The Book of Acts is a declaration of the Word of God which was made known to Luke regarding practices (actions), and this account is not limited only to the twelve who had been chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry (Luke was not one of these twelve). It was revealed to Luke after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ whom God raised from among the dead-people, and it includes details regarding the ascension of the resurrected Christ Jesus into heaven, the shedding-forth of the gift of holy spirit on the day of Pentecost, and includes how God's children lived up-until the time of the Apostle Paul's heralding-forth of the word pertaining to the kingdom of God from his own hired-house.
Acts 1:1 and 2:
1:1Indeed the first word I made concerning all-things, oh Theophilus, which Jesus began both to do and to teach .2continuously-until which day he was taken-up, having commanded the apostles by means of holy spirit whom he selected-for-himself,
Luke begins by referring back to the book which he had previously written by revelation from God which we sometimes call the "Gospel of Luke." He also clearly states to whom he is addressing this book: to "Theophilus," which is a name meaning "God's loved" or "beloved of God," and the word "loved" here means the friendly or brotherly kind of love (refer to Luke 1:3).
Indeed, Luke had previously written-down an account about all of the things which Jesus began (started) both to do (perform) and to teach (to instruct) when he was on earth carrying-out his ministry during that time, up to the day when Jesus was taken (received) upwards by God into heaven. Jesus’ ascension happened after Jesus had commanded (charged, enjoined) the apostles concerning certain things which were made known to him by the revelation of information from God through the holy spirit-life which he received when God raised him up giving him his new spiritual body. Jesus had previously selected (chosen, picked out) these twelve men for himself. These men were “apostles” because Jesus sent them forth on specific missions or assignments from himself towards other people.
Let us read two records from the Gospel of Luke: 1) regarding Jesus' selection of his twelve, and 2) regarding his being taken-up into heaven.
Luke 6:12-16:
And it came-to-pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,
And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
Luke 24:49-51:
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.
And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
And it came-to-pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
Returning to the Book of Acts, we read a more detailed account of what the resurrected Christ Jesus said to them before his ascension.
Acts 1:3:
.3to whom also he presented himself living after his suffering in many sure-signs by means of forty days being seen by them and saying the-things concerning the kingdom of God,
It was to these twelve that the resurrected Christ Jesus also caused himself to stand beside or near-by, not as a dead-person but as living (actively being alive, having life) after his suffering. The word “suffering” refers to his experiences, what he was affected by - which included his arrest, being evilly and maliciously treated, his crucifixion, death, and burial.
The resurrected Christ Jesus, having received his new spiritual body, proved in a lot of sure-signs (within the sphere of action of many indubitable evidences, fixed or sure marks being the criteria or standards by which to ascertain the truth) that he was living through/during the period of forty days between his resurrection and his ascension into heaven. The number 40 is significant in-that from God's point of view it is the period of probation and trial in order to prove a thing as being true.
He did this while causing himself to be seen by the apostles (physically seen with their eyes) and speaking to them the things concerning the kingdom of God (about all that is contained within God's sovereignty, His kingly or royal dominion and government and rule and territory and power, etc, which of course is holy and spiritual because God is the Holy Spirit).
[Reference: Matthew 26:47-28:20; Acts 13:28-39, and 28:31.]
Verses 4 and 5:
.4and being gathered-together with (them) he charged to them not to separate-themselves away-from Jerusalem but to wait-concerning "the promise of the Father which you heard of me, .5that John indeed baptized with water but you will be baptized in holy spirit after not many (of) these days,"
While the resurrected Christ Jesus was assembled together with them, he passed a message on from himself to them. This verb translated "gathered-together with" could also be translated as "salted-together with" as in eating together, the food containing salt and so what is said is under covenant agreement with all who eat.
The charge was not to separate themselves (not to sever themselves, be put-apart by themselves or anyone else) away from Jerusalem. But on the contrary, they were to wait concerning (remain about, stay for) the promise of the Father which they had previously heard about from Jesus.
God, Who is the Lord Jesus Christ’s Father, made His promise (the proclamation, declaration of His intention) known to Jesus and he made it known to his apostles. Then Jesus reminded them that he had previously told them what this promise is which God had made: that John (his cousin the baptizer, baptist) indeed baptized (immersed, surrounded) people with/by water but emphatically you will be baptized in/within holy spirit after a few days' time.
