For The Price

Overview

Obeying, Praying, and Waiting

After Jesus ascended, the disciples returned to Jerusalem to obey His command to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit before going out as witnesses Acts 1:4-8. The whole book of Acts unfolds the call to witness in widening circles—Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth. During this ten-day window between Ascension and Pentecost, the gathered believers numbered only about 120—an astonishingly humble beginning, roughly one in every 30,000 people in Israel at that time. Top of their list of business was replacing Judas among the apostles.

A New Way of Reading Scripture

When Peter stood up, he said, "the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas" Acts 1:16. This is a new way of speaking for the disciples. After the resurrection, Jesus had opened the Scriptures and explained from the Old Testament all the things concerning Himself Luke 24:27. Now they understood. The betrayal was foretold in Psalm 41:9, which Jesus Himself applied to Judas in John 13:18. Even at His arrest, Jesus said the sword must be put away so the Scriptures would be fulfilled Matthew 26:52-54. He had to be betrayed, suffer, die, rise, and ascend—because the prophetic word said it must be so.

Judas: Not a Pawn, but Responsible

Does the fulfillment of prophecy make Judas an innocent victim? No. Jesus Himself said, "the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!" Luke 22:22. Judas heard the teaching, witnessed the miracles, and never believed (John 6:63-64; John 6:70). He was a thief, stealing from the common purse John 12:6. His betrayal with a kiss Matthew 26:47-49, his throwing back the silver Matthew 27:3-5, and his terrible end Acts 1:18 are tragic at every turn. We each own our own sinfulness.

The Details Preach: Two Fields, Two Prices

Notice the careful detail. Judas threw the silver into the temple and went and hanged himself, yet Acts says "this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness." How? Because the priests would not put blood money in the treasury and instead used Judas's money to buy the potter's field as a place to bury foreigners Matthew 27:6-8. The money was still his; the field was bought in his name—Akeldama, the Field of Blood Acts 1:19.

Here the details preach the gospel. For the price of Jesus' blood, Judas purchased a field to bury dead foreigners. For the price of His own blood, Jesus purchased us—dead in our sins, foreigners and strangers in this world—so that we might live forever in our true homeland. That is redemption: the great exchange in which the sinless One bears our sin and we receive His righteousness. Where Judas's price bought a grave, Christ's price bought a people. Live this week, then, in the assurance that you have been bought with a price, and walk as a citizen of the homeland that is yet to come.

Transcript

Would you open your Bibles, please, with me to the very first chapter of the Book of Acts, 0s

as we continue our study, has last we left the early disciples. 4s

They were obeying and praying, weren't they? 10s

You recall that Jesus has ascended into heaven just as he prophesied He would. 13s

Indeed, He has said that He will come again and indeed He will. 20s

The Lord has given to the early disciples and to us the very call to be witnesses. 24s

And remember, the whole Book of Acts is the call to witness that our Lord gives us. 32s

You can take the chapters and you can break it up, where you've got the witness to Jerusalem, 37s

then Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. 42s

And you just follow that concentric circle throughout the Book of Acts. 45s

Jesus had commanded them after He had ascended into heaven. 52s

They returned a 3000 feet from the Mount back to Jerusalem, 56s

as they returned there He had commanded them to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit. 62s

They were given the call to witness, but they were not to go forward to witness without the 70s

the stole of the Holy Spirit. 75s

And so they went back, they went back to the upper room, they were obeying and they're praying. 78s

This is a 10 day window now. 85s

It's a 10 day window from the ascension of our Lord to Pentacost. 88s

It was not really a long time of waiting. 93s

But during this window an issue that they have to deal with is the replacement of Judas. 97s

The replacement of Judas. 104s

We're going to study next week the importance of the apostleship and why that is so important. 107s

Replacing Judas as one of the apostles was top of their list here. 113s

That's where we pick up today. 120s

When we look at the life of Judas, it is a profoundly tragic story. 125s

Judas was never a believer. 132s

He never believed. 135s

Jesus said in John the 6 chapter, he said, 137s

the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life, but among you there are some who do not believe. 139s

One of them was Judas. 147s

Later in the 6 chapter of John, it says, 150s

did I not choose you the 12? 153s

Yet one of you is a devil? 155s

And who was the devil? 159s

It's referring to Judas. 162s

Judas betrayed our Lord to the kiss. 164s

Matthew the 26 chapter says, while they were still speaking, 169s

Judas, one of the 12, arrived and with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs 172s

from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 177s

Now the betrayer had given them a sign saying, the one I will kiss is the man arrest him. 181s

