Acts Chapter 1

At a Glance

  • Acts 1 opens the narrative that continues Luke’s gospel, grounding the story of the early church in Jesus’ earthly ministry and the fresh momentum of the Holy Spirit.
  • Written by Luke, Acts is a sequel to the Gospel of Luke, composed for Theophilus and a broader Gentile-Christian audience.
  • - The Promise and Person of the Holy Spirit: Jesus promises a coming power that will enable witness, clarifying the church’s enabling source for mission.
  • - Missional Orientation: The disciples are trained as witnesses to all nations, signaling a shift from localized ministry to global reach.
  • - Resurrection Faith and Appearances: Jesus’ continued teaching after the resurrection confirms the reality of the gospel and grounds hope for the church.

Acts 1 opens the narrative that continues Luke’s gospel, grounding the story of the early church in Jesus’ earthly ministry and the fresh momentum of the Holy Spirit. Luke addresses Theophilus and, by extension, all readers, summarizing Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances for forty days, teaching about the kingdom of God, and commissioning the apostles to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Father’s promise—the Holy Spirit. The pivotal moment comes as Jesus is lifted up to heaven, and two divine messengers affirm that Jesus will return in the same manner. The apostles then return to Jerusalem and gather in an upper room with a core group (Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the James’ brother). They devote themselves to prayer, select Matthias to replace Judas, and prepare for the Spirit’s coming. The chapter climaxes with a sense of expectancy: the Spirit will empower them to witness “to the very ends of the earth.” The tone blends narrative transition and theological setup—Jesus’ ongoing presence through the Spirit, the fulfillment of promises, and the launchpad for mission. Luke’s insistence on unity, prayer, Scripture fellowship, and faithful obedience sets the pattern for the church’s life: hear the risen Christ, wait on the Spirit, and move outward in mission.

Written by Luke, Acts is a sequel to the Gospel of Luke, composed for Theophilus and a broader Gentile-Christian audience. It likely dates to the late first century, not long after Luke’s Gospel, and serves as a bridge from Jesus’ ministry to the church’s mission. The genre blends ancient history, biography, and theological reflection, with Luke employing careful travel-laden narration, authoritative speech, and continuity with Israel’s storyline. Acts 1 functions as a transitional prologue: it recaps Jesus’ resurrection appearances, clarifies the mission of the apostles, and introduces the Spirit’s forthcoming role. The “upper room” setting anchors the community’s identity—prayerful, Scripture-saturated, and communal—before the Spirit’s dramatic empowering in chapter 2. This chapter fits as the hinge between Jesus’ visible ministry and the Spirit-led mission that follows, underscoring the book’s themes of witness, sovereignty of God in world events, and the expansion of the gospel beyond Jerusalem.

- The Promise and Person of the Holy Spirit: Jesus promises a coming power that will enable witness, clarifying the church’s enabling source for mission.

- Missional Orientation: The disciples are trained as witnesses to all nations, signaling a shift from localized ministry to global reach.

- Resurrection Faith and Appearances: Jesus’ continued teaching after the resurrection confirms the reality of the gospel and grounds hope for the church.

- The Faithful Continuity of Scripture: The event horizon of Acts depends on God’s plan and fits within the larger biblical narrative of fulfillment.

- Community and obedience: The choosing of Matthias and the devoted, prayerful group highlight the importance of communal discernment and fidelity to Jesus’ instructions.

Acts 1 invites contemporary readers to center life in a posture of expectant waiting on God’s Spirit while remaining missionally oriented. Practical takeaways:

- Cultivate spiritual preparation: The disciples’ prayer and deliberation in the upper room model disciplined dependence on God before action.

- Embrace divine empowerment for mission: Just as the early church needed the Holy Spirit, believers today depend on spiritual power to witness, endure opposition, and navigate complex cultural landscapes.

- Align with Jesus’ mission, not our own agenda: The chapter nudges readers to anchor purpose in the kingdom of God and the spread of the gospel “to the ends of the earth.”

- Foster healthy community: Their unity and shared leadership (including selecting a replacement for Judas) illustrate how communal discernment sustains mission.

- Luke 24:44–49 (Jesus’ post-resurrection commission and promise)

- Acts 2:1–4 (Pentecost and Spirit baptism)

- Romans 8:9–11 (the Spirit’s presence in believers)

- Matthew 28:18–20 (the Great Commission—foundation for mission)

- John 14–16 (Jesus’ teaching on the coming of the Spirit)

Key Themes

The Promise and Person of the Holy Spirit: Jesus promises a coming power that will enable witness, clarifying the church’s enabling source for mission.Missional Orientation: The disciples are trained as witnesses to all nations, signaling a shift from localized ministry to global reach.Resurrection Faith and Appearances: Jesus’ continued teaching after the resurrection confirms the reality of the gospel and grounds hope for the church.The Faithful Continuity of Scripture: The event horizon of Acts depends on God’s plan and fits within the larger biblical narrative of fulfillment.

Chapter Text

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 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:

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.

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.

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 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.

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