Acts 1

Acts 1 is the first chapter of the Book of Acts. The author opens by revisiting the Ascension, the final scene of his earlier book (the Gospel of Luke). The chapter closes with the disciples waiting for the Holy Spirit, who descends in the following chapter, Acts 2. The text does not name the "former treatise," but because Luke 1:3 is addressed to the same Theophilus, it is generally identified as the Gospel of Luke.

Outline

• Verses 1–3: The author refers to his earlier work addressed to Theophilus. He then summarizes how Jesus, after his suffering, showed himself alive over forty days and spoke of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
• Verses 4–5: Jesus commands the disciples not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father. He tells them that not many days hence they will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
• Verses 6–8: The disciples ask when the kingdom will be restored to Israel. Jesus answers that the times and the seasons are in the Father's power and tells them that they will be his witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth.
• Verses 9–11: Jesus is taken up, and a cloud receives him out of their sight. Two men in white apparel appear and announce that he will come in like manner as he went into heaven.
• Verses 12–14: The disciples return from the mount called Olivet and gather in an upper room. Together with the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers, they continue in prayer.
• Verses 15–20: Before a gathering of about 120 people, Peter speaks of the death of Judas and of Aceldama ("the field of blood") and quotes from the Psalms.
• Verses 21–26: The assembly puts forward two men, Joseph and Matthias, prays, and casts lots. Matthias is chosen and numbered with the eleven apostles.

Key Verses

• Acts 1:8 "Ye shall be witnesses unto me... unto the uttermost part of the earth." This verse is commonly read as a summary of the movement of the entire book, from Jerusalem through Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth.
• Acts 1:11 "[He] shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." This is a key verse linking the Ascension and the Second Coming.

People and Places

• Theophilus: The recipient of the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. His identity is unknown.
• The eleven apostles: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon Zelotes (Simon the Canaanite), and Judas the son of James. Judas the son of James is commonly identified with Thaddaeus.
• Mary: The mother of Jesus, who was present at the prayer gathering in the upper room.
• Judas Iscariot: The disciple who became guide to those who arrested Jesus.
• Matthias: The apostle who succeeded to Judas's place by the casting of lots.
• Joseph: The other candidate, called Barsabas and surnamed Justus.
• Mount of Olives: The "mount called Olivet" of the text. It lies a Sabbath day's journey from Jerusalem.

Points for Reflection

• Baptism with the Holy Spirit (v. 5): Understandings differ among denominations. The Pentecostal tradition understands it as a distinct experience received subsequent to conversion. Presbyterian and Reformed traditions generally regard it as given at the moment of faith. For details, see the article on baptism in the Holy Spirit.
• The death of Judas: Matthew 27 records that Judas hanged himself and that the priests bought a field with the money. Some interpreters seek to harmonize the two accounts, while others regard them as preserving different traditions.
• The casting of lots: One view holds that this method belongs to the period before Pentecost and should not be taken as a model for today. Another view affirms it as a way of entrusting the decision to God after prayer.
• Times and seasons (v. 7): Together with Mark 13:32–33, this verse is frequently cited as a warning against calculating the date of the end.
• "Mark's upper room": Identifying the upper room of verse 13 with the house of the mother of John Mark (Acts 12:12) or with the site of the Last Supper is a matter of tradition. The text does not name the owner of the upper room.

In the Korean Church

• Acts 1:8 is frequently used as a motto for mission Sundays, mission conferences, and mission organizations.
• The scene of the 120 gathered in prayer in the upper room is commonly used as a text for prayer meetings and Pentecost sermons.
• In churches that follow the liturgical calendar, this chapter is read on Ascension Day, the fortieth day after Easter, or on a Sunday near that date.