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Acts 1

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The Risen Christ Instructs His Apostles 1–5

1
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, ​
2
Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: ​
3
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: ​
4
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. ​
5
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. ​

The Ascension 6–11

6
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? ​
7
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. ​
8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. ​
9
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. ​

Waiting and Praying in the Upper Room 12–14

12
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. ​
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. ​

The Selection of Matthias 15–26

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. ​
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. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for Acts 1

Verse 1

the former treatise — Logos, an account; the first was the Gospel addressed to 'most excellent Theophilus' (Luke 1:3), a name found only in these two places. 'Began both to do and teach' marks the Gospel as what Jesus began, in 'deed and word' (Luke 24:19), and Acts as what follows; the book ends on 'teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ' (28:31).

Verse 2

taken up — Analambano, to receive up, the verb of Mark 16:19 and 1 Tim 3:16, and used again for the ascension in vv.11 and 22. The apostles are those 'whom he had chosen' (eklegomai; Luke 6:13, 'of them he chose twelve'), and the commandments came 'through the Holy Ghost', the Spirit with whom he was anointed (Acts 10:38).

Verse 3

infallible proofs — Tekmerion, a sure token, occurs only here in the New Testament. 'Passion' is the verb pascho, to suffer, as in Luke 24:46, 'it behoved Christ to suffer'. Forty days is the span of his appearing, and the subject of his speaking was 'the kingdom of God', the same kingdom that closes the book (28:31).

Verse 4

wait for the promise of the Father — Perimeno, to wait around, occurs only here. 'Assembled together' (sunalizo) also occurs only here. The promise is the Spirit: 'I send the promise of my Father upon you' (Luke 24:49). Peter says at Pentecost that Christ has 'received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost' (2:33).

Verse 5

baptized with the Holy Ghost — John's own word in Matt 3:11, 'he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire'. 'Not many days hence' is fulfilled at Pentecost (2:1–4), and Peter recalls this saying, 'Then remembered I the word of the Lord' (11:16), when the Spirit falls on Cornelius' household.

Verse 6

restore again the kingdom to Israel — Apokathistemi, to reconstitute, the verb for the withered hand 'restored whole' (Mark 3:5) and for Elijah, who 'shall first come, and restore all things' (Matt 17:11). The question follows forty days of 'the things pertaining to the kingdom of God' (v.3); the reply in vv.7–8 speaks of the Father's times and of their witness.

Verse 7

the times or the seasons — Chronos and kairos, the same pair as in 1 Thess 5:1, 'But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.' The times are 'in his own power' (exousia), the Father's: so 'of that day and hour knoweth no man… but my Father only' (Matt 24:36). Jesus answers the question of when with what the disciples are to do.

Verse 8

witnesses unto me — Martus, a witness, which the KJV itself renders 'martyr' for Stephen (Acts 22:20). The verse is the book's outline: Jerusalem (chs. 1–7), Judaea and Samaria (8:1), then outward; Paul and Barnabas apply Isa 49:6 to it, 'unto the ends of the earth' (13:47). The power is that of Luke 24:49, 'endued with power from on high'.

Verse 11

in like manner — The two men address 'ye men of Galilee'. 'Taken up' is analambano again (v.2), and 'in like manner' (tropos) points back to the cloud of v.9, 'a cloud received him out of their sight': 'Behold, he cometh with clouds' (Rev 1:7). Zech 14:4 says of the LORD that 'his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives', the mount of v.12.

Verse 12

a sabbath day's journey — The phrase gives the distance as the measure of how far one may go on the sabbath: 'let no man go out of his place on the seventh day' (Ex 16:29). Luke 24:50–52 tells the same departure and ends with their return to Jerusalem 'with great joy'. 'Olivet' is the mount of Olives (Luke 21:37).

Verse 14

with one accord in prayer — Homothumadon, with one mind, recurs through Acts (2:1, 46; 4:24; 5:12). 'Continued' is proskartereo, to persevere, as in 2:42 and 6:4, 'continually to prayer'. The company includes Mary and 'his brethren', of whom John 7:5 says 'neither did his brethren believe in him'.

Verse 15

an hundred and twenty — 'Number' is ochlos, usually 'multitude' or 'crowd'. This is the gathered company of disciples at Jerusalem; Paul later speaks of more than five hundred brethren who saw the risen Christ at once (1 Cor 15:6). Peter stands 'in the midst' of them to speak of the vacancy left by Judas.

Verse 16

this scripture must needs have been fulfilled — Dei, it is necessary, and pleroo, to fulfil. The Holy Ghost spake 'by the mouth of David', as in 4:25. The scripture is what Peter cites in v.20 (Pss 69:25; 109:8); Ps 41:9, 'hath lifted up his heel against me', Christ himself applied to the betrayal (John 13:18). 'Guide' is hodegos, one who leads the way.

Verse 18

the reward of iniquity — The 'reward' (misthos) of 'iniquity' (adikia) is the same pairing as 'the wages of unrighteousness' in 2 Pet 2:15. The silver was the thirty pieces (Matt 26:15), with which the priests 'bought… the potter's field' (Matt 27:7). 'Headlong' (prenes) occurs only here; Matt 27:5 records that he 'went and hanged himself'.

Verse 20

his bishoprick let another take — Peter joins Ps 69:25, 'Let their habitation be desolate', to Ps 109:8, 'Let his days be few; and let another take his office'. 'Bishoprick' is episkope, oversight, translated 'visitation' in Luke 19:44. Christ had said the Twelve 'shall sit upon twelve thrones' (Matt 19:28).

Verse 22

a witness with us of his resurrection — The qualification is time with the Lord 'from the baptism of John' to the ascension. 'Be ordained' is ginomai, to become: one must become a witness. Resurrection is what the apostles preach: 'with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus' (4:33).

Verse 24

which knowest the hearts of all men — The prayer appeals to the God who sees 'the heart' (kardia): 'the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart' (1 Sam 16:7). Acts 15:8 says of God, 'which knoweth the hearts'. 'Chosen' is the verb of v.2, used of Christ's choice of the apostles.

Verse 25

by transgression fell — Parabaino, to go contrary to, to violate. 'Ministry' is diakonia, service, joined to 'apostleship' (apostole), the word Paul uses of his own sending in Rom 1:5. 'His own place' is stated without further description; John 17:12 calls Judas 'the son of perdition'.

Verse 26

the lot fell upon Matthias — 'Lot' is kleros, the word the Greek Old Testament uses for the lots of Lev 16:8, and Prov 16:33 states the principle: 'The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.' 'Numbered' (sugkatapsephizo), counted together, occurs only here. The choice is left to the one who 'knowest the hearts' (v.24).