Lux Domini

Acts 1

Chapter context

What is happening in Acts 1?

Spiritmissionchurchwitness

Acts 1 belongs to the opening movement of the book, especially the section often described as Jerusalem church. Acts traces the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the Gentile world through Peter, Paul, and the Spirit-led church. Read this chapter with the wider themes of Spirit, mission, and church in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.

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.   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.   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.   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.  

Study helps

Glossary

Jerusalem Place v. 4, 8, 12-13, 19

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Jerusalem.

John Person v. 5, 13, 22

(1. ) One who, with Annas and Caiaphas, sat in judgment on the apostles Peter and John ( Acts 4:6 ). He was of the kindred of the high priest; otherwise unknown. (2. ) The Hebrew name of Mark (q. v. ).

Judea Place v. 8

Biblical region. Modern identification: Jerusalem.

Samaria Place v. 8

Biblical region. Modern identification: Samaria.

Galilee Place v. 11

Biblical region. Modern identification: Galilee.

Mount of Olives Place v. 12

Biblical hill. Modern identification: Mount of Olives.

Andrew Person v. 13

Manliness, a Greek name; one of the apostles of our Lord. He was of Bethsaida in Galilee ( John 1:44 ), and was the brother of Simon Peter ( Matt. 4:18 ; 10:2 ).

Bartholomew Person v. 13

Son of Tolmai, one of the twelve apostles ( Matt. 10:3 ; Acts 1:13 ); generally supposed to have been the same as Nathanael.

James Person v. 13

(1. ) The son of Zebedee and Salome; an elder brother of John the apostle. He was one of the twelve. He was by trade a fisherman, in partnership with Peter ( Matt. 20:20 ; 27:56 ).

Judas Person v. 13, 16, 25

The Graecized form of Judah. (1. ) The patriarch ( Matt. 1:2 , 3). (2. ) Son of Simon ( John 6:71 ; 13:2 , 26), surnamed Iscariot, i. e., a man of Kerioth ( Josh. 15:25 ).

Matthew Person v. 13

Gift of God, a common Jewish name after the Exile. He was the son of Alphaeus, and was a publican or tax-gatherer at Capernaum.

Peter Person v. 13, 15

Originally called Simon (=Simeon, i. e., “hearing”), a very common Jewish name in the New Testament. He was the son of Jona ( Matt. 16:17 ). His mother is nowhere named in Scripture.

Mary Person v. 14

Hebrew Miriam. (1. ) The wife of Joseph, the mother of Jesus, called the “Virgin Mary,” though never so designated in Scripture ( Matt. 2:11 ; Acts 1:14 ). Little is known of her personal history.

David Person v. 16

Beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His mother’s name is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash of 2 Sam. 17:25 .

Akeldama Place v. 19

Biblical field. Modern identification: Akeldama.

Barsabas Person v. 23

Son of Saba, the surname (1) of Joseph, also called Justus ( Acts 1:23 ), some identify him with Barnabas; (2) of Judas, who was a “prophet. ” Nothing more is known of him than what is mentioned in Acts 15:32 .