Acts Chapter 1 Verses 1-8

Acts 1:1 “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 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: 3 To whom also he showed 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: 4 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. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 

It is generally agreed that the book of Acts was written by Luke, the beloved physician.  In the first verse Luke speaks of the former treatise that he had made (the book of Luke) of all that Jesus began both to do and teach.  Moreover, the book of Acts is addressed to “Theophilus.”  The name, Theophilus, means lover of God.  The book, therefore, is written to those who love God.  The former treatise, (book of Luke) covered those things which the Lord began to do and teach until the time that Christ had given commandments through the Holy Ghost unto the apostles whom he had chosen just before his ascension back into heaven. 

The first thing that the Lord commanded the apostles was to wait at Jerusalem until they had been endued with power from on high.  No doubt these men would have been ready immediately to begin to tell the Lord’s people what they had seen, heard, and learned.  But the Lord told them to wait.  One of the hardest lessons many of us as the Lord’s children have to learn is to be patient until the Lord gives us direction or shows us what we are to do.  We have to learn to wait.  This is a critical lesson for if we don’t wait on the Lord’s direction we will certainly make a mess of things.   

After the Lord’s resurrection he had showed himself alive to the apostles for a period of forty days.  Among the infallible proofs he showed to the apostles were these: 

          1.  He shewed them his hands and feet and pierced side.

          2.  He ate fish before them.

          3.  He prepared a table of fish and bread for them. 

The feast of weeks, also known as Pentecost, was coming up ten days after his ascension.  The commandment to observe the feast of weeks is given to the children of Israel and recorded for us in Deu. 16:9 “Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn. 10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:” The resurrection of Christ on the first day of the week was the time that they would have started counting and fifty days later would have been the feast of weeks or Pentecost.  Thus, the apostles had ten days to wait until the day of Pentecost when they would be endued with power from on high.   

“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. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”  In this the Lord tied together the baptism of the Holy Ghost with Pentecost.   

“When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”  It is apparent from this that the apostles were infected with the same belief that most of the Jews had, that there was going to be a restored kingdom in Israel like unto the kingdom they had in the days of David.  The Lord answered them by telling them that it wasn’t given to them to know either the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.  In like manner, it is not given to us to know the time when the Lord is coming to take his people home to glory.  All of those predictors of the end of time have been wrong so far and show that they are not true believers in the word of God.  The Lord has told us that no man knoweth the date of the end of time.   

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”  The book of Acts is an account of this very statement of the Lord being fulfilled by the apostles and ministry of the Lord.  They became witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judaea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth. 

Verses 9-14

Acts 1:9 “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. 13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother 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 brethren.” 

The “cloud” in the scripture is often associated with the glory of God and the Holy Spirit.  What a glorious site the disciples were blessed to see as Jesus ascended out of their sight.  The same God who created nature also can overrule nature.  Christ did this with his resurrection from the grave and again as he ascended back to heaven.

Moreover, there is the promise that he will once again overrule nature when he comes again, and takes his people home to glory.   

Who the two men were in white apparel is not given unto us.  Some believe these men to be angels.  Others think that it may have been Moses and Elijah as at the mount of transfiguration.  It is only speculation as we are not told who they were.  We do know that they were in white apparel.  White apparel is associated with righteousness.   

“Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.”  Here we see the apostles obeying the command of the Lord to tarry at Jerusalem until they be endued with power from on high.   

“And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.”  The names of the apostles are given to us again to show us that none had been lost and that they were all together after the resurrection and later ascension of Jesus.   

“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.”  If anyone ever wondered what we should do when we are patiently waiting on direction from the Lord, this verse tells us plainly.  We need to continue with one accord in prayer and supplication.  What a wonderful situation when the whole church is in one accord and continues in prayer and supplication.

Verses 15-26 

Acts 1:15 “And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) 16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. 17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. 18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishopric let another take. 21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. 23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”

 “And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)” The number of disciples after Jesus had ascended unto heaven was numbered at about an hundred and twenty.  Organized religion today focuses on numbers.  They assume that the greater number of people that you have in a congregation, the stronger the congregation and the better the preacher.  Yet, here we have by far the greatest preacher who has ever walked the face of the earth, Jesus Christ, and at the close of his ministry while walking on earth there are 120 disciples.  This leads us to several conclusions: 

1.  It is not the number of people that you have in a congregation but the number of true disciples that makes for a strong church.

2.  The size of the congregation is not a reflection of how good a preacher or pastor the church has. 

3.  The focus of Jesus teaching was not to see how large a congregation that he could build, but was truly on discipleship of his followers. 

4.  If we go back to Matthew chapter 28 we find the Lord’s instruction to the apostles was to make disciples of the believers: 18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”  Again we see the focus on developing disciples and not on the number of members of a congregation. 

 “Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.”  Peter is directing the attention to Old Testament prophecy concerning the replacing the fallen apostle named Judas Iscariot with another apostle.  It begs the question; however, does the Lord need help in fulfilling prophecy? 

“For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. 18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.” Peter in his argument recalls what happened to Judas after he had betrayed Jesus.  We are told in the scriptures that Judas returned the money he had received (30 pieces of silver) and then proceeded to hang himself.  The money was used to purchase a field called Aceldama, known as the field of blood.  That is it was purchased with blood money. 

“For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishopric let another take.”  Peter is quoting from two different psalms: 

1.  Ps. 69:25 “Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.”

2.  Ps. 109:8 “Let his days be few; and let another take his office."

“Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.”  One of the requirements for someone to be an apostle is that they must be eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ.  The question then becomes who does the selection of the apostle to replace Judas. 

As a side issue, knowing that an apostle must be an eyewitness of the resurrected Christ, then this exposes all those men throughout the world today who claim to be apostles.  Not any of them are eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ, therefore, they are not apostles. 

“And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.”  Again, the question is: Is the Lord restricted to whom men choose in making His choice?  The church appointed two.  If you go back to the Lord’s calling of the 12 apostles, that He did the choosing, calling, and sending, not man. 

“And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”  Contrast this with the Lord calling Saul of Tarsus.  The Lord chose someone the church would never have chosen.  The Lord called him and made him a disciple.  At the time the church chose Matthias, Paul would not have qualified to be an apostle for several reasons, but at that time he had not been a witness of a resurrected Christ.  The Damascus road experience changed that however.