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Acts 1

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The Risen Christ Instructs His Apostles 1–5

1
The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, concerning all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, ​
2
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: ​
3
to whom he also showed himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing unto them by the space of forty days, and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God: ​
4
and, being assembled together with them, he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, ye heard from me: ​
5
for John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence. ​

The Ascension 6–11

6
They therefore, when they were come together, asked him, saying, Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? ​
7
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within his own authority. ​
8
But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. ​
9
And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10
And while they were looking stedfastly into heaven as he went, behold two men stood by them in white apparel;
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who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven. ​

Waiting and Praying in the Upper Room 12–14

12
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is nigh unto Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey off. ​
13
And when they were come in, they went up into the upper chamber, where they were abiding; both Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphæus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
14
These all with one accord continued stedfastly in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. ​

The Selection of Matthias 15–26

15
And in these days Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren, and said (and there was a multitude of persons gathered together, about a hundred and twenty), ​
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Brethren, it was needful that the scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spake before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to them that took Jesus. ​
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For he was numbered among us, and received his portion in this ministry.
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(Now this man obtained a field with the reward of his iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. ​
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And it became known to all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch that in their language that field was called Akeldama, that is, The field of blood.)
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For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be made desolate, And let no man dwell therein: and, His office let another take. ​
21
Of the men therefore that have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us,
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beginning from the baptism of John, unto the day that he was received up from us, of these must one become a witness with us of his resurrection. ​
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And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
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And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show of these two the one whom thou hast chosen, ​
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to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place. ​
26
And they gave lots for them; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · 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).