Some say they have conceded that women in the Bible could “prophesy” – speak a direct message from God – but maintain they were forbidden to study Scripture for themselves with a view to teaching, unless they taught other women and children. Those holding this view acknowledge that Priscilla taught Apollos but say it occurred in private. The fact remains, however, that she did teach a man!
Notice this:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were
about an hundred and twenty,)
16
Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
(MY note... for those not uese to foreign languages....men and brethern include women in the greek language just like in Portuguese)
17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 And
they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
26 And
they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Sounds like the 120 all took part in this decision....they....The significant fact is, as stated above, that the women prayed alongside of the apostles and the others: “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers” (1:14)... This Scripture runs contrary to the practice of many Christians today. Not only did the women pray in this gathering of the one hundred and twenty, but they also took part in casting lots in the choosing of Mathias (
Acts 1:22-26)
There is no indication, from the context, that this selection process (casting lots) was limited only to the men. Yet again, some repetition is necessary for one to follow the logical sequence of events in order to show conclusively that the women were present in the events that transpired following the resurrection of Jesus (
Luke 24:36-49). one cannot read this unit of Scripture (23:47-49) without a consciousness of two things: (1) the witnesses included women, and (2) the women who followed Jesus from Galilee were witnesses. Pay attention to Luke, as cited above, as he writes:“The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it” (23:55). The phrase “from Galilee” flashes like neon lights along side the mention of “women.” Why? Were they to witness concerning Jesus? As Luke continues his scenario, he sets forth the prominence of the women’s role following the resurrection. Remember, following the burial of Jesus, the women took spices to the tomb (24:1).
They found the stone rolled away and entered the tomb (24:2). Whereupon, they were frightened, and Luke says, “the women bowed down” (24:5). The two men questioned them about why they were looking for the living among the dead (24:5). Again, one observes the use of the word Galilee in the course of the conversation by the two men:
“He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee” (24:6). It was not just the apostles that Jesus told about His impending death while in Galilee—women were included. The expressions from Galilee and in Galilee are important in trying to ascertain whether or not women were included in the command to witness to others about the how of salvation.
Can one in his or her wildest imagination edit out the women from “those with them”? The women play a major role in this section of Scripture (see also
Acts 1:12-15). Jesus appears to His disciples. Should one limit the word disciple only to the male species? Surely not! There is no evidence to uphold that the word disciple refers only to males. Suddenly Jesus stood among them (both men and women). Still there was unbelief on the part of the disciples. He told them to look at His hands and His feet in order to prove that He was not a ghost, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones (24:37-41). After that, He opened their minds so they could understand what the prophets had earlier spoken of (24:47). He then informed those present (both men and women) that they were to be “witnesses of all these things” (24:48)
At that time, Jesus let them know that He would send the promise of His Father upon each of them (24:40). But they were instructed to wait in Jerusalem until they were clothed with this power from on high (24:49). Did the Eleven and the other disciples, which included women, understand that they were all to wait in Jerusalem for this outpouring of God’s Spirit upon both men and women? Yes! As stated above, the first chapter of Acts reveals that there were one hundred and twenty who were gathered in Jerusalem waiting for the events to transpire (
Acts 1:15)...Once more, if the women were not included, one wonders why Peter did not say so. In fact, he cited the prophet Joel to show that Joel had previously foretold the phenomenon that they were now witnessingThen Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men (ou|toi Joutoi) are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “17 ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’..
” (
Joel 2:14-21)...In
Acts 2:1, Luke writes: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.”.. On the Day of Pentecost, the outpouring of the Spirit is generally limited to the Twelve among many interpreters of the Word, but, according to Peter, the outpouring of the Spirit was upon the one hundred and twenty:When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues..a as the Spirit enabled them (
Acts 2:1-4). Mostly copied from a paper I have...do not have time to look up the author...but mostly Bible quotes)