Rachel Workman: 12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile.[c] 13 When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying.
Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James). 14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
15 During this time, when about 120 believers[d] were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. 16 “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. 17 Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.”
It's easy to see Judas as a coward and greedy and he was. God used those qualities to accomplish his goals. And God can and will do the same thing now. It's a lot easier to be merciful to someone when considering that. I'm not God and I need to be more forgiving and tolerant of people whom I have no respect for.
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John
Burnett: 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from
the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath
day’s journey away. 13 When
they had entered the city, they went up to the upstairs room
where they were staying, that is, Peter, John, James, and Andrew,
Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of
Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14
15 At this time Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters (a group of about 120 people was there together), and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.” Peter is referring to the prophecy that David wrote of in Psalms 41:9 and Jesus repeated during His last night with the apostles, the night Judas betrayed Him. This is just another example of God's providence in all things. The Holy Spirit inspired David to write it in the Psalms and it came true 1000+ years later, when Judas ate with Jesus and the apostles and then left to betray Him.
God's providence also brought about the only way to be saved. Before time began, God knew that we would sin, and would need His plan for salvation.
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Tomorrow’s reading for Acts 1:18-20
18 (Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst there, his body split open, spilling out all his intestines. 19 The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means “Field of Blood.”)
20 Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’[e
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