Acts1
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, concerning all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,
2until 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:
3to 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:
4and, 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:
5for John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence.
6They therefore, when they were come together, asked him, saying, Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?
7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within his own authority.
8But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
9And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10And while they were looking stedfastly into heaven as he went, behold two men stood by them in white apparel;
11who 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.
12Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is nigh unto Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey off.
13And 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 Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
14These all with one accord continued stedfastly in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
15And 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),
16Brethren, 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.
17For he was numbered among us, and received his portion in this ministry.
18(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.
19And 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.)
20For 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.
21Of the men therefore that have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us,
22beginning 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.
23And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show of these two the one whom thou hast chosen,
25to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.
26And they gave lots for them; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Acts 1.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Proofs of Christ's resurrection. (1–5). Christ's ascension. (6–11). The apostles unite in prayer. (12–14). Matthias chosen in the place of Judas. (15–26).
vv1-5
Our Lord told the disciples the work they were to do. The apostles met together at Jerusalem; Christ having ordered them not to depart thence, but to wait for the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. This would be a baptism by the Holy Ghost, giving them power to work miracles, and enlightening and sanctifying their souls. This confirms the Divine promise, and encourages us to depend upon it, that we have heard it from Christ; for in Him all the promises of God are yea and amen.
vv6-11
They were earnest in asking about that which their Master never had directed or encouraged them to seek. Our Lord knew that his ascension and the teaching of the Holy Spirit would soon end these expectations, and therefore only gave them a rebuke; but it is a caution to his church in all ages, to take heed of a desire of forbidden knowledge. He had given his disciples instructions for the discharge of their duty, both before his death and since his resurrection, and this knowledge is enough for a Christian. It is enough that He has engaged to give believers strength equal to their trials and services; that under the influence of the Holy Spirit they may, in one way or other, be witnesses for Christ on earth, while in heaven he manages their concerns with perfect wisdom, truth, and love. When we stand gazing and trifling, the thoughts of our Master's second coming should quicken and awaken us: when we stand gazing and trembling, they should comfort and encourage us. May our expectation of it be stedfast and joyful, giving diligence to be found of him blameless.
vv12-14
God can find hiding-places for his people. They made supplication. All God's people are praying people. It was now a time of trouble and danger with the disciples of Christ; but if any is afflicted, let him pray; that will silence cares and fears. They had now a great work to do, and before they entered upon it, they were earnest in prayer to God for his presence. They were waiting for the descent of the Spirit, and abounded in prayer. Those are in the best frame to receive spiritual blessings, who are in a praying frame. Christ had promised shortly to send the Holy Ghost; that promise was not to do away prayer, but to quicken and encourage it. A little company united in love, exemplary in their conduct, fervent in prayer, and wisely zealous to promote the cause of Christ, are likely to increase rapidly.
Key Words
πρῶτος (prōtos): foremost (in time, place, order or importance)
λόγος (lógos): something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ)
ὦ (ō): as a sign of the vocative case, O; as a note of exclamation, oh
Θεόφιλος (Theóphilos): friend of God; Theophilus, a Christian
ποιέω (poiéō): to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
περί (perí): properly, through (all over), i.e. around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive case denoting the subject or occasion or superlative point; with the accusative case the locality, circuit, matter, circumstance or general period)
πᾶς (pâs): all, any, every, the whole
ὅς (hós): the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
ἄρχομαι (árchomai): to commence (in order of time)
Cross References
Acts 1Luke's Gospel is the 'former treatise' addressed to the same recipient, Theophilus.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Jesus commands the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explicitly quoted by Peter to justify replacing Judas's office ('bishoprick').
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Direct contrast between John's water baptism and the promised Holy Ghost baptism.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel account of the tragic death of Judas and the field of blood.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Defines the apostolic mandate: witnessing of Christ from the beginning of His ministry.
Supported by JFB
Prophetic background of the Son of man ascending with the clouds of heaven.
Supported by JFB
Associates the Mount of Olives with eschatological prophecy and Christ's ascension/return.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Moses prays to the Lord, 'the God of the spirits of all flesh,' to set a leader.
Supported by Matthew Poole