Acts 1:20

Friday, 15 October 2021 <p> </p> <p>“For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate,</p> <p>And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’ Acts 1:20</p> <p> </p> <p>Peter having noted that Judas was a part of the ministry (1:17), now continues after the parenthe tical thought concerning Judas’ demise (1:18, 19). In his ongoing words, he quotes Scripture, saying, “For it is written in the Book of Psalms.” It is an expression unique to Luke’s writings, en biblō Psalmōn, or “in book Psalms.”</p> <p> </p> <p>From Luke’s words, as confirmed by the citation of Peter, the Psalms were considered their own book at this time. This is not surprising, but it is simply a point of fact concerning them. It is understood that there were writings considered inspired and that they were divided in various ways.</p> <p> </p> <p>For example, Jesus speaks of the “book of Moses,” in Mark 12:26 when referring to Exodus. At other times, the body of literature ascribed to Moses is called “the law of Moses” (e.g., Luke 2:22). The entire body of Old Testament writings is also divided up in various ways, such as “the Law and the Prophets” in Matthew 7:12, or as “the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms” in Luke 24:44.</p> <p> </p> <p>Such terms clearly indicate that the Scriptures were considered inspired and that they were held to as individual books, as sections of a whole, and as a whole body of distinct literature. As for Peter’s words now, what he says takes it as an axiom that the Psalms are inspired. As such, there should be no surprise that Christ was crucified, nor should it be a surprise that one of his own apostles would betray Him.</p> <p> </p> <p>And so, with that encouragement conveyed to the others for them to know that God had, in fact, worked out a plan that included the deeds of Judas, he says –</p> <p> </p> <p>“Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it.”</p> <p> </p> <p>The words are taken from Psalm 69:25 –</p> <p> </p> <p>“Let th