“with Him” — They were chosen to be “with” Him (Mark 3:14). This process of “choosing” was later used by the disciples (Acts 1:21,22) with questionable success, since this is the one and only time Matthias is mentioned in the Bible. Did they choose the correct replacement for Judas or was it supposed to be Paul, as seems to be the case since God raised him up to be the apostle to the Gentiles? Peter used human logic in making their decision to choose Matthias. He reasoned that since the scriptures foretold that Judas would be replaced by another that they should do the choosing by picking 2 men who had been with Jesus, praying for God to help them choose the right man from the two, and then drawing lots for the choice (Acts 1:15-26). The problem here is that Peter chose the method by which God would choose the replacement and Peter and the disciples limited God’s choice to their choice and their timing when God may have had another man in view whom He would choose at a later time. They should have asked God and He would have instructed them who He wanted as He did in (Acts 13:2). Do you ever limit God’s choices of methods or timing by imposing your will upon Him?

Mark 3:14  He appointed twelve—designating them apostles— that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach

Acts 1:21-22  Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,  beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

Acts 1:15-26  In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)  and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus—  he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”  (With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out.  Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)  “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his place be deserted; let there be no-one to dwell in it,’ and, “‘May another take his place of leadership.’  Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,  beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”  So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.  Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen  to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”  Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Acts 13:2  While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Jesus immediately followed His statement that the Holy Spirit would testify about Him with a declaration that the disciples must also testify about Him. Their testimony is linked very closely with that of the Spirit (Acts 4:33). They are testifying about the same Christ and the same salvation, and yet it is their witness and not the Spirit’s. Though the Spirit will testify, the disciples must also testify. They cannot leave it all to the Spirit. We have the same responsibility. The Spirit’s testimony will not supersede our testimony, but instead will enable and empower it.

Acts 4:33  With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.

“from the beginning” = Note that a witness can only speak of what he knows. We can only witness to Christ if we know him and His salvation. Matthew Henry says, “Those speak best of the things of God that speak experimentally.” Intimacy with Jesus is critical to our being able to witness. If we don’t know him, how can we tell others about Him?

A witness is often found in a court proceeding. Although the disciples seemed quite clueless at times, fled at the arrest of Jesus (Mark 14:50) and did not appear as witnesses on His behalf at His trials before the Sanhedrin or Pilate, after the Spirit was poured out upon them, they became extremely bold and powerful witnesses for Christ (Acts 3:12-16; 5:25-32). What changed these men from “dwarfs into giants in six weeks?”  (Maclaren) It was the Spirit of God Who empowered and enabled them to be the witnesses Jesus wanted them to be (Acts 1:8). That same Holy Spirit lives within us and is just as available to help us as He was available to help the disciples 2,000 years ago.

Mark 14:50  Then everyone deserted him and fled.

Acts 3:12-16  When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?  The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.  You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.  You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.  By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

Acts 5:25-32  Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.”  At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.  Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.  “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”  Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!  The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.  God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.  We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Acts 1:8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

God has called us to be witnesses to those who don’t know Him. For us to effectively do that, we need two things. First we need to know Him since we can’t tell others about Someone we don’t know, and the more we know Him, the better. Second, we need the right words to say and the wisdom to know the right time to say them. We also need those words to powerfully impact those who hear them. How we know and do this is by the Holy Spirit Whom God has given to us. We need His direction, His wisdom, and His power so we must seek Him and listen to what He says.

This verse probably tells us more about the Holy Spirit than any other single verse in the Bible.

The Holy Spirit is here referred to as a Person and not a thing or a force. He is a “he” and not an “it.”

