Verse By Verse Through Acts

Chapter One

Acts 1:1-4 “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 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: 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: 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.”

• The opening of this letter reveals that this is an additional “treatise” [teaching; discourse; account; tidings; etc. “λόγος” Strong’s # 3056] to Theophilus. The other record that we have, preceding this one, is known as “Luke” (Luke 1:1-4). One should note from this that this letter is not written to convince a non-believer. It is written to a believer.
• The former treatise was mostly concerning what Jesus did and taught. This is an important distinction because this treatise is going to mostly cover the work after the Apostles took over. Luke 24:44-49 is a bridge to this text.
• The former treatise covered up to Jesus being taken up after giving commandments to His chosen Apostles after showing His death, burial, and resurrection after infallible proofs before His ascension (Luke 24:1-47).
• After that, which is where we will be picking up from here in Acts, He gave commandments to the Apostles through the Holy Ghost. They were to stay in Jerusalem until they received the promise of the Father (Luke 24:49). *More on that when we get to the next verse (Acts 1:5).
• We learn here that Jesus was seen of the Apostles for forty days and taught them further. Yet, as we will see in this context, they needed much more (Acts 1:6-8).
• One of the most obvious commands He gave to them during that time was the command to take the Gospel into the whole world (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-20, and Luke 24:44-49). He had been training them to be able to teach the Gospel to the world (Luke 8:1 and Luke 9:1-6). Jesus also taught other disciples to preach as well (Luke 10:1-20).
• The word translated “passion” is the same as to say “suffer” (Matthew 16:21 and Matthew 17:12), “suffered” (Mark 5:26), etc. The Greek word appears in different tenses about forty-two times in the N.T. (Strong’s # 3958).

• The promise that the Apostles had of the Father, which they heard from Jesus, was the sending of the Holy Ghost soon (Luke 24:49, John 14:15-26, and John 15:26-27).
• John baptized with water, but this baptism is not that (Luke 3:1-17 and Acts 10:44-11:18).
• We shall see as we study through this second letter to Theophilus that only the Apostles and the first recorded Gentile converts received this baptism (Acts 2:1-21 and Acts 10:44-11:18).
• The baptism of the Holy Ghost, only recorded twice in Acts, ceased long before the completion of the writing of the New Testament. We know this because there was only one baptism at the time the Ephesians letter was written (Ephesians 4:4-6). Water baptism is the only baptism directly connected with a person being saved (I Peter 3:20-21; cf. Acts 22:16). Those who heard the Gospel understood the need to be baptized in water (Acts 8:26-39).
• Having said that, the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38) was given to many through the means of the laying on of an Apostle’s hands (Acts 8:5-24 and Acts 19:1-7). The Spirit then equipped those individuals to with supernatural abilities (I Corinthians 12:3-11). This was temporary (I Corinthians 12:12-13:13).
• Coming back to the point of Acts 1:5, As a result of the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the Apostles, the Holy Ghost was their guide from that point forward (John 16:1-16).

• Confusion regarding the nature of the kingdom was not a new thing among the Jews (Luke 17:20-21 and Luke 19:11).
• With the language of the prophecies, one could see how they would have possibly thought that kingdom is worldly (Genesis 49:10, Isaiah 9:1-7, Daniel 2:31-45, Jeremiah 23:5-6, and Zechariah 9:9-17).
• The prophets were not clear and that was on purpose (Romans 16:25, Ephesians 3:1-11, and I Peter 1:3-12).
• Having said all of that, the kingdom is not earthly (John 18:36, Colossians 1:12-13, and Hebrews 12:22-29). That answers the question!

• We cannot understand this verse to mean that they were not to understand the kingdom at any point for Jesus had previously taught otherwise (Mark 4:10-12).
• The revelation was to come (Colossians 1:26).
• WHEN, that was in the hands of the Father (I Corinthians 2:6-13).

• When the Lord’s revelation would be fully delivered through them is directly tied to their receiving the Holy Ghost (John 16:12-13).
• Receive power ties to the kingdom (Mark 9:1).
• Power [δύναμις] can mean authority or miraculous abilities; wonderful [mighty] works (Matthew 13:58, Mark 14:62, Acts 2:22, etc.).
• Both are accurate here. They will have miraculous abilities through the Spirit’s work (Acts 3:11-12 and Romans 15:18-19).
• The Apostles will also have authority from the work of the Spirit, the source of their revelation (Galatians 1:11-12 and I Thessalonians 4:1-2).
• Such is why saints continued in the Apostle’s doctrine (Acts 2:42).
• The first letter to Theophilus concluded with this promise and commission to start at Jerusalem (Luke 24:44-49). The first five verses of this second letter to Theophilus began wherein that left off (Acts 1:1-5).
• We will see these things fulfilled when we start into the next chapter (Acts 2:1-4).
• We will see the Apostles act as witnesses for Christ (Acts 2:32).