What a promise! God's promise to them by means of the Lord Jesus Christ was that they will be baptized, not with physical water (H20) but in holy spirit. The word “holy” means: sanctified, set-apart from what is common, defiled or unclean against God. Being holy corresponds to the essence of God.
The baptism in holy spirit is not "with" or "by" anything like the water baptism which is only temporary because once a person comes out of the water and the water dries off of him/her then the water is gone (refer to Matthew chapter 3). But the baptism in holy spirit is a complete immersion and surrounding whereby once holy spirit is "in" or "within" a person it never leaves that person, it can never "dry off"! This baptism in holy spirit is permanent. It would give the apostles holy spirit-life within them which would-not or could-not leave them or be taken away from them. It would be the same holy spirit-life that Jesus received from God when He raised him giving him his new spiritual body. Therefore in these respects, it was going to be different from the holy spirit which they had received at certain times during his earthly ministry before his death, which can be read about in the Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Let us read where John (the baptizer, baptist) and Jesus had already spoken about God's promise of the baptism in holy spirit.
Luke 3:16:
John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost [holy spirit] and with fire:
John 7:37-39:
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost [holy spirit] was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
John 14:15-20, 26:
If ye love me [Jesus Christ], keep my commandments.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Verse 26:
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost [holy spirit] whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 16:12-16:
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak and he will shew you things to come.
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
[Reference: Luke 24:49-53; Acts 2:1-4, 33-39.]
Before we continue with our study, I want to note here that many verbs in the Book of Acts are in the “imperfect” tense. The imperfect tense is frequently used in Acts to historically describe past events relating what happened, and therefore when this occurs I translate these verbs using the simple past tense for ease of reading.
Returning and continuing in the Book of Acts, it says:
Acts 1:6-8:
.6therefore indeed the (apostles) having come-together asked him saying, "Lord, if in this time you restore the kingdom to Israel?" .7But he said towards them, "It is not yours to know (the chronological-)times or (the specific-)times which the Father put in (His) own authority, .8but you will receive ability - the holy spirit having come on you - and you will be my witnesses in both Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and until (the) last-part of the earth."
Because Jesus had said to them that God would fulfill His promise of the baptism in holy spirit in the very-near future, the apostles asked him (with familiarity for information) if it will be at that future chronological time that he will put the kingdom of Israel back into its former state (reestablish or reinstate the kingdom to Israel), because during that present time politically Israel was in bondage to the Gentile Roman Empire. The apostles anticipated the fulfillment of God's promise that the Christ, the Messiah, will sit on the throne of King David and will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and that there will be no end to his kingdom (refer to Luke 1:32 and 33).
But Jesus said to them that this information did not belong to them. They were not to personally know the chronological times (different times lasting for particular durations, quantities, lengths of time) nor the specific times (the opportune or precise periods, occasions, seasons) which the Father, God, has placed/set within His own authoritative-power.
But, contrary to not personally knowing that information, Jesus told them that they would receive/take ability (able-power, capability) to themselves. This ability would be theirs to personally know and manifestly-use because it was going to be that promised holy spirit-life which would come upon them. God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ promised to make this ability available to them not many days from then.
And Jesus told them that after the holy spirit will have come on them, they will be his witnesses. Witnesses of whom? Witnesses of the resurrected Christ Jesus - not of themselves, nor of what they did previously, nor of the local denomination, nor of the latest craze, nor of anything else! Witnesses are people who bear witness, attesting to the information and knowledge that they have regarding a certain-thing, and they can therefore confirm it giving information bringing it to light on the strength of the authority that they have. Christ Jesus' witnesses would therefore receive information or knowledge from him via the holy spirit that they were going to receive not many days from then and thereby give that information to people as he directs.
They were to be his witnesses among the people:
[Reference: Matthew 17:11; Luke 1:32 and 33, 19:11; John 15:26 and 27, 16:7-16; Acts 2:42, 3:21, 4:33, 9:1-9; I Corinthians 9:1, 15:3-10; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Timothy 1:7; II Peter 1:16.]
Verses 9-11:
.9And having said these-things, (during) their observing, he was lifted-up and a cloud took him from-underneath away-from their eyes, .10and as they were gazing-intently into heaven (during) his journeying, also look!, two adult-males had stood-beside them in white clothing .11who also said, "Adult-males, Galileans, why did you stand2 observing into heaven? This Jesus, the (Jesus) having been taken-up away-from you into heaven, thus he will come (according to) which manner you gazed-upon him journeying into heaven."