He is given the title attributed to Him earlier (14:16, 26), the Counselor (Greek = paracletos), which literally means “called to the side of for the purpose of helping”. The Greeks used the term for someone who was called in to court to testify on behalf of someone, or of an advocate to plead the case of someone in need, or of someone who was called in to boost the moral of a company of troops. The word could perhaps be best translated as “Advocate” but, as noted previously, even that is lacking in its scope, for it really means a friend, especially a legal friend. “Comforter” is the traditional translation, following the translation into English by John Wycliffe who died in 1384. In those days, comforter meant strengthener or helper, but in later days it has come to mean consoler. The word “comforter” indicates making the best of a bad situation, but the real meaning of paracletos is not so much this as it is providing the help which will deliver the afflicted one from the situation itself. The Holy Spirit is indeed a comforter, but He is so much more than that! He not only comforts us, but He also delivers us.

John 14:16  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever—

John 14:26  But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

He was sent by Jesus after He ascended to heaven (Eph 4:8). Jesus was going to take great care of His disciples.

Ephesians 4:8  This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”

He was sent from the Father. Jesus was about to die and ascend to heaven, but the Father had already designed a plan to send the Spirit to take the place of Jesus and be there for the disciples and us in an even better fashion than Jesus was. Interestingly, the phrase “from the Father” is literally “from the side of the Father” which indicates an intimacy of presence with the Father.

He is sent “to you,” that is, to the disciples and to their seed and their seed’s seed, in fulfillment of the prophecy in (Isa 59:21).The Spirit is still here to help us as He helped the disciples.

Isaiah 59:21  “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and for ever,” says the LORD.

He is the Spirit, or pneuma, of God. Pneuma also means “breath,” “movement of air,” or “wind” just as does the Hebrew word for “spirit” (ruwach). Man is able to use his breath, when expelled under certain circumstances, to express his mind to others, and so can God. Also, His Spirit, like the wind, is not visible, and yet His presence may be discerned by His influence on things around us, i.e. people.

He is the Spirit of truth. Considering His ministry of witnessing about Jesus and telling the disciples what to say, this is a necessary attribute.

Part of the Spirit’s ministry noted in this verse is that He will be a witness for Jesus. He is one of the Three Who bear witness in heaven and the first of the three who bear witness on the earth (1 John 5:7-8). He instructed the disciples on the meaning of things (Joh 14:26) (Godet mentions that “The Spirit does not teach the facts of history; He reveals their meaning.”); He was the real Author of scripture, all of which spoke of Christ (2 Tim 3:16); and He enabled the disciples to work miracles that witnessed to the veracity of their message (Rom 15:18-19). And the Spirit testified through the apostles and other messengers(Acts 2:4), so that in a sense, as McGarvey notes, “the apostles were double witnesses. They themselves could testify as to what they had seen and heard. The Spirit could aid them to testify accurately, and with a full intelligence as to the real meaning of things.”

1 John 5:7-8  For there are three that testify:  the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

John 14:26  But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

2 Timothy 3:16  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Romans 15:18-19  I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done—  by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way round to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

Acts 2:4  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

“But” is somewhat unexpected. Jesus is probably indicating that the conduct of the Jews was the opposite of what it should have been.

“in their law” =  (8:17; 10:34). Hoskyns thinks that Jesus states it this way “to rivet upon the Jews those scriptures in which they boast themselves so proudly, and then to prove those same scriptures prophetic of their apostasy.”

John 8:17  In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.

John 10:34  Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are gods’?

“They hated me without reason” is referring to either or both of these: (Psalms 69:4, 35:19). There really is no good reason for the rejection of Jesus by man.

Psalms 69:4  Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal.

Psalms 35:19  Let not those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; let not those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye.

“miracles” (NIV) = “works” (KJV) = ergon (Greek) = work, product, act, deed. This undoubtedly is speaking of the miracles of Jesus, but also much more. He is talking of His entire life. This is a similar truth to that found in (#7:46).

John 7:46  “No-one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards declared.

The tense of the verbs “seen” and “hated” is perfect which indicates a permanent attitude. His life continues to be a testimony to men and their rejection of it results in their continuing hated of Jesus and His Father.

