This Week’s Ongoing Biblical Study Series from the Social Gospel Worship and Learning Center with Rev. Paul J. Bern: The Ultimate Fate of Traitors

Replacement For a Traitor: How the Power of Prayer Can Repair a Broken Trust

(Acts chapter 1, verses 12–26)

Last week when we began our in-depth study and analysis of the Book of Acts, which is the second book of the New Testament authored by the apostle Luke, we got as far as verse 11, where Jesus had just ascended into the heavens in full view of the Eleven and the other disciples there. This week as we take up where we left off, the remaining apostles find themselves faced with the serious business of replacing the traitor Judas, who had sold out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. At today’s price of roughly $17.50 per ounce, and assuming each of those silver coins weighed at least an ounce each — when we do the math, it works out to a minimum of $525.00 to a maximum of roughly $1,000.00 USD. Considering who Jesus was and what he dedicated his life to — the salvation of humanity — this was a paltry sum for the sellout of the Son of God. Judas’ act of betrayal was and remains one of the most shortsighted acts in the history of humanity. With that as the framework for this week’s study, let’s begin at verse 12.