Acts 1

Acts chapter 1 serves as the introduction to the book of Acts, detailing the final instructions Jesus gave to His disciples before His ascension. The chapter emphasizes the promise of the Holy Spirit, the commission to witness to the ends of the earth, and the selection of Matthias to replace Judas among the apostles.

Acts 1:1 (NKJV)
1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

Luke, the author of Acts, addresses Theophilus, referencing his previous work (the Gospel of Luke) which covered the life and teachings of Jesus. Here, he shifts focus to the acts of the apostles and the early church, guided by the Holy Spirit, continuing the mission Jesus initiated.

Acts 1:2-3 (NKJV)
2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,
3 to 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.

These verses describe Jesus’ final days on earth. After His resurrection, He spent forty days with the disciples, offering undeniable evidence of His return to life. During this time, He taught them further about the kingdom of God, preparing them for the work ahead.

Acts 1:4-5 (NKJV)
4 And 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 heard from Me;
5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Jesus instructed His disciples to stay in Jerusalem and await the Holy Spirit, whom He referred to as the “Promise of the Father.” The baptism by the Holy Spirit, introduced by Jesus, goes beyond John’s water baptism of repentance by signifying an inner transformation that brings the Holy Spirit’s presence into believers’ lives. While water baptism was an outward symbol of turning from sin, Spirit baptism renews believers from within, empowering them to live according to God’s will and strengthening them for ministry. This baptism unites them with Christ and other believers, forming a spiritual body—the Church—that transcends social and cultural divisions. Moreover, it fulfills Old Testament prophecies of a new covenant, where God’s law would be written on people’s hearts (Jeremiah 31:33) and His Spirit would reside within them (Ezekiel 36:27). It also fulfills Jesus’ promise not to leave His followers as orphans but to send the Comforter, Jesus in Spirit form (John 14:16-20). This outpouring of the Holy Spirit, often referred to as the "early rain," represents the initial phase of God’s Spirit being given to empower believers for their mission and prepare the Church for a future, greater outpouring. The "latter rain," which will occur just before Jesus’ second coming, will be a final, intensified outpouring of the Holy Spirit to spiritually mature the Church, empowering believers to complete the gospel work and preparing them for Christ’s return. Through this baptism, believers gain the power to witness, serve, and endure trials, establishing a foundation for Christian identity, unity, and mission.

Acts 1:6 (NKJV)
6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

The disciples’ question about restoring Israel’s kingdom reflects their lingering expectation of a political and territorial reign, hoping Jesus would free Israel from Roman rule and restore its glory, as in King David’s time. This reveals a common Jewish misunderstanding of the Messiah’s role, as many expected a political liberator who would restore national independence. However, Jesus’ response in the following verses redirects this expectation, emphasizing a spiritual and global mission empowered by the Holy Spirit. This exchange marks a pivotal shift from the disciples' anticipation of a political savior to their growing realization that Jesus’ mission was to establish a spiritual kingdom through the Church, reaching all nations with the Gospel.

Acts 1:7 (NKJV)
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.”

Jesus responds to the disciples by clarifying that the timing of the establishment of God's kingdom is a matter that is not meant for them to know or discern. He emphasizes that this knowledge is strictly under the purview of the Father alone. This statement underscores the notion that the specifics of divine timing, particularly concerning significant spiritual events and the fulfillment of prophecies, are reserved by God and are not accessible to human understanding or interference. This delineation serves to remind the disciples, and all believers, of the limits of their insight into God's sovereign plans, stressing a reliance on faith and divine guidance rather than human calculation or prediction.

Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Jesus declared the disciples’ purpose: to be His witnesses, starting in Jerusalem and expanding outward. The Holy Spirit’s power would enable them to fulfill this mission, spreading the gospel from their immediate surroundings to the farthest reaches of the world.

Acts 1:9-11 (NKJV)
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

After Jesus’ final words, He ascended visibly into the sky, leaving the disciples staring in amazement. Two angels address the disciples after Jesus' ascension, questioning their fixation on the sky and providing a profound assurance: Jesus will return in the same visible and spectacular manner as He ascended. This promise not only comforts the disciples but also sets a foundational Christian doctrine—the Second Coming of Christ, emphasizing its literal and observable nature.