When did anyone “see” the Father, especially in view (pun intended) of (1:18)? Probably in the sense of (14:9).

John 1:18  No-one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.

John 14:9  Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Speaking of this verse, which is one sentence in KJV, Murray states, “This is a tremendous sentence. And when we stand face to face with the Cross, we admit its justice. There was no flaw in the presentation of the appeal of His love. Our rejection of that appeal was absolute and inexcusable. Granted that, in the fullest sense, none of those who slew Him were fully aware of what they were doing, yet they were themselves to blame for their ignorance.”

To hate Jesus is to hate the Father because Christ reveals God (14:9) and to dishonor Christ is to dishonor God (5:23). The opposite is also true (13:20).

John 14:9  Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

John 5:23  that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him.

John 13:20  I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

Both “me” and “my Father” are emphatic. Jesus doesn’t want there to be any doubt as to the seriousness of His rejection by the Jews.

Jesus is not saying here that the Jews or Gentiles were not guilty of sin until He came, but that the sin of rejecting God as He really is and rejecting His salvation would not have been put against them. They now have no excuse. Knowledge brings responsibility. There are things which are okay for a child to do but which are not acceptable for an adult to do, because the adult should know better. So it was with the Jews after Jesus spoke to them and revealed the Father to them.

Barclay notes that Jesus did two things: He exposed sin, and then He provided the remedy for sin. He did this second thing also in two ways: by making forgiveness of sin possible and by providing the power for man to overcome sin and do what is right. If you become ill and go to a doctor who then diagnoses you and prescribes the cure for you, you have nobody to blame but yourself if you refuse to use that cure and then die. So it was with the Jews.

The “name” of Christ speaks of His entire essence. Loyalty to His name will bring persecution as they will soon know (Acts 5:41; Php 1:29; 1 Peter 4:14). Persecution came to the Christians because they put Christ first in their lives and it will come to us, too, if we do the same.

Acts 5:41  The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

Philippians 1:29  For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,

1 Peter 4:14  If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

The world does not know God (Luke 23:34; Acts 3:17; John 16:3). That is the basic reason for the world’s persecution of the Christians. It is not really surprising since that which we find to be the most important thing, a relationship with God, is that which the world considers to be worthless. Our value-system is not just different from the world’s; it is totally and completely opposed to it.

Luke 23:34  Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Acts 3:17  “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.

John 16:3  They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.

Note that Jesus does not refer to His Father as “the Father” but as “the One who sent me”. He is accusing the world of rejecting the Father who was revealed in Him.

Jesus recalls something He had said earlier (13:16) and quotes it exactly, for a change. They certainly did persecute Jesus (5:16) and they will persecute everyone who is like Him (Matt 10:17-22, Mark 13:9-13, Luke 12:2-9, 51-53). Why, do you think, is this warning recorded in all 4 gospels? This prophecy that Jesus gave did indeed come about (1 Cor 4:12; 2 Cor 4:9; Gal 4:29; 2 Tim 3:12).

John 13:16  I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

John 5:16  So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him.

Matthew 10:17-22  “Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues.  On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.  But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,  for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.  “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.  All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Mark 13:9-13  “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.  And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.  Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.  “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.  All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Luke 12:2-9  There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.  What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.  “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.  But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.  Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.  Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.  “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.  But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.

Luke 12:51-53  Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.  From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.  They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

1 Corinthians 4:12  We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

2 Corinthians 4:9  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Galatians 4:29  At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.

2 Timothy 3:12  In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Lloyd observes “How good it would be for us sometimes, when we are worrying about our feelings and about our ‘prayer-life,’ if an angel were to appear to us and say, ‘Don’t waste time worrying about these things. What you need to do is to get on with the business of being persecuted’! Not that we are to go out of our way to invite persecution; but we should examine our lives more seriously to see if they are free from compromise with the world.”

