Quite a Different Number

Scripture: In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, "Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus." Acts 1:15-16

Observation: This number - 120 - is interesting, as there are several adjectives used in these verses to describe the believers who are around Jesus. When the disciples return from the ascension of Jesus, 11 are named as returning to the upper room. It then says they stayed therein prayer "along with the women and Mary". We then get this larger number, with Peter speaking of the need to replace Judas from those who have been with Jesus continually from the baptism of John through the ascension (v22) so that person will be a witness of the resurrection.

In other words, there are not 11 disciples here. There are about 120 people who have been active followers of Jesus, continually for over three years, and who interacted with the resurrected Christ. There may be a question of whether or not everyone witnessed the ascension or if that is the designation of the 11 disciples, but there is not doubt that there are these 120 loyal followers who will be the ones who found the original church.

We know who some of these are from the bible ... two will now be considered to take Judas' place as leaders, later others will become deacons, and we are told over various women in their group at that time. We can make logical assumptions of others, like James and Jude, sons of Mary who will become important church leaders, and perhaps other family members as well. And there are church traditions that call out more names, though some have no real evidence to support.

All that said, 120 is a lot more than 11, and represents a significant number of people with total first-hand experience of Jesus' total teachings, death and resurrection, and fulfillment of prophesy.

Application: I have often seen depicted the first believers huddled together ... less than a dozen men, with maybe 2-3 women, sitting in a small room. But I have also seen photos of that upper room, and it would easily hold 120 people for a meeting and meal.

This number of people may not be out pronouncing the good news (yet), but they aren't really huddled scared in the dark, either. They are forming and planning. They are creating organization with the intent of witnessing and ministering. In this passage, I don't see anything like what is depicted in the movies. Instead, I see a significant group, large enough that it can't - and doesn't need to - hide, moving about and actively planning and preparing, defining their leadership following the very-scriptural 10-to-1 and 100-to-1 model.

When Jesus was killed, they were scared. However, in the knowledge of the resurrections, they are no longer scared, even though Jesus also isn't with them now. Since I live completely in the time of that resurrection, there should never be a time I had in a room, either.

Prayer: Lord, I seek your strength to serve you today. I do ask, Lord, that you guide me toward your numbers, your people here at my daily job, so we may serve together. Amen.