Life with the Holy Spirit will give a human being new insights. I deliberately use "insight" and not "understanding", because I can recognize something that I do not necessarily understand. There is no doubt that the betrayal of Judas must have been difficult to understand for the disciples. Peter understood that the Holy Spirit also has spoken through men and women of God in the Old Testament. This insight, he uses in his role as "shepherd of the sheep" (1):
"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."The story of how the 120 while they prayed and waited for the Holy Spirit also found it important to find a replacement for Judas, is a mystery. It is possible that they thought that the Christian people should have 12 "fathers", but I rest the speculations for now. The simplest reason may well be that a replacement for Judas, was thought to ease the pain of his absence. The challenge is that a good intention not necessarily is the will of God.
Acts 1:16
Maybe it also was a "goodbye" to the old methods. By drawing the line back to the Holy Spirit's guidance of David (2), Peter also points forward to how the Holy Spirit will guide the Christians – but they were not there yet. In the meantime they have to use the Old Testament tradition using Urim and Thummim (3).
Was it to create a contrast? Perhaps - the promise of the Holy Spirit was also a promise of a new divine relationship.
'Manna' for today:
The promised coming of The Holy Spirit contained the promise about a new relationship with God!------------------------------------
(1) "Take care of my sheep!" John 21:16
(2) "Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me." Psalms 41:9
(3) Ex 28:30; 1 Sam 14:41-42; Numbers 27:21)
This reflection is part of 'Who acts throug Acts?'
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