ACTS

Study of Acts Chapter One

Act 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

This book of the bible is written by Luke and the former treatise he is referring to is probably the book of Luke.

Act 1:2 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:

Jesus' sacrifice for sins and commission on earth was finished. Before He returned to His Father, He gave commandments to His apostles. Now it was up to them to preach the gospel to the whole world. Before they were to start however, they needed to be endued with power from God. The gospel cannot fully be preached without the power to convict of sin and change the live of the hearer. The power we need to receive is the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit.

Act 1:3 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:

Jesus stayed with them 40 days to prepare them for continuing the work of the kingdom of God.

Act 1:4 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.
Act 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

They were to be baptized with the Holy Ghost before leaving to preach the gospel.

Act 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

This is one reason why Jesus could not just be resurrected and leave. He had to get it across to them that restoring the kingdom to Israel was not the main issue of why He came. I think Israel today has problems with the real reason Jesus came. Jesus came first to die for sins and usher in the way of salvation. Without this part none of us would be worthy to enter into any eternal kingdom. The first had to be accomplished before He could set up the everlasting kingdom and restore Israel.

The Old Testament prophesys of this restoration of the kingdom but if one studies it closely, especially Isaiah 53, we shall see that something else had to be accomplished. We have to repent of sin and be born again by the Holy Spirit before we can enter into the kingdom of God. We shall see this more as we study Acts.

Act 1:7 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.
Act 1:8 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.

Jesus was telling them that the gospel first had to be preached to the entire world before any kingdom is set up in the natural. He had to get their mind set to change from outward things to the inward change in the soul of man.

We still have trouble with this today. Many are working toward world peace, many are helping the poor and needy and we should be don't misunderstand here, that is part of the gospel. God commands us to care for the poor. But that is not the gospel in itself. We can feed the hungry, work for world peace and do all kinds of good things and but if we neglect to tell the world that all have sinned and all need to repent of sin, then we have missed the most important reason that Jesus came.

Act 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.
Act 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Act 1:11 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.

God still had to remind us to not stand in one place waiting for the Lord to reappear but get on with spreading the gospel so that others can be saved.

Act 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
Act 1:13 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.
Act 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

This is where many of us fall short in this modern busy age. We go about running here and there and do not pray. If we want to see results, see souls saved, lives changed and have God's presence among us, we have to be people of prayer. There is too much in the world to distract us and hinder us. We cannot make it alone. We need to pray and constantly stay in the will of God. This is not to earn salvation but to keep us strong in the Lord so that we can spread this salvation to the whole world.

Act 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,)
Act 1:16 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.
Act 1:17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
Act 1:18 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.
Act 1:19 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.
Act 1:20 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.

This is fulfilled prophecy that we see in the Psalms:

Psalms69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Psa 69:22 Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
Psa 69:23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.
Psa 69:24 Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.
Psa 69:25 Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.

Psa 109:8 Let his days be few; and let another take his office.

Here we see prophecy of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ.  His thirst if foretold and the fact that they tried to give Him vinegar to drink. The prophecy of their habitation being desolate occurred in 70 AD when the nation of Israel was no more and they were scattered all over the face of the earth. 

Psalm 109 speaks of Judas that another would take his place as one of the 12 apostles.

Act 1:21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Act 1:22 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.
Act 1:23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

We had to have witnesses because we cannot take the word of one person. There have been too many religions started by just one man. We must avoid following one particular person. A church is the be a body of believers. All of us should be taking part in the Lord's work. We do need leaders called of God to direct but they are not to be Lords and masters. Jesus appointed 12 to start with.  Later we will read of the early church appointing 7 to minister.  There should not be clergy and laity.  We should all be one in Jesus Christ doing what God calls us to do. Yet we see the tendency of mankind wanting to exalt one above another.  Jesus even washed His own disciple's feet to show that we are not to be Lords and masters over one another in the Lord.  I do understand that one needs to be in charge to have order.  Not all are called to preach.  We do need church government and discipline or else any fly by night nut could come in and take over.  However, we are not to exalt one so high that we look to him or her as absolute authority without any accountability. They can make mistakes and even sin.  They also need the prayers of those that work with them for they have great responsibility.

Act 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
Act 1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
Act 1:26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

This was a correct beginning. They did not trust themselves to vote for the new apostle. They sought the help of God for this purpose.

Act 2