acts 1



Acts 1 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  27  28
 
Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
  • The book of Acts links to Luke's Gospel
  • The book of Acts is written by Luke
  • Luke means Light Giver
2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Spirit had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
  • He = Jesus
  • Taken up = received up
  • Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
  • The Holy Spirit = Divine Power
  • Apostles whom He had chosen = chose out
  • Luke 6:13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles
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:
  • Forty Days, the only reference to the period between the Resurrection.
  • Forty days = during forty days = Christ shewed himself to Apostles = teaching them
  • The only reference to the period between the Resurrection and the Ascension
  • Christ shewed himself alive = Presented "Himself"
  • Christ speaking of the things concerning to the kingdom of God 
  • Pertaining to = concerning
  • For 40 days after His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus showed Himself alive to his disciples, and taught them of what was to come.
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.
  • Jesus tells them =  to wait for the promise of the Father
  • They should not depart from Jerusalem
  • Luke 24:49  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
    50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
  • They were not to depart from Jerusalem, but instead, they were to wait in that city for the promise of the Father, which was the arrival of the Holy Spirit.
  • Here, He gives them very specific orders
  • You can start thinking prophetically, here,  if you'd like.
  • The time is coming when God's elect will be delivered up to those trials described in Mark 13:9-11, and the Holy Spirit will fill us with wisdom and God will speak through His very elect
  • The 7000 will bring the 144,000 and in time the whole world, out of Babel.
  •  In other words, just as the apostles were baptized with the Spirit to speak God's Wisdom to the assembled crowds, so shall we be in the final days of this flesh earth age.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence.
  • You can start thinking prophetically, here, if you'd like.
  • Just as the apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit to speak God's Wisdom to the assembled crowds, so shall we be in the final days of this flesh earth age.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
  • Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
  • Restore again = establish or setup
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.
  • It is not for you to know the times or the seasons
  • Seasons = a set time
  • Promise given
  • Power = authority
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit 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.
  • Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me
  • John 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
    8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
    9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
    10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
    11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
    12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
  • Witnesses = For a witness: with a view to bear witness; not merely to be a witness.
  • That would be martur (martus, as in Act 1:8, 22)
  • This is marturia = a bearing witness
  • To bear witness - in order that he might bear witness.
  • Martureo, a characteristic word of this Gospel
  • Unto Me = "Of Me", or "My" witnesses
  • Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
    11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.
    12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.
  • Isaiah 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
  • He was taken up; and a cloud received Him = lifted up
  • Matthew 17:8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
  • Ascension of the Lord
  • A cloud, not a rain cloud of the earth, but referring to the attendant angelic hosts.
  • Psalms 24:7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
    8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
    9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
    10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
  • Psalms 47:5 God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
  • Two men stood by them in white apparel = these were angels
  • Matthew 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
  • Matthew 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
  • Matthew 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him.
  • Daniel 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
    14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
    15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.
    16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.
  • Daniel 10:21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
  • We know from Daniel 12:1 that Michael will have a great deal to do with delivering our people.
  • Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
  • Acts 10:30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
  • John 20:12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
  • Heaven = the heaven (sing)
  • Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
    10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
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.
  • Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven
  • This same = this
  • So = in like manner
  • The descent, therefore, will be like the Ascension, actual, literal, visible, unexpected, save by those looking for Him, in the clouds of heaven, and to the same place whence He department
  • Zechariah 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
  • Events and Consequences
  • Christ will returns on Mount Olive
  • Upon the Mount of Olives, this precludes the possibility of any reference to what is past.
  • No amount of "poetical imagery" can rob this plain statement of the yet future literal interpretation of this prophecy.
  • Valley between the northern and southern half of Olivet.
  • 7th vial is poured out (Revelation 16)
12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath day's journey.
  • Return
  • Olivet = Mount of Olive
  • The usual expression is the "Mount of Olive".
  • From = near
  • A Sabbath Day's journey Ap 51 III
  • About 2,000 English yards

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.
  • Were come = entered
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
  • With one accord = with one mind
  • And Mary = The last mention of her, "at 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,)
  • Stood up = rose up
  • Disciples = brethren
  • An hundred and twenty = three forties. A divinely appointed number during a period of waiting.
  • It was the number of Ezra's great synagogue
16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
  • David = Peter asserts that = Psalms 69 was written by David, and was the utterance of the Holy Spirit
  • 2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
  • Part = the lot = five times in the Gospel, of the lots cast for the Lord's garments.
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.
  • Purchased = caused to be purchased
  • Field = Place, or holding place
  • Matthew 26:36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
  • Rewards = pay = Sin pays its wages
  • Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
  • The old church, more or less, used this scripture to hold people to the church, teaching hell and damnation, and not fully explaining the gift, the free gift of God.
  • What Paul meant in these preceding chapters is that as mortal men we would sin, but having died with Christ in baptism or even in receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, our faith holds true when it comes from the heart, and the gift or forgiveness is ours for the asking.
  • Temptations is always with those still in the flesh, but Paul is saying, when you stumble, don't turn away from Christ.
  • Ask Him to strengthen you; hide in His gracious forgiveness.
  • When you ask forgiveness and mean it from the heart.
  • I assure you that is what our Saviour will do for you.
  • Speaking on the third level to the elect, Paul says a great deal here in a spiritual sense.
  • There's no way that you will serve Satan in the last days as he appears in the very future, yet beloved, more so than ever you will have to lean on Jesus and ask Him to strengthen you.
  • Many will be deceived by Satan, as will be covered in the 11th chapter, but there's no way you will be deceived by Satan because you know this man of sin will come first before Jesus Christ returns.
  • Paul means once you're raised to a higher level of thinking, or resurrected if you would have it so, you know these truths: who the false Christ is, who his children are (Matthew 13, you can identify his seed).
  • Once you're aware of this, there is no way you can be turned back again to serving that man of sin and be deceived by him, because you know it will surely bring you death, a spiritual death.
  • Iniquity = wages of unrighteousness
  • 2 Peter 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
  • Burst asunder = Dr. Lightfoot (1602-75) writes = "The devil, immediately after Judas had cast back his money into the temple, caught him up into the air, strangled him, threw him headlong, and dashed him in pieces on the ground.
  • He refers to Tobit 3:8 and adds, That this was know to all the dwellers at Jerusalem, argues that it was no common and ordinary events, and must be something more than hanging himself, which was an accident not so very so very unusual in that nation.
  • He was hanged, or strangled, instead of hanged himself
  • Matthew 27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
  • Gushed out = were poured 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.
  • Psalms 69:25 Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.
  • Habitation = farm, or country house
  • Desolate = desert = let the place he has thus acquired become a wilderness.
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.
  • One = one of these
  • Be ordained to be = become
  • Resurrection = The resurrection is the great subject of the Apostolic witness
  • Acts 2:32 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
  • Appointed = put forward, or nominated
  • Barsabas = Barsabbas
  • Acts 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren
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.
  • Take part = receive the lot
  • This ministry = this apostolic ministry
  • Roman 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
  • Through faith in Christ comes all gifts of God, you might say.
  • His own = same word as "proper = verse 19
26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
  • Lots, lot = same word as "part" in verse 17
  • Luke 14:28  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
  • Plan something and do it.
 
Exactly 2520 years from the exile of Benjamin, Iceland became an independent nation.
 
  The first tribe to be conquered by the Assyrians was Manasseh, in 745 B.C. Exactly 2520 years later America became a nation on July 4, 1776.
 
• Study the book: Abrahamic Covenant, (A study outline of the identity of God's people) By E. Raymond Capt - page 25

 
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