Acts 1:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

NIV: They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

NASB: All these were continually devoting themselves with one mind to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

CSB: They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

NLT: 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.

KJV: These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

NKJV: These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

"One accord"—translated as "one mind" in the NASB—is from the Greek root word homothymadon. It brings to mind many notes in harmony or several beings moving forward gracefully. It is one of the defining characteristics that God intends for the church. God founds the church on "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). The church is based on one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father (Ephesians 4:4–6). It is to be characterized by "all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2).

The people in the room know each other but were not always of one mind. The eleven remaining disciples are starting to realize leadership is not about authority and power but sacrificial service, as Jesus exemplified on the cross (Mark 10:35–45). In a culture that minimized women, Jesus honored them, and they are there, as well. Included are probably Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, Joanna, and others not named (Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10). Of course, Jesus' mother, Mary, is there.

That Jesus' brothers are present is incredible. They are mentioned in the Gospels only a few times, and never in a flattering light. While Jesus was teaching, they came with Mary to take Jesus back to Nazareth, fearing the older brother had lost His mind (Mark 3:21, 31). Then they cajoled Jesus about going to Jerusalem, knowing the Jewish leadership was trying to kill Him (John 7:1–8). Two of them, at least, are now saved. We know that James, the leader of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13–21; 21:18) and the author of the book of James is one. Scholars believe the author of Jude is another.

There is no way the apostles, the devout women, Jesus' brothers, and the other disciples of the 120 can sit in unity unless God is at their center. They will wait about nine days between Jesus' ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit. They spend this time in the upper room, praying, and in the temple, worshiping and blessing God (Luke 24:52–53). Worshiping and seeking one God makes all believers one people.

Acts 1:12–26 records what happens when the Jesus-followers pray. Jesus has ascended (Acts 1:9). The Holy Spirit is coming (Acts 1:5). The apostles don't really know what these things mean, but they know where to start. They join the other Jesus-followers in Jerusalem and start praying. The next order of business is to find a replacement for Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus (Matthew 26:14–16, 47–50) and then hanged himself (Matthew 27:3–10). The remaining eleven apostles don't know this yet, but their third task will literally be to change the world.

Acts 1 sets the stage for the establishment of the church and the spread of the gospel. Jesus is alive but if the Holy Spirit is to come Jesus must ascend into heaven (John 16:7). The disciples obey His last instructions and wait in Jerusalem. Peter uses Old Testament Scripture to show the group of about 120 they must choose a disciple to replace Judas. The man must have been with them from Jesus' baptism to His ascension. Joseph Barsabbas and Matthias are put forward and, in the last use of the lots found in the Bible, Matthias is chosen.

Acts 1 is the second letter Luke wrote for Theophilus. In it, he narrates the transition between Jesus' ministry as described in the Gospel of Luke and the development and spread of the church. The disciples have received a temporary indwelling of the Holy Spirit (John 20:22), and Jesus has spent forty days reassuring His faithful followers (Acts 1:3), appearing to over five hundred in that short time (1 Corinthians 15:6). Now, the disciples complete some administrative-like tasks before the Holy Spirit can begin the ministry of the church on Pentecost (Acts 2).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.