Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Saturday, May 18, 2013 Luke 22:28-30 I referred to this passage in reference to the reason why the Twelve needed to be restored. Only Luke tells us these words of Jesus. In many ways they are unimportant – but they do reveal a belief on the part of Luke. That belief was that the Twelve were significant beyond mere symbolism. In Luke’s mind they have a function that goes beyond their time. We have already seen how they function as those who authenticate the ministry of others. The book of Acts is a marvelous story of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which leads to ministry in ways not anticipated by the first followers of Jesus. We might call the action in the book of Acts a “pentecostal” event. But it is not without control! The Twelve represent that control or authentication that the church, in its “pentecostal” experience needs. It is not a matter that anything goes – anything “spiritual” that is. There is a grounding of events and the Twelve represent that grounding.