And at one C came up to Jesus and said, 187s

greetings rabbi and kiss him. 190s

So here are the disciples. 196s

It's the 10 day window. 198s

They're dealing with the successor to Judas. 200s

The details preach. 208s

The details. 213s

preach. 217s

Book with me please, at verse 15. 219s

In those days Peter stood up among the believers. 224s

Together the crowd numbered about 120 persons. 227s

This is an incredibly humble beginning to Christianity. 232s

Is it not? 237s

When you consider the number of Christians now and throughout all of history, 238s

well here you are, you've got 120. 242s

It was calculated that that meant with 120 that were gathered there. 244s

It meant that one out of every 30,000 people in Israel at this point were a follower of Jesus Christ. 248s

Isn't it incredibly small humble beginning? 256s

Verse 16. 261s

Peter says, friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit through David 263s

foretold concerning Judas who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus. 269s

Scripture had to be fulfilled. 277s

So what I want you to take from this, that is a new way of talking for the disciples. 281s

It's a new way of talking. 289s

Remember when Jesus came out of the tomb and he met the disciples on the road and they were all 291s

bewildered about what was happening and Scripture says that he explained to them from the Scriptures 296s

all the things about himself. 302s

Remember for a whole year, all the sermons the entire year were from the Old Testament. 305s

We preached Christmas Eve from the Old Testament. 312s

We preached Holy Week from the Old Testament. 314s

We preached Easter morning from the Old Testament. 315s

Why? 317s

Because the Old Testament tells of that which would be. 318s

It was prophetic words. 321s

You can preach the life of Christ through the prophetic words of the Old Testament. 323s

So when Peter stands up now and he turns and he says, 328s

the Scriptures had to be fulfilled. 334s

That's a new way of talking. 336s

That means that the early disciples, they got it. 339s

They got it. 342s

They understood that this was fulfillment of the prophetic word. 343s

Psalm 41 says this, 352s

even my bosom friend and whom I trusted who aid of my bread has lifted the heel against me. 356s

In the 13th chapter of John, Jesus takes Psalm 41 and he applies it to Judas. 367s

He says, you see, that's prophetic word of the portrayer of Judas. 374s

Scripture had to be fulfilled. 382s

Peter says, that's incredibly instructive and it's a transformative moment in the understanding 387s

of the disciples. 395s

I think back in the where Jesus was portrayed Matthew 26, 398s

the sword was pulled and Jesus says, put your sword back into its place for all who take the 402s

children my father and he will let once send me more than 12 legions of angels. 410s

But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way? 415s

Jesus had to be betrayed. 424s

He had to be arrested. 427s

He had to suffer. 429s

He had to go to the cross and die. 430s

He had to rise out of the tomb. 433s

He had to ascend into heaven. 435s

Why? 438s

Because the prophetic word said he had to do it. 438s

Peter stands up and Peter and the disciples, they get it. 442s

They get it. 448s

That this is fulfillment of the prophetic word. 450s

The Scriptures had to be fulfilled. 454s

Peter says. 459s

So. 463s

Does that mean that Judas is an innocent victim? 466s

The meaning is an innocent victim. 473s

Is he a pawn? 475s

Is he a pawn in the divine drama? 478s

And he has no other way to escape this. 483s

So therefore in the end he is innocent. 486s

If Scripture had to be fulfilled, if Jesus had to be betrayed and Judas was the betrayer, 492s

should we have a little compassion on him? 502s

Should we have a little compassion on him? 507s

No. 512s

For you see, we are all responsible for our own sinfulness. 516s

Let me show that to you in Scripture. 520s

In Luke 22nd chapter, they're gathered around the table. 523s

Jesus says, but see the one who betrays me is with me and his hand is on the table. 526s

For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined. 533s

But listen to this. 537s

But whoa to that one by whom he is betrayed. 538s

Was Judas forced to betray Jesus? 546s

Absolutely not. 550s

We own our own sinfulness and so also did Judas for 17. 552s

For he was numbered among us and was a lot had his share in this minister. 563s

It is such a tragic betrayal. 574s

It is such a wasted opportunity. 577s

Jesus has listened to the teachings of Jesus for three years. 580s

He has witnessed the miracles. 586s

He has seen that which Jesus has done and he never believed. 589s

He never believed. 596s

In fact, we remember when the costly perfume Jesus was anointed with the perfume. 597s

