Acts 1:15
And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
The verse records about one hundred and twenty believers gathered together in the upper room in Jerusalem after Jesus' ascension in the days before Pentecost, with Peter standing up in their midst. Those present included the disciples, the believing women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers who had come to faith through His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. While waiting for the promised Holy Spirit they continued united for ten days in earnest prayer and supplication with fasting, confession of sin, humbling of heart, putting away of differences, and drawing nearer to God until changed into His image. During that waiting time they addressed the vacancy left by Judas by seeking God's direction in prayer to the Lord who knows every heart, and Matthias was selected as an apostle. When the Spirit came the blessing filled all the place where they were assembled and endowed them with power to proclaim the gospel effectually so that many were converted, and God's people in the present day must pass through a similar experience of united prayer for the baptism of the Holy Spirit to know how to plan and execute the work.
The Upper Room Gathering
About one hundred and twenty believers were gathered together, with Peter standing up in their midst. The gathering took place in the upper room or upper chamber in Jerusalem after Jesus' ascension, in the days before Pentecost and before the Holy Spirit came. Those present included the disciples, the believing women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus' brothers. Mary had seen the Saviour in His sufferings and not in His glory, and His brothers had come to faith through His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.
While waiting for the promised Holy Spirit they continued united in earnest prayer and supplication for ten days. Their waiting included fasting, searching of heart, confession of sin, and humbling of heart before God. They put away differences, drew together in Christian fellowship, drew nearer to God, and by faith beheld Jesus until changed into His image. All ten days were required to bring them to understand what effectual prayer means.
During that waiting time they addressed the vacancy left by Judas. They considered two men and sought God's direction in prayer to the Lord who knows every heart, and Matthias was selected as an apostle. When the Spirit came as promised the blessing filled all the place where they were assembled and the glory of God came among them. That coming endowed them with power, so that wonderful things were done through the influence of heavenly intelligences, they proclaimed the gospel with power and went forth to do effectual work, and many people were converted.
Lessons for God's Work Today
Acts 1:15 belongs to the history of the early church during and immediately after the day of Pentecost, a history that refreshes the mind and instructs in the truth, and God's people in the present day must pass through a similar experience. It stands connected with Christ's commission to His disciples, the promise of the Holy Spirit, and the angels' message to the waiting disciples, teaching believers to learn to trust God's Word and to show faith by actions. After the ascension Mary the mother of Jesus was with the disciples, having seen the Saviour in His sufferings and not in His glory, and the chapter shows what should be among believers: to cultivate the knowledge Christ gave about His second appearing, to search the Scriptures, to get ready while wickedness increases, and to do the very work God has appointed them to do.
It is a lesson in setting the work in order, showing the need for organized, Spirit-guided efforts and for workers to be appointed to carry forward neglected work. The ten days of united prayer were all required to bring the disciples to understand what effectual prayer means, as they drew nearer and nearer to God, confessed their sins, humbled their hearts before God, and by faith beheld Jesus until changed into His image. When the blessing came it filled all the place where they were assembled and endowed them with power, and they went forth to do effectual work.
Their experience teaches that every worker should pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and that companies should gather to call upon God for special help and heavenly wisdom to know how to plan and devise and execute the work. Men should especially pray that the Lord will choose His agents and baptize His missionaries with the Holy Spirit.