The Book of Acts Chapter 1
A- Theme
The book of Acts is a bridge from the gospels to the epistles. We find at the end of the book of Matthew some last words are recorded are about the Commission of our Lord and those words are resumed in Acts 1:8. We notice, at the end of the book of Mark, some last facts are recorded are about the Ascension of Jesus and those facts are resumed in Acts 1:2,11. We see this principle continuing at the end of the book of Luke, as we find some assuring words about the promise of the Holy Spirit which are resumed in Acts 1:8. Certainly at the end of the book of John we have some last facts about the feeding of the sheep and these facts are resumed in Acts 1:1-3. Therefore the book of Acts simply continues where the gospels have concluded, and the book of Acts will “bridge” us into the church age. The book of Genesis, the first book in the Old Testament, records the physical origin of mankind and Acts records the spiritual origin of the church.
B- Title
The title of the book is the “Acts of the Apostles”. Maybe, it could’ve been titled the Acts of the Apostles by the Lord Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. Certainly, the main characters, of this book of Acts, are under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. That is where you and I need to be friend, under the influence of the Holy Spirit
The book is divided into 3 parts as stated in Acts 1:8
1)Apostles at work in Jerusalem- Acts chapters 1- 7
2)Apostles at work in Judea & Samaria Acts chapters 8 – 12
3)Apostles at work in the Uttermost Acts chapters 13 – 26
Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
C- Treatise
A treatise is a dissertation on a particular theme. Luke’s former treatise, that is what he has earlier written, was the book of Luke (Luke 1:3,4). Luke was the author of the book of Luke and is the author here in Acts, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Luke is well known also as the beloved physician according to Col 4:14. Friend, Doctor Luke simply wants the reader to be reminded of the words and activities of Jesus Christ. It is the Holy Spirit guiding Luke to write this book and is affirmatively stating Jesus is risen again, lives and is still active in His work.
D- Theophilus
Theophilus means “lover of God”. This man could be a Roman (Gentile) official.
Luke is writing to give the “lover of God” certainty and assurance about Jesus
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 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:
E- Truth’s The appearances of Christ after His resurrection
Luke wants the reader to know Jesus is alive and still at work! Please note the “infallible proofs” of the resurrection of Jesus that the Holy Spirit wants us to recall.
** Three women find the stone rolled away….
Mary Magdalene Jn 20:1,2 goes to tell the disciples, Peter & John arrive and go away Jn 20:3-10
#1 Mary Magdalene returns weeping and sees Jesus Jn 20:11-18 (Before He presented the blood)
#2 The other women are met by Jesus Matt 28:8-10 after He ascended to present His blood and has returned.
Here are a few of the appearances of Jesus after the resurrection
1- Mary Magdalene John 20:14-18, Mk 16:9 She thought he was the gardener
2- The women returning Matt 28:8-10 They held him by the feet
3- Peter Lk 24:34, I Cor 15:5,Jn1:42 Privately straitening Peters denial
4- Emmaus road Lk 24:13-35, Mk 16:12 They understand not who He was
5- The apostles Jn 20:19-24 Locked in assembly, without
Thomas present
6- The apostles w/Thomas Jn 20:24-29 8 days later to all 11 disciples
7- The 7 by the sea Jn 21:1-23
8- On a mountain to 500 I Cor 15:6 The apostles and 500 brethren
9- To James I Cor 15:7
10- To the eleven Mt 28:16-20, Lk 24:50-53, Acts 1:6-11 at the ascension
11- To Stephen Acts 7:55,56
12- To Paul @ Damascus Acts 9:3-6
13- To Paul @ temple Acts 22:17-21
14- To John Rev 1:10-19
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.
F- Testimony
Luke states that the disciples were to wait for the Holy Spirit as Jesus had promised to them (Lk 24:39) and in obedience, the disciples are waiting for Him. When the Holy Spirit comes He will baptize the believer (I Cor 12:13). In other words, the believer will be immersed by the Spirit into the body of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The disciples thought that Jesus would set up His kingdom right then and asked Jesus if it were true. But we find that the Lord has something else in mind. He is going to establish the church. The campaign will begin with great Holy Spirit Power. The disciples are to start their work at home and then go on to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. They were to start on this campaign only after they were endued with power of the Spirit
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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.
In verses 9-11, Luke reminds the reader that Jesus was received up out of their sight into a cloud. This was probably at the Mount of Olives. As the disciples looked on two men in white apparel, angels no doubt, saying “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.” What a promise!
After Jesus ascended the Holy Spirit will soon be sent as promised in John 16:7.
According to Zech 14:4, at Jesus’ second coming (not the rapture), He will put His foot back upon the earth at the Mt of Olives and the mountain will part in two.
Amazingly at Jesus birth he was wrapped in swaddling clothes and at His Ascension and Second Coming He is and will be, wrapped in glory clouds. My friend, Praise God, Jesus is soon coming again, as He said. He is as good as His Word!!