Acts 1:12 (NKJV)
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.

After witnessing Jesus' ascension, the disciples returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is about a Sabbath day's journey away (approximately 2,000 cubits or about 0.6 miles). This adherence to the Sabbath travel restrictions not only situates the event within its geographical context but also reflects a principle approved by Jesus Himself. Although Christians are not under the Mosaic Law, the practice of limiting travel on the Sabbath underscores the value of resting and refocusing on spiritual matters. This principle highlights the importance of physical rest and spiritual reflection, consistent with Jesus' teachings during His ministry.

Acts 1:13-14 (NKJV)
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 continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

The disciples gathered in an upper room and, with unity, devoted themselves to prayer. This time of collective prayer and fellowship would strengthen them for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:15-17 (NKJV)
15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names 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;
17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.”

Peter addresses the gathered disciples, acknowledging that Judas Iscariot’s betrayal was not an unforeseen tragedy but a fulfillment of prophecy, as spoken by David under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. By citing Scripture, Peter reveals that Judas’s actions, though painful and seemingly destructive, were part of God’s sovereign plan and essential to the unfolding of salvation through Jesus’ crucifixion. This reference to prophecy reassures the early believers that even events marked by betrayal and suffering are within God’s control, orchestrated for a greater purpose. Peter’s words set the stage for selecting a new apostle to maintain the group of twelve, ensuring that God’s mission continues through the Church. This moment helps the disciples see that God works through human choices, even in difficult or dark circumstances, to accomplish His redemptive plan, offering them a foundation of trust in God’s purpose and timing.

Acts 1:18-20 (NKJV)
18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; 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: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, and let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’”

This passage provides a grim and detailed account of Judas Iscariot’s tragic end, highlighting the consequences of his betrayal. Although Judas did not purchase the field directly, the money he received for betraying Jesus—blood money—was later used to buy it, symbolizing his association with this “Field of Blood.” The description of his death is graphic and unsettling: he fell, and his body burst open, a vivid depiction of the wages of sin and the tragic outcome of turning away from God. This serves as a moral and theological lesson, illustrating the severity of betrayal and the devastating results of Judas’s choices. Peter references Psalms to show that even Judas’s demise and the need for his replacement were foreseen in Scripture. Specifically, Psalms 69:25 states, “Let their dwelling place be desolate; let no one live in their tents,” and Psalms 109:8 declares, “Let another take his office.” These verses emphasize the divine orchestration within this tragedy, reminding the disciples that even acts of betrayal serve within God’s redemptive plan. This account, then, not only recounts Judas’s story but also provides a scriptural foundation for appointing a new apostle, ensuring that the mission Jesus entrusted to His disciples continues forward in full strength.

Acts 1:21-22 (NKJV)
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 with us of His resurrection.”

Peter specified the qualifications for Judas’ replacement: it had to be someone who had been with Jesus throughout His ministry, from His baptism to His ascension. This ensured the new apostle would be a reliable witness to Jesus’ resurrection and teachings.

Acts 1:23-26 (NKJV)
23 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, 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 the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

This passage concludes the account of how Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot as one of the twelve apostles. The disciples proposed two candidates, Joseph called Barsabas (surnamed Justus) and Matthias, and prayed earnestly, acknowledging that only God, who knows the hearts of all, could make the right choice. They then cast lots, a traditional Jewish method used to discern God’s will in situations where human judgment might be limited or biased. By casting lots, the disciples entrusted the decision fully to God, demonstrating their reliance on divine guidance for important matters. When the lot fell to Matthias, it indicated that he was divinely chosen to take up the ministry and apostleship that Judas had abandoned. Being "numbered with the eleven apostles," Matthias was fully integrated into the apostolic circle, restoring the group to twelve members. This restoration is significant, as the number twelve held deep meaning in Israel’s history, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel and representing a complete and unified people of God. By selecting Matthias in this manner, the early church reaffirmed its commitment to a foundation rooted in divine authority and Scriptural fulfillment, preserving the continuity and integrity of the apostolic witness.