Acts 1:1
IN MY FIRST BOOK. That is, in the Gospel of Luke. The name "Theophilus" means _one who loves God._ No record of him exists other than Luke's mention of his name.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN MY FIRST BOOK. That is, in the Gospel of Luke. The name "Theophilus" means _one who loves God._ No record of him exists other than Luke's mention of his name.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE GAVE INSTRUCTIONS. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:47-49). BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Jesus was given the unlimited power of the Holy Spirit (John 3:34). The Spirit was "ANOTHER Helper" (John 14:16), and Jesus gave them a _pledge_ of the Spirit (John 20:22), w... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHOWED HIMSELF TO THEM. Jesus is LIVING SAVIOR! If his body "still slept on a Judean hill," he would be no different from Socrates, Buddha, Muhammad, or any other sage. HE WAS SEEN BY THEM. See note on Matthew 28:9 Scripture records eleven times that he was seen after raising from death, but the... [ Continue Reading ]
DO NOT LEAVE JERUSALEM. It was "poetic justice" that the church of Christ would begin right in the same city where the enemies of Christ lived. A false religion would have begun hundreds of years later and thousands of miles distant. See note on Acts 2:36-37. But also, Isaiah had prophesied that Jer... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN BAPTIZED WITH WATER. Water was the only element in the baptism of John. They had received John's baptism [some think John 4:1-2 implies that they (and John's disciples) had been re-baptized as Christ's disciples], and now they are going to receive "baptism with the Holy Spirit." This took place... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, WILL YOU AT THIS TIME? They still held to their former ideas about a "golden age of Israel," with a political Messiah. Their only question was: "Will you give it _now?"_ Not until the Holy Spirit was given, and they understood "all the truth" (John 16:12-15), would they give up this delusion a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT IS NOT FOR YOU TO KNOW. That is, "it's none of your business!" The "times and occasions" are not revealed (see Revelation 10:3-4).... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YOU WILL BE FILLED WITH POWER. Not the political power they dreamed of having, but spiritual power! AND YOU WILL BE WITNESSES FOR ME. A "witness" is one who _gives evidence or testimony, based upon personal knowledge or belief._ The apostles are "prime witnesses" about things in which they parti... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN. See Luke 24:51-53 and notes there.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY STILL HAD THEIR EYES FIXED ON THE SKY. In surprise at what has just happened! As they stand there, two men dressed in white (angels) suddenly are standing beside them.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS JESUS. WILL COME BACK IN THE SAME WAY. A cloud hid him from their sight as he was taken up. He will come back with clouds (Revelation 1:7_:_ Daniel 7:13; Matthew 24:30). [The nucleus of disciples were Galileans, Acts 2:7.]... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE APOSTLES WENT BACK. Jesus was taken up from the Mount of Olives. [A shrine is built on the supposed spot.] Now they return to the city to wait.... [ Continue Reading ]
And went up to THE ROOM. A room on the second floor. They both lived there, and used it for a meeting place. All the apostles are named except Judas Iscariot (see notes _on_ Matthew 10:1-4).... [ Continue Reading ]
To PRAY AS A GROUP. They were waiting for the Father's gift. Ten days time passed between Jesus being taken up, and the events of Pentecost. They spent much of this time in prayer. WITH THE WOMEN. Especially those who had been with Jesus on his teaching tour (Luke 8:1-3) MARY. This is the last time... [ Continue Reading ]
ABOUT ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY in ALL. This is how many were at Jerusalem, but there were other disciples (1 Corinthians 15:6). With the attitude of the apostles themselves (Acts 1:6), it could be that many of the disciples of Jesus were indifferent until after the events of Pentecost.... [ Continue Reading ]
The scripture HAD TO COME TRUE. The scripture recorded David's prediction about what Judas would do of his own free will. (see Acts 1:20.)... [ Continue Reading ]
A MEMBER OF OUR GROUP. It was a paradox that one who shared in the work of Christ would be the one to betray him.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BOUGHT a FIELD. The priests bought it in his name. Everyone here would understand that, See note on Matthew 27:7. WHERE HE FELL TO HIS DEATH. We are to "lump together" Matthew's account and this. Traditional history says Judas hanged himself on a tree overhanging the cliffs of the Valley of Hinno... [ Continue Reading ]
FIELD OF BLOOD. Both because of his bloody death, and being paid for the "blood money.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS. The spirit, rather than the exact words, is quoted. The first quotation is from Psalms 69:25; the second from Psalms 109:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
SOMEONE MUST JOIN US. A twelfth apostle must be chosen. He must be one who had been a disciple of John, left him to follow Jesus, had stayed with Jesus all during his teaching ministry, and had seen Jesus after he was raised from death. He must be an "eye witness" of all this, so he can join his voi... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEY PROPOSED TWO MEN. The whole group did this. The two men are mentioned only here.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THEY PRAYED. Likely one of the apostles led in prayer. They were asking God to show them the right thing to do. This is a good example.... [ Continue Reading ]