Acts 1:2

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:

Until {G891} the day {G2250} in which {G3739} he was taken up {G353}, after that he through {G1223} the Holy {G40} Ghost {G4151} had given commandments {G1781} unto the apostles {G652} whom {G3739} he had chosen {G1586}:

until the day when, after giving instructions through the Ruach HaKodesh to the emissaries whom he had chosen, he was taken up into heaven.

until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.

until the day in which he was received up, after that he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

Acts 1:2 serves as a pivotal transitional verse, bridging the gap between Luke's Gospel and the Book of Acts. It concisely summarizes the end of Jesus' earthly ministry and the beginning of the apostolic era, setting the stage for the church's birth and expansion.

Context

This verse continues the thought from Acts 1:1, where Luke addresses Theophilus and refers to his "former treatise" (the Gospel of Luke) which detailed "all that Jesus began both to do and teach." Verse 2 then specifies the timeframe: Jesus' activities continued "until the day in which he was taken up." It highlights the significant period between Jesus' resurrection and His ascension, during which He gave crucial instructions to His chosen apostles, preparing them for their monumental task.

Key Themes

  • Divine Commission and Authority: The verse emphasizes that Jesus' final instructions were not mere suggestions but authoritative "commandments," given with divine backing through the Holy Ghost. This underscores the divine origin and importance of the apostles' future mission.
  • The Role of the Holy Spirit: The phrase "through the Holy Ghost had given commandments" is significant. It implies that even Jesus, in His human ministry, operated under the Spirit's anointing, and it foreshadows the Spirit's empowering role for the apostles themselves, especially as described in Acts 1:8. This prefigures the Spirit's ongoing work in the church.
  • The Ascension as a Defining Moment: The phrase "until the day in which he was taken up" points directly to Jesus' ascension into heaven. This event marks the completion of His earthly redemptive work and His return to the Father's right hand, from where He would send the Holy Spirit and reign as King.
  • Apostolic Foundation: The fact that Jesus gave these commandments "unto the apostles whom he had chosen" underscores their unique role as the authoritative eyewitnesses and foundational leaders of the early church. Their direct instruction from the resurrected Christ was vital for their future ministry of spreading the gospel.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek phrase for "taken up" is anelēmphthē (ἀνελήφθη), which distinctly refers to the ascension, a supernatural lifting up. The mention of "Holy Ghost" (Pneumatos Hagiou, Πνεύματος Ἁγίου) here is noteworthy, indicating that even Jesus' final instructions were Spirit-guided, further emphasizing the divine nature of His words and the continuity of the Spirit's work from Christ to His disciples.

Practical Application

Acts 1:2 reminds believers of the deliberate and divinely guided foundation of the Christian faith. Just as Jesus prepared His apostles with specific instructions and empowered them through the Spirit, so too does God equip His people today for their calling. This verse encourages us to value the authoritative teachings of Christ (compare Matthew 28:19-20 on the Great Commission) and to recognize the essential role of the Holy Spirit in guiding and empowering the church's mission. It highlights the continuity of God's plan, from Jesus' earthly ministry to the ongoing work of His followers, all under divine direction.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 1:9

    And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

  • Hebrews 9:24

    For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

  • Acts 10:38

    How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

  • John 20:21

    Then said Jesus to them again, Peace [be] unto you: as [my] Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

  • Isaiah 59:20

    And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.

  • Isaiah 59:21

    As for me, this [is] my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that [is] upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

  • John 13:18

    I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

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