“If they obeyed my teaching . . .” = Basically Jesus is speaking here of rejection, but the positive is also relevant. Some had indeed kept the teaching of Jesus and some would keep the teaching of the disciples.

The reason for the world’s hatred toward the followers of Jesus is that they do not belong to the world and the world only loves its own (John 17:14; 1 John 3:13). There are a couple of reasons for this. One is that the world has always hated anyone who was different. When Jonas Hanway tried to introduce the umbrella into England by walking down the street under one, he was pelted with rocks and dirt. The world doesn’t like change and it doesn’t like anything unlike itself. Barclay says that “the basic demand on the Christian is the demand that he should have the courage to be different.”

John 17:14  I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.

1 John 3:13  Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.

Another reason for the world’s hatred of Christians is that the world hates anyone whose life condemns their own. They killed Socrates because he was always making them think and examine themselves. They banished Aristides the Just from Athens and when asked why, one of the citizens responded, “Because I am tired of hearing him always called ‘the Just’.”

Robertson asks the question, “Does the world hate us? If not, why not? Has the world become more Christian or Christians more worldly?”

“chosen” = Notice again that the Christian is chosen by the Lord. He personally picked us out. He specifically wanted you. You are His choice.

Jesus uses the word “world” 5 times in this verse. Do you think that He did this because there were no Thesauruses available at that time? No. He is intentionally making the word “world” linger in the mind of the reader. Why?

Sometimes the hostility of the world toward the Christian is not highly visible or is not flagrantly hostile. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, Chrstians and those of the world share many common interests. They hold the same jobs, send their kids to the same schools, and attend the same ball games, so the difference between us and them is not always readily seen, but it is still there like a cracked wall that has been panelled over. Second, we both have, to an extent, a common code of morality, so even worldly men who don’t know Christ will often do good things. But the difference between the two and the hostility of the world towards the Christian is only barely hidden beneath the surface. Let an evangelist or a well-known Christian fall and note the response of the news networks or even your own fellow workers.

The fact is that the world stands in opposition to the Christian. A man is either of the world or of Christ; there is no middle ground. The world being what it is and the Christian being who he is makes it inevitable that the world will treat us exactly as it did Jesus. Why? Because, as Maclaren observes, “We and it stand in diametrical opposition of thought about God, about self, about duty, about life, about death, about the future; and that opposition goes right down to the bottom of things.” We need to remember this so that we will not be surprised when good but worldly men oppose the things of God.

“The favourites and heirs of heaven have never been the darlings of this world, since the old enmity was put between the seed of the woman and of the serpent.” (Matthew Henry) For example, why did Cain hate Abel? Because his works were more righteous than his (Gen 4:3-8). Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing Jacob received (Gen 27:41); Joseph’s brothers hated him because his father loved him more than them (Gen 37:3-4); Saul hated David because the Lord was with him more than with him (1 Sam 18:6-12); and Ahab hated Micaiah because of his prophecies (1 Kings 22:8). These are some of the reasons for the world’s hatred.

Genesis 4:3-8  In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.  But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favour on Abel and his offering,  but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.  Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”  Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Genesis 27:41  Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

Genesis 37:3-4  Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him.  When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

1 Samuel 18:6-12  When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes.  As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”  Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?”  And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.  The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand  and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.  Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul.

1 Kings 22:8  The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we can enquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that,” Jehoshaphat replied.

The world has always been in the hating business. When Jesus says “if the worlds hates you” He is not implying that there is any doubt in the matter. On the contrary, the world will most certainly hate them, but when that happens, He wants them to know the reason for its hatred and to realize that what is happening to them is nothing new.

He told them that the world hated Him first so it will also hate them. Maclaren says that “If we share Christ’s life, we must, necessarily, in some measure, share His fate.”

Morris wryly observes that “It is not without its significance that the disciples are to be known by their love, the world by its hatred.”

What about you? Which are you known by?