1:15
The rest of the chapter is a bit of an interlude between the ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.The verse is the first reference to the believers as “brothers”, a term that would become common in the New Testament letters. Peter is taking the lead role here. There is then a reference to there being 120 people there. The significance of the number 120 is that it was the number that signified a community.
1:16,17
Peter makes reference to Scripture (our Old Testament). The apostles, as did Jesus, saw the gospel as the fulfilment and outworking of the Old Testament. The gospel is in no way contradictory to the Old Testament, the only thing that was contradictory was man’s interpretation of the Old Testament, in particular the Pharisees and Scribes interpretation. Note that Peter sees the Holy Spirit speaking through the Old Testament, “by the hand of David”. God speaks His word normally through men who are carried along by the Spirit.
The Jewish leaders had used Judas in the arrest of Jesus. Why did they do this? They knew who Jesus was, He was easy enough to locate. The reason was that they wanted to deflect the blame. “If Jesus’ own disciples are betraying Him then there must be something wrong with Him” was the line they wanted to sell to the people.The gospels, and here in Acts, are clear that it was actually a fulfilment of what had been prophesied in the Old Testament. It was all part of the plan. Nevertheless, Judas was an embarrassment to the apostles. He had been an apostle, he had shared in all that they did. Some explanation was necessary.
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