Acts 1
1
The Promise of the Spirit. 1In the first book,#Lk 1:1–4. Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught 2until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.#Mt 28:19–20; Lk 24:44–49; Jn 20:22; 1 Tm 3:16. 3He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days#Appearing to them during forty days: Luke considered especially sacred the interval in which the appearances and instructions of the risen Jesus occurred and expressed it therefore in terms of the sacred number forty (cf. Dt 8:2). In his gospel, however, Luke connects the ascension of Jesus with the resurrection by describing the ascension on Easter Sunday evening (Lk 24:50–53). What should probably be understood as one event (resurrection, glorification, ascension, sending of the Spirit—the paschal mystery) has been historicized by Luke when he writes of a visible ascension of Jesus after forty days and the descent of the Spirit at Pentecost. For Luke, the ascension marks the end of the appearances of Jesus except for the extraordinary appearance to Paul. With regard to Luke’s understanding of salvation history, the ascension also marks the end of the time of Jesus (Lk 24:50–53) and signals the beginning of the time of the church. and speaking about the kingdom of God.#10:41; 13:31. 4While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father#The promise of the Father: the holy Spirit, as is clear from the next verse. This gift of the Spirit was first promised in Jesus’ final instructions to his chosen witnesses in Luke’s gospel (Lk 24:49) and formed part of the continuing instructions of the risen Jesus on the kingdom of God, of which Luke speaks in Acts 1:3. about which you have heard me speak;#Jn 14:16, 17, 26. 5for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy Spirit.”#11:16; Mt 3:11; Mk 1:8; Lk 3:16; Jn 1:26; Eph 1:13.
The Ascension of Jesus. 6When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going#The question of the disciples implies that in believing Jesus to be the Christ (see note on Lk 2:11) they had expected him to be a political leader who would restore self-rule to Israel during his historical ministry. When this had not taken place, they ask if it is to take place at this time, the period of the church. to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7#This verse echoes the tradition that the precise time of the parousia is not revealed to human beings; cf. Mk 13:32; 1 Thes 5:1–3. He answered them,#Mt 24:36; 1 Thes 5:1–2. “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. 8#Just as Jerusalem was the city of destiny in the Gospel of Luke (the place where salvation was accomplished), so here at the beginning of Acts, Jerusalem occupies a central position. It is the starting point for the mission of the Christian disciples to “the ends of the earth,” the place where the apostles were situated and the doctrinal focal point in the early days of the community (Acts 15:2, 6). The ends of the earth: for Luke, this means Rome. But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you,#2:1–13; 10:39; Is 43:10; Mt 28:19; Lk 24:47–48. and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.#2 Kgs 2:11; Mk 16:19; Lk 24:51. 10While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.#Jn 20:17. 11They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”#Lk 24:51; Eph 4:8–10; 1 Pt 3:22; Rev 1:7. 12#Lk 6:14–16. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away.
The First Community in Jerusalem. 13When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.#Lk 23:49.
The Choice of Judas’s Successor. 15During those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons in the one place). He said, 16“My brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled which the holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus.#Ps 41:10; Lk 22:47. 17He was numbered among us and was allotted a share in this ministry. 18#Mt 27:3–10. He bought a parcel of land with the wages of his iniquity, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle, and all his insides spilled out.#Luke records a popular tradition about the death of Judas that differs from the one in Mt 27:5, according to which Judas hanged himself. Here, although the text is not certain, Judas is depicted as purchasing a piece of property with the betrayal money and being killed on it in a fall. 19This became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem, so that the parcel of land was called in their language ‘Akeldama,’ that is, Field of Blood. 20For it is written in the Book of Psalms:
‘Let his encampment become desolate,
and may no one dwell in it.’
And:
‘May another take his office.’#Ps 69:26; 109:8; Jn 17:12.
21Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, 22beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection.”#1:8–9; 10:39. 23So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. 24Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” 26#The need to replace Judas was probably dictated by the symbolism of the number twelve, recalling the twelve tribes of Israel. This symbolism also indicates that for Luke (see Lk 22:30) the Christian church is a reconstituted Israel. #Prv 16:33. Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Acts 1
1
Prologue
1The former account I made, O #Luke 1:3Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2#Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9, 11, 22until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit #Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Acts 10:42had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3#Matt. 28:17; Mark 16:12, 14; Luke 24:34, 36; John 20:19, 26; 21:1, 14; 1 Cor. 15:5–7to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
The Holy Spirit Promised
4#Luke 24:49And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have #(John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26); Acts 2:33heard from Me; 5#Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 11:16for John truly baptized with water, #(Joel 2:28)but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7And He said to them, #1 Thess. 5:1“It is not for you to #Matt. 24:36; Mark 13:32know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8#(Acts 2:1, 4)But you shall receive power #Luke 24:49when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and #Luke 24:48; John 15:27you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and #Acts 8:1, 5, 14Samaria, and to the #Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; Rom. 10:18; Col. 1:23; (Rev. 14:6)end of the earth.”
Jesus Ascends to Heaven
9#Luke 24:50, 51Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, #Ps. 68:18; 110:1; Mark 16:19; Luke 23:43; John 20:17; Acts 1:2; (Heb. 4:14; 9:24; 1 Pet. 3:22)He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them #Matt. 28:3; Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4; John 20:12; Acts 10:3, 30in white apparel, 11who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, #Dan. 7:13; Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27; (John 14:3); 2 Thess. 1:10; Rev. 1:7will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
The Upper Room Prayer Meeting
12#Luke 24:52Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. 13And when they had entered, they went up #Mark 14:15; Luke 22:12; Acts 9:37, 39; 20:8into the upper room where they were staying: #Matt. 10:2–4Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and #Luke 6:15Simon the Zealot; and #Jude 1Judas the son of James. 14#Acts 2:1, 46These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with #Luke 23:49, 55the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with #Matt. 13:55His brothers.
Matthias Chosen
15And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number #Luke 22:32; Rev. 3:4of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, 16“Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, #Ps. 41:9which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, #Matt. 26:47; Mark 14:43; Luke 22:47; John 18:3who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; 17for #Matt. 10:4he was numbered with us and obtained a part in #Acts 1:25this ministry.”
18#Matt. 27:3–10(Now this man purchased a field with #Matt. 18:7; 26:14, 15, 24; Mark 14:21; Luke 22:22; John 17:12the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. 19And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)
20“For it is written in the Book of Psalms:
#Ps. 69:25‘Let his dwelling place be desolate,
And let no one live in it’;
and,
#Ps. 109:8‘Let another take his office.’
21“Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from the baptism of John to that day when #Acts 1:9He was taken up from us, one of these must #Acts 1:8; 2:32become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
23And they proposed two: Joseph called #Acts 15:22Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, #1 Sam. 16:7; Jer. 17:10; Acts 1:2who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25#Acts 1:17to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” 26And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.