. This was the spiritual centre of Israel but that was not the real reason they should remain there. Christ had repeatedly told the disciples (see John 14, 15 and 16) that the Holy Spirit would come. Now Christ has told them that they must wait for the Holy Spirit's coming. Then they would have the power they needed for serving their Lord.
How did they spend the waiting time? At the beginning of the church, they spent ten days in prayer. It was waiting time but a time of expectation too. They had wonderful fellowship and as they talked together, they felt led to replace Judas. In doing this they went as far as they could, then left the final decision with the Lord.
This group of disciples became the foundation members of the church. They have left us a wonderful example of obedience, of prayer, of patience, and of willingness to walk with the Lord. Think about your church today. What kind of example are you leaving behind?