Acts 1

Acts 1 – Changing of the Guard

  1. The former account I made (The Gospel of Luke), O Theophilus,

“Theophilus” This name is formed from (1) God (Theos) and (2) brotherly love (philos). It can be translated “God lover,” “friend of God,” or “loved by God.”

The title “most excellent” in Luke 1:3 could be an honorific title for a Roman governmental official … He may have been the literary benefactor for the writing, copying, and distributing of Luke’s two books. Church tradition names him as T. Flavius Clemens, cousin of Domitian.[1]

Seven things are mentioned concerning our Lord. [2] (verses 1b-3)

  1. His earthly life of doing and teaching.

of all that Jesus began both to do and teach (He modeled the truth He taught—This is what it is and this is what it looks like in daily living.),

2. He was taken up.

until the day in which He was taken up, (here Jesus showed them where He went—He didn’t just mysteriously disappear on them.)

3. He charged His Apostles by the Holy Spirit.

(He was taken up) after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, (the Apostles were given direction: to carry on where Jesus was leaving off modeling and teaching the truth)

4. He had suffered.

3 to whom He also presented Himself alive (proving God the Father accepted His sacrifice for sin—proving that death had no power over Him) after His suffering (prior to and upon the cross)

5.He presented Himself living with many proofs.

by many (in their number and) infallible (uncontestable in their) proofs,

6. He was seen by them for forty days.

being seen (physically, and we know as well that Jesus was touched, talked to, dined with) by them during forty days (multiple times over a long period of days)

This was not a dream, a one time deal.  Jesus wasn’t see by just one person either.  A charge against someone or a legal transaction couldn’t take place without at least 2 or 3 witnesses.  Jesus had literally hundreds of them!

7. He spoke of the things which concern the Kingdom of God.

and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God (that would entail how to gain access to the kingdom, how to live for the kingdom, how to serve for the kingdom, and ones arrival at the kingdom).

  • The Holy Spirit Promised

4 And being assembled together with them (the Apostles), He (Jesus) commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, (“Who” is the promise?  Another Comforter/Helper—the Holy Spirit), “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;

John 14:16 – I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—

John 14:26— But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

The Holy Spirit plays the part of the main character in this unfolding drama, above even Peter or Paul.

5 for John truly baptized (immersed) with water, but you shall be baptized (immersed/indwelt) with the Holy Spirit (God Himself) not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the (Millennial) kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority (It is taken for granted by both parties that the kingdom is coming…It’s timing is only in question….Only the Heavenly Father knows when the kingdom will come though …that is His business alone). 8 But (even though you don’t know when you will receive the kingdom) you (gospel believers) shall (all) receive power (for kingdom living and service) when the Holy Spirit has come upon (indwell) you (When does that happen? At the moment of salvation); and you (all) shall be witnesses (speak up and give testimony) to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

  • After 40 Days Jesus Ascends to Heaven

9 Now when He had spoken these things (about Himself, His work, His purpose, and now gospel believers work and purpose through the Holy Spirit) , while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they (multiple witnesses) looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up (ascended to heaven), behold, two men stood by them in white apparel (angels), 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven (insinuating….pick your jaws up off the ground and don’t worry or be afraid, you’re not losing Him? It could also imply there’s work to be done and let’s get going and get busy!)  This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven (verifying where He went to be seated at the right hand of the Father.  Jesus), will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven (which will happen when? at the end of the tribulation).”

  • Now the Next Scene Moves to the Upper Room and Prayer Meeting

12 Then (after their mild rebuke and encouragement) they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey (a little less than half a mile).

13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14 These all (didn’t just jump in the Lazy-Boy and wait, they) continued with one accord (with the same thoughts and attitudes.  ) in prayer (worship) and supplication (petition), with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers (his biological brothers …James, Joses, Judas, and Simon.)

  • The Last Scene in the Chapter Is Where Matthias  Is Chosen

15 And in those days (At some unspecified time during the ten days of fellowship and prayer between the ascension and Pentecost[3]) Peter stood up (in the upper room) in the midst of the disciples  (altogether the number of names (or persons) was about a hundred and twenty), and said, 16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus (Judas singling Jesus out and betraying Him with a kiss);

The Scripture Passage that was fulfilled was:

Psalm 41:9 – Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

John 13:18 affirms this – “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’

17 for he (Judas) was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.”

John 17:12 – While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; (sin) and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. 19 And 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 (69:25 and 109:8): ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, and let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’

  • I find it interesting that Peter is now remembering Scripture when so often before this he didn’t like Christ having to die and rise again.

21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness (a fellow testifier) with us of His resurrection.” (There needs to be 12 Apostles according to the Scriptures.)

23 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias (Nothing is known of either individual; they appear nowhere else in Scripture.[4]). 24 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord (“Lord” can refer to God the Father or Jesus, God the Son), who know the hearts of all (you know us inside and out, better than we know one another or even ourselves), show which of these two You have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” 26 And they cast their lots, and (God caused) the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

  • Observations:

After the ascension, they went to prayer and petition. This engendered:

  • The recognition of fulfilled prophecy.
  • The recognition that there needs to be 12 of them.
  • The recognition that Jesus picked the original 12 and the Lord needs to choose Judas’ replacement.

Obviously the disciples have every intention of following through with Christ’s command for them, We need to replace Judas.

[1] Utley, R. J. D. (2003). Vol. Volume 3B: Luke the Historian: The Book of Acts. Study Guide Commentary Series (8). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International.

[2] Gaebelein, A. C. (2009). The Acts of the apostles: An exposition (14–15). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[3] MacArthur, J. (1994). Acts (29). Chicago: Moody Press.

[4] MacArthur, J. (1994). Acts (33). Chicago: Moody Press.