门徒的改变
使徒行传一章13至26节
13进了城，就上了所住的一间楼房；在那里有彼得、约翰、雅各、安得烈、腓力、多马、巴多罗买、马太、亚勒腓的儿子雅各、奋锐党的西门，和雅各的儿子（或作：兄弟）犹大。
14这些人同着几个妇人和耶稣的母亲马利亚，并耶稣的弟兄，都同心合意的恒切祷告。
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。
25-26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
首先，他们都听从基督给他们的最后嘱咐(见第4节)。当基督升天之后，他们大可以互相道别，然后各自归家；可是，他们并没有这样做，反而听从基督的吩咐，留在耶路撒冷继续等候。
第二，他们专心等候那位应许中的圣灵。他们知道自己太软弱，根本无法独力去做任何事情。基督虽然没有告诉他们要等多久，但他们都愿意听从基督的吩咐去等候。他们没有等不及神便马上行动，也没有尝试凭借己力去做任何事情。
第三，他们同心合意地一起祷告。在等候期间，他们如何打发时间？他们一起祷告。这时离开圣灵降临还有十天的时间，在等候期间，他们都愿意以祷告来准备自己。
第四，他们一起学习圣经，亦表现出对圣经的尊重。复活后的耶稣曾多次向门徒显现，并借机向他们讲解旧约的道理，那是他们过往并不明白的。如今，他们学会了从神的话语来看每件事物；他们看到犹大的结局，为他感到难过，因为他们毕竟是朋友，过去三年更是一起生活，但他的错误抉择却把自己送上死路。透过犹大的悲惨结果，门徒更清楚知道自己该听从神的话语而行。
第五，门徒借着祷告，把他们的问题与决定带到主的面前。他们先想出两个最佳的人选，来接替犹大丢弃的使徒位分，然后便求告主说：「主啊，求你向我们显明，你最后拣选谁。」结果，神向他们显明了祂的心意。
透过以上所勾划的图画，我们岂不看见一幅门徒的美丽写照？他们都忠心地听从主的吩咐，一起等候祈祷，一起学习圣经，而且，无论作任何事，他们都寻求主的引导。难怪他们最终得着圣灵的充满，和被圣灵大大使用了。
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?