“He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father”
By Robert Wiesner
For forty days the Apostles enjoyed the company of their beloved risen Jesus. This was to be the final training period for their ordained mission, the mission clearly stated by St. Matthew (20:19): “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” St. Luke adds the detail that they are to begin at Jerusalem in his Gospel and then at the beginning of Acts gives a planned schedule: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (1:8)
Naturally enough, the Apostles felt a bit bereft when Jesus left them; they stared into the heavens, probably hoping for one last glimpse of their Master. Given their instructions, however, this state of inaction could not be allowed to continue. Their tasks lay on the earth and the angels were sent to remind them that their feet best remain on the ground; they had things to do, places to go and people to meet. We are not told much about those days between the Ascension and Pentecost. Prayer is mentioned, but there were some practical measures taken as well, most notably the selection of Matthias to replace Judas the traitor.
Given the monumental scope of their commission, there must have been some discussion of just how to begin this ministry. Certain tasks may have been assigned according to the capabilities of the twelve. Perhaps Peter may have directed Matthew to begin compiling a theological and scriptural history of the Messiah. The Apostles knew that Jesus was the Messiah, but the Jews as a whole needed some persuasion. The necessity was obvious that Scripture must be searched for evidence that Jesus did indeed fulfill all the prophecies and descriptions of the Messiah, from the very beginnings of Torah. The Jews were to be the first “target audience” of the great evangelizing effort; this may also be the explanation of the traditional belief that Matthew’s Gospel was the first written. Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost may well have been the first fruit of Matthew’s labors.
Jerusalem and Judea were only the beginning of the ministry. Acts does record that there were about one hundred disciples present when the selection of Matthias as the twelfth Apostle was ratified. Since Jesus taught as far north as Galilee and even ventured into pagan territory from time to time, it seems likely that some of those present came from localities well outside Judea itself. Volunteers may have been found to travel a bit farther afield even in these early days. Advance scouts may have been designated to explore the situation in Samaria, for instance, to see what had become of the believers in Sychar, famously the scene for Jesus’ discussion with Photini at Jacob’s well. Acts does later mention that believers there had not even heard of the Holy Spirit; spiritual ground had been broken, but the building of the Kingdom was in serious need of urgent further construction.
God’s plans often make a complete hash of human effort; ultimately the work of evangelizing the world is the work of the Holy Spirit. Scripture does not give us a comprehensive look at the conferences the Apostles may have conducted in Jerusalem before they spread throughout the world, but since their work was to be a human endeavor, albeit guided by the Holy Spirit, it does seem likely that counsel was taken in their company even before Pentecost.
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