After Jesus had said these things to his apostles, while they were observing him, he was lifted (taken) upwards above them and a particular and distinct cloud which placed itself underneath him and thereby took (received) him up out of their sight. This cloud was not an indefinite cloudy mass that we see sometimes in the sky which may rain water down on the earth.
As the apostles continued fixing their eyes intently into heaven while Jesus was passing or going into heaven – also look! (see, behold, calling attention to what happened next) - two adult-males stood beside (near by) them and stayed standing beside them in splendid, ornate clothing which was white (radiant, emitting light, effulgent, brilliant and bright).
These two adult-males were two of God's angels manifesting themselves to them in the form of men. These angels were spirit-beings who were the only true God's messengers carrying a message from Him to the apostles - they did not have wings nor did they begin to sing to the apostles.
These angels spoke to the apostles who were still gazing-intently into heaven and addressed them as "Adult-males, Galileans." This is significant because there was one of the chosen twelve who was not Galilean and his name was Judas, the Judas who was from Iscar an area in Judah! It seems that from the moment of the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ to the moment when these angels spoke to the apostles who were still gazing-intently into heaven, Judas Iscariot departed from their company [we will learn more about what he did towards the end of this chapter]. The angels in truth spoke to the Galilean apostles.
God evidently wanted these eleven Galilean apostles to know something important and so He sent two of His angels to speak His message to them. They asked them why they were still standing there looking into heaven (even though Jesus had already been taken up out of their sight and he had instructed them not to separate themselves from Jerusalem but to wait for the fulfillment of God's promise to them). The area in which they were standing was between Bethany and Jerusalem and so they needed to go back into the city of Jerusalem.
God communicated His promise regarding the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth to these eleven apostles by means of His two angels! Jesus had just been taken up into heaven by God and immediately God tells them that he will come back again to earth. This Jesus (not any other person called “Jesus” – this Jesus), whom they had observed passing into heaven on top of a cloud sent by God, will come at a future time in this same manner in which they had gazed upon him go into heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ had previously spoken regarding his return to earth, and here God, via two of His angels, reveals that Jesus will return from heaven towards earth on top of a cloud sent by God.
[Reference: Zechariah 14:4; Matthew 24:30, 26:64; Luke 21:27; Ephesians 1:19-23; I Peter 3:22.]
Verses 12 and 13:
.12Then they returned into Jerusalem away-from (the) mountain, the (mountain) being called Olive which is near Jerusalem having (the) way of a sabbath, .13and when they came-into (Jerusalem) they ascended into the upper-room where they were permanently-remaining, both Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James (the son) of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas of James.
When the two angels had finished speaking with them, the eleven apostles turned-back into Jerusalem from where they were standing, which was the mountain called Olive or the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem. This mountain is within a certain area from the center of Jerusalem which was permitted for Judeans to travel on their sabbath days, and thus God by revelation to Luke while writing this account explains that Jesus and his apostles did not break any law in traveling such a distance on that sabbath.
When the eleven apostles came back into the city of Jerusalem after the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ into heaven, they went-up into the upper-part of a house and there they used to continually stay during this time-period of waiting for the promise of the Father. The upper-room here refers to the bedroom-area where men would sleep as distinct from the bedroom-area where women would sleep - something like our modern dormitories.
Next, God's Word emphasizes the truth that Judas Iscariot was no longer with the apostles by listing the eleven names of the remaining apostles:
[Reference: Matthew 10:2-4 for a list of all twelve.]
Verse 14:
.14These all were being strong like-mindedly with prayer together with (the) women, and Mary the mother of Jesus and his brothers.
While they waited in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father to be fulfilled which was baptism in holy spirit, they were all continuing strong like-mindedly with prayer (they were persevering, with constant attendance passionately of the same mind towards/with communication to and with God, the general speaking towards/with God) together with the women. These were the women who had taken-care of Jesus during his ministry before his death and were at his crucifixion. They had also come to the sepulcher where he was buried but had already been raised from the dead by God before they arrived on the first-day of the week which was very early on the Sunday morning which some today call "Easter Sunday." [Reference: Matthew chapter 28.]