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.
In verses12-14 we find the disciples were obedient and have returned to Jerusalem. In other words they did not forget the sermon on the way to the parking lot.
They traveled a Sabbath days’ journey, which is a short journey, certainly somewhat less than a mile. They come to the upper room where the eleven disciples and the women along with Mary the mother of Jesus and his ½ brethren are together. They are all in unity or one accord. They were all obedient to His message, they were all in prayer (a petition and/ or communion with God) and they were all in supplication (a humble earnest sincere prayer).
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.
I- Transgression of Judas
In verses 15-19 we find Peter is doing the speaking. Thus he stands up among the 120 that are present and he calls everyone’s attention to the fact that Judas’ betrayal of Jesus did not spoil God’s plan but actually fulfilled it (see Ps 41:9 about the prophecy mentioned by David) In fact, Jesus, in Jn 6:70 mentioned that one of the twelve was a devil and Judas, one of the 12 hand picked disciples, would betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (Matt 26:15). Then Judas would go on to throw the silver down in the temple and hang himself (Matt 27:5). The chief priests took the silver and bought the potters field to bury strangers in (Matt 27:7) In Vs 18, the limb of the tree broke or Judas neck broke and he fell or the rope broke and Judas fell into the potter’s field and his bowels all gushed out.
The potters field could be the place of Jer 18:1-6. It was here that broken & marred pieces of pottery were flung. It may have been this same field that the chief priests bought with the betrayal silver. It was in this field (Matt 27:8-10 & Acts 1:18,19) that Judas died. The potter’s field is also said to be the field of blood. It is called “The field of blood” because wicked Judas died there and because it was purchased with blood money.
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick 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, shew 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.
J- Transaction
In verses 20-26 we find Peter referring to Ps 69:25 “Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents” and Ps 109:8 “Let his days be few; and let another take his office.” Peter feels the need to find the replacement disciple for Judas Iscariot (who is now dead). This would bring the number of disciples back up to 12. Peter is pointing out references to the Word of God as divine direction to fill this office.
Peter gives the qualifications for the office of apostle that needed to be filled.. An Apostle must be witness of Jesus earthly ministry and His resurrection. Two men met those qualifications and were nominated 1) Joseph and 2) Matthias. Since there were two and they needed to appoint just one, they prayed and cast lots to determine who would take office. Maybe they cast lots since they did not have the direction of the Holy Ghost as of yet? I do not know, but the lot fell upon Matthias. Matthias would be disciple number 12.
There are many today who feel that since Jesus told the disciples in Verse 4 to wait upon the promise of the Holy Spirit, then the disciples were wrong in proceeding to appoint a new apostle. In fact it is pointed out that Jesus hand-picked all of the disciples except this one and you do not see Matthias any more after this transaction. Many therefore believe that Matthias was the apostle chosen by man, but the apostle God placed in Judas’ stead was Paul. Paul said in I Cor 15:8 – 10 “And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Paul also said in Gal 1:1 ”Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)”. Also see Rom 1:1, I Cor 1:1, II Cor 1:1, I Cor 9:1,2, Eph 1:1, Col 1:1, I Tim 1:1, I Tim 2:7, II Tim 1:1, II Tim 1:11, Tit 1:1.
Could it be then, that Paul’s name will be numbered as one of the apostles in Rev 21:4 “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” ? Or will it be Matthias’ name recorded there? Do you think God ignored the appointment of man and ordained Paul into the office of apostle? Remember the qualification of an apostle as mentioned previously is a witness to the resurrection of Christ. Certainly Paul saw Jesus, the resurrected Lord, on the Damascus road in Acts 9.
I believe that today the office of Apostle is complete. No one else can replace any of the 12 God has set in office. I believe that the church’s only scriptural ordained offices are Bishops or Pastor, and Deacons.
I do believe that God leads us to choose God gifted Teachers and God Himself calls Preachers to Pastor and Evangelize. I believe that God calls the Missionaries to His Mission field, but the God ordained offices of Apostle and Prophet have been fulfilled and completed, and no more is to be appointed (Phil 1:1; Acts 14:23; I Tim 3:1-13; Eph 4:11; Acts 13:1-4; Rev 22:14; I Tim 4:14; II Tim 1:6,11; II Tim 4:5; Acts 6:1-7). In other words the 12 apostles’ office is complete. I realize Eph 4:11 speaks of apostles, but this is speaking of the 12 God has already appointed, many of which were alive at the time of Eph 4:11. Look at Rev 2:2 written to the church at Ephesus where it is said “thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not” ….what do you think? Please read I Cor 4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death. Were those apostles set forth and appointed to death, to be martyred as a spectacle? Which of our modern day’s “apostles” are willing to die the apostle’s death? Where are those modern day apostles who say they have seen the resurrected Christ, because that is the qualification for the office of apostle? Friend I realize that many, no doubt, will disagree with me, and you’ll be in good company, but this is my conviction and heart.