Scripture says, the Judas said this. 604s

Why was this perfume not sold for 300 in Aria and the money given to the poor? 608s

That sounds so pious, doesn't it? 613s

But in the very next words, it's a parenthesis in Scripture. 616s

And John says this, he said this not because he cared about the poor, 620s

but because he was a thief, he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it. 625s

He's the treasure of the disciples and he's stealing out of the money bag. 633s

He never believed and he was a thief. 639s

It is tragic his betrayal. 644s

It is tragic his last, his lack of belief and it is tragic. 647s

His end, his end. 653s

It would be a great mistake. 659s

This man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness 662s

and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 668s

I don't want to linger on this too long here. 676s

However, every word in Scripture is precious, every word is there for reasons. 680s

So what's the reason why this is here? 685s

When you turn back to Matthew 27 chapter in verse 3, it says this, 690s

but when Judas his betrayer saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the 30 pieces 696s

of silver to the chief priests and the elders. That's what he got for portraying Jesus. 702s

He said, I have sinned by betraying and his blood, but they said, 708s

what is that to us? See to it yourself. 713s

Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple he departed and he went and hanged himself. 716s

What in hang is that? 724s

So you look at the account in Matthew and then you look at the account in Luke 2nd volume, which is 726s

Acts and you say, is there an inconsistency there? No, there isn't an inconsistency there. 731s

As part of the hanging process, what we understand then, as you hold acts together, it's just a 735s

further details. That means that he fell. He fell. 741s

And the description then, given what happened to him. 748s

Now, this is what I want to focus on. Look at verse 18, the beginning of the first, first part of 753s

his wickedness. He acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness. 765s

Well, how can he, when he threw the 30 pieces of silver down and how can he, when he goes out 775s

and kills himself? How can he acquire a field? 782s

As a reward for his wickedness, how did that happen? 787s

Back in Matthew chapter 27, in verse 6, it says, 794s

but the chief priest taking the pieces of silver said, it is not lawful to put them into the 799s

treasury since their blood money. So remember, he throws the pieces of silver down and he goes out 805s

to kill himself. They say it's not lawful to put them into the treasury, they're blood money. 810s

They understand that this is this is blood money here that you discussed for the for the 815s

trail, verse 7. After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter's field as a place 820s

to bury foreigners. For this reason, that field has been called the field of blood to this day. 828s

Then was fulfilled, was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, and they took the 30 pieces of silver, 837s

the price of the one of whom a price had been set on whom some of the people of Israel had said 843s

the price and they gave them for the potter's field as the Lord commanded me. 848s

You see, they still understand the money as belonging to Judas. They can't take it. It's blood 857s

money, they can't put it in the treasury. So that money still belongs to Judas. The money is taken 864s

and the field is bought to bury foreigners. But who still owns the money? Judas still owns the 871s

money. That's why they say Judas bought the field. He bought the field. It was his money. They bought the 880s

field. Okay. This is where the details preach. This is where when you look at Scripture, 892s

you say, why do we have all this? Why do we have all these details here? Look, we'll be back 903s

in the text at verse 19, please. By verse 19 of X1. This became known to all the residents of 910s

Jerusalem so that the field was called in their language, Halkidama, that is field of blood. 922s

So for the price of Jesus' blood, Judas bought a field to bury dead foreigners. For the price 933s

of Jesus' blood, Judas bought a field to bury dead forms. How different 949s

than Jesus is from Judas. The one betrayed goes to the cross and what happens if the cross 965s

but redemption that word that means to buy back to purchase. When Jesus Christ goes to the cross 980s

and dies for our sins. The redemption occurs. We are forgiven. Christ, the sinless one takes upon 992s

him our sin. The great exchange we receive His righteousness. So when Jesus dies for us, 1002s

the price is paid and the price is His blood. And what does Jesus accomplish through His blood? 1011s

But He purchases. Who? He purchases us. So through the price of His blood, Jesus purchases us, 1020s

who are dead in our sins so that we might live in the homeland of heaven itself. 1034s

Because that's our homeland. When we live here, we're just foreigners. We're just foreigners. 1045s

You see the details preach for the price of Jesus' blood, Judas purchases land that is used 1053s

to bury dead foreigners. And Jesus with the price of His blood purchases us. Who are dead in our sin 1063s

so that we can live in our homeland forever. And the details preach. The details preach. 1078s

The details preach. 1125s