Please read the passage before reading the comments.
This first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles tells how the disciples gathered in prayer awaiting whatever would come next. Among the disciples, Luke mentioned that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was there. Luke could have easily omitted her name and left her off the list of those present. We may ask why he added her name.
Luke, the author of Acts, also authored the Gospel according to Luke. In it, Mary has special mention. She receives a vision of an angel declaring that God has chosen her to be the mother of the Son of God (chapter 1-2).
In the public life of Jesus, both Matthew and Mark record Jesus’ mother searching out Jesus in concern for his safety (Mt 12:46-50; Mk 3:31-35). Luke also records the scene (8:19-21), but adds a blessing for those who hear the word and put it into practice. In another place, when a woman praised his mother for being his mother, Jesus reframed a greater blessing for those who hear God’s word and keep it (11:27-28). Luke has described Mary as the perfect disciple.
Now, as we look again at the book of Acts, we can see a logic in Luke’s mentioning of Mary’s presence with the other disciples in prayer as they were awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps instead of questioning the presence of the mother of God there, we should be asking where we are and if we are among those gathered in prayer awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit.
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