• Mark 16:19, Luke 24:50-51, I Timothy 3:16, and I Peter 3:18-22  

• Two men in white apparel is like to what was happening at the tomb of Jesus when He was risen from the dead (Mark 16:1-7, Luke 24:1-5, and John 20:11-12).
• John’s revelation speaks of those in His vision of Heaven clothed in white (Revelation 4:1-4 and Revelation 15:6).
• Their message was that Jesus will come back as He went up (I Thessalonians 4:13-18).

• “They” are the Apostles (Acts 1:1-11).
• We see here that the events recorded with Jesus up to this point occurred at Mount of Olives. Specifically, they were at Bethany (Luke 24:50-53). Bethany was: “a village at the Mount of Olives, about two miles (3 km) from Jerusalem, on or near the normal road to Jericho” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon; Strong’s # 963).
• Bethany was fifteen furlongs from Jerusalem (John 11:18).
• Remember, Jesus taught at the temple and then traveled back to the Mount of Olives of night near the time of His death (Luke 21:37).

• If you count them up, these are eleven of the original twelve Apostles (Luke 6:12-16).
• The Apostles were His ambassadors, His delegates [Strong’s # 652] (cf. II Corinthians 5:20 and Ephesians 6:19-20).
• Philip (John 1:45) is not to be confused with Philip the evangelist who was also one of the chosen servants (Acts 6:1-7, Acts 8:5-40, and Acts 21:8).
• Judas [“Ἰουδάς” Juda; Jude] the brother of James may have been the physical brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55; cf. Jude 1:1).

• These, the Apostles (Acts 1:13), continued with one accord in prayer and supplication (cf. Acts 2:1, Acts 2:42, and Acts 2:46).
• Being in one accord (Acts 4:24, Acts 5:12, and Acts 15:25) is to be of one mind (Romans 15:6; cf. Strong’s # 3661). Saints need to be likeminded (Romans 12:16, I Corinthians 1:10, Philippians 2:2, and Philippians 4:2).
• They were praying (Luke 18:1, Romans 12:12, Colossians 4:2, and I Thessalonians 5:17-18).
• They were continuing in supplication which is a prayer of request (Philippians 4:6, I Timothy 2:1, and I Timothy 5:5).
• Think back to what Jesus told them while He was with them (Matthew 21:18-22 and John 15:7-8).
• “The women” (Luke 23:54-24:10) and the brothers of Jesus (Luke 8:19 and John 7:2-10) were with the Apostles.
• We will see in the context that there are others there as well (Acts 1:15).

• We see here there were about one hundred and twenty people present.
• Peter standing up and taking a leading role. Jesus wanted that (Luke 22:31-32 and John 21:15-17).
• “Men and brethren” was often used when addressing audiences of Jews (Acts 2:29, Acts 2:37, Acts 7:2, Acts 13:26, Acts 13:38, Acts 15:7, Acts 15:13, Acts 22:1, Acts 23:6, and Acts 28:17). They were “kinsmen according to the flesh (Romans 9:1-3).
• Peter points out that what happened with Judas had to happen as it was prophesied (Psalms 41:9; cf. John 13:11 and John 13:18).
• Things prophesied had to occur as written (Matthew 5:17-18 and Luke 24:44). This includes the betrayal (Matthew 26:23-25, Matthew 26:47-56, and John 17:12).
• The Holy Ghost had spoken by the mouth of David (II Samuel 23:1-2 and Mark 12:36; cf. II Peter 1:20-21).

• Judas had been numbered with the Apostles and was part of the ministry [service] (Matthew 10:1-7).

• The purchasing of the field (Matthew 27:1-10).
• The idea of “the reward of iniquity” relates to funds gained through sinful acts under the Old Law. Funds not to be taken into the house of God (Deuteronomy 23:17-18).
• Here we get more details as to what further happened when Judas hung himself (cf. Matthew 27:5).
• This was all well-known to those in Jerusalem. So much that the field had it’s name from the events surrounding it.

• Peter references two Psalms (Psalms 69:25 and Psalms 109:8).
• This does not necessarily mean he is saying these two Psalms are about Judas being replaced. Words of the prophets can be applied to non-direct situations. For example, Isaiah 6:9-10 is applied to Matthew 13:14-15 and then to Acts 28:23-29 though the original is not about either of the situations in which it was applied. Jesus referenced Isaiah 29:13 in Mark 7:6 though that did not directly apply to His immediate audience.

• There were others working with Jesus besides the twelve (Luke 10:1-2 and Luke 10:17).
• To bear witness, they needed to be with Jesus from the beginning (John 15:27).
• The beginning Peter referenced was from the baptism of John (Luke 3:1-22).
• There is an exception to some of this with Paul. Paul was one born out of due time. What was consistent with all Apostles is seeing Jesus after His resurrection (I Corinthians 15:1-11; cf. Acts 4:33).

• I am not aware of previous mentions of Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus or Matthias.
• The Lord is going to choose through the casting of lots. The language of these verses do not allow for a different conclusion: “shew whether of these two thou hast chosen.”
• The Lord sees men in a different fashion (I Samuel 16:7). Think about why looking on the heart matters so much (Mark 7:20-23).
• Lots were used in this fashion for decisions involving God (Joshua 18:6-10).
• Casting lots did not always mean that God was part of a decision (Joel 3:1-3).