Also included in the group being strong with prayer was Mary the mother of Jesus and Jesus' brothers, the brothers who had the same mother as Jesus Christ but did not have the same father because Jesus' Father is God but his half-brothers' father was Joseph, Mary's husband. [Reference: Matthew 13:55 and 56.]
Luke 24:53:
And [they] were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
Returning to the Book of Acts, it says:
Acts 1:15-22:
.15And in these days Peter, having stood-up in (the) midst of the brothers, said, (and it was a crowd of names on the same-place as-though a hundred (and) twenty), .16"Adult-males, brothers, it was necessary (for) the writing to be fulfilled which the Spirit, the Holy (Spirit), said-beforehand by means of (the) mouth of David concerning Judas, the (person) having become a guide to the (people) having taken-together Jesus, .17that he was having been numbered2 among us and he obtained the lot of this ministry, .18therefore this-person indeed acquired a property from (the) compensation of the unrighteousness, and having become prostrate (his) midst sounded-when-struck and all his inner-parts were poured-out, .19and it became known to all the (people) dwelling-down (in) Jerusalem so-that that property (is) called by their own dialect Akeldamac, this is 'Property of Blood,' .20for it was written2 in (the) Book of Psalms, his 'country-dwelling must be caused-to-become a desert-place and there must not be the (person) dwelling-down in it' and 'a different-person must receive his overseership,' .21therefore it is necessary (that) of the adult-males having come-together with us in every time which the Lord Jesus went-into and went-out on us, .22having begun from the baptism of John until the day which he was taken-up away-from us, one of these to become a witness of his resurrection together with us."
At some point during these days between the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ into heaven and the fulfillment of the promise of the baptism in holy spirit, Peter stood up in the middle of the brothers (some texts have the word "learning-disciples" instead of "brothers" - but referring to about a hundred and twenty who were like-mindedly praying in the temple with the eleven apostles). He addressed them as "adult-males" - which is a translation for the Greek word used when referring to grown-men - and he may also have addressed them as "brothers" to remind them that they were all together for the same purpose which was to do God's will in this situation.
Peter continues speaking by explaining that it was necessary (binding) that the old covenant writing (often referred to as 'old testament') be fulfilled which the Spirit, emphatically and specifically the Holy Spirit foretold (referring to God Himself, emphasizing the truth that He is Spirit and He is Holy, His essence and realm of power, authority, and action, that He is the source of all He gives, and He communicated this information) by means of King David the prophet speaking what God told him to speak concerning Judas Iscariot - which we will read in verse 20 below.
God's Word, via Peter, further explains regarding this Judas Iscariot. He had become a guide (a leader of the way) to the people who had previously caught and seized Jesus, even though he had been and stayed numbered among Jesus’ selected twelve. He had obtained his lot (his inheritance, assigned lot, allotment, allotted portion, that-which is assigned by lot) which Jesus shared among all of them throughout his ministry (the carrying-out of his duty or function of service to benefit others) during that time.
As well as receiving all the blessings of being in the company of the Lord Jesus Christ as he ministered among the people, Judas Iscariot's job-function within Jesus' ministry at that time was to be his treasurer. Judas kept the bag of money by which they all bought their food, and other necessary items. Let us read some verses to see this:
John 12:6:
This he [Judas Iscariot] said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
John 13:29:
For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
Now we can better understand why Peter would continue by saying "therefore (following on logically)" Judas had previously acquired (got, obtained, procured, purchased) a property (piece of land) for himself by taking the money out of this bag which was belonged to all the twelve plus Jesus. Judas had used part of it for his own desire and that was an unrighteous (unjust, the wrong) way to use this money!
Next we learn exactly what happened to Judas once he had left the other eleven apostles on the mountain on the day of the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ into heaven. He went to that property which he had acquired for himself unjustly, and he caused himself to bend forward and fall prostrate on top of a sharp instrument with the result that there was a crash or a bursting-noise when his middle struck against it and all his inner-parts (insides, intestines) were caused to pour-forth out of his body - Judas had committed suicide! This fact became personally known to all the people who had settled-down in Jerusalem with the consequence or result that the landed property, which Judas had unjustly purchased with the money which he had stolen from Jesus and the other eleven apostles, began to be called in the people's own dialect "Akeldamac" which means "property of blood."
Peter returns to what he had begun with regarding what God spoke by the mouth of David all those centuries ago, for it was written and it is still written in the book containing the Psalms - nobody had erased it out of existence, nor could they! Let us read what it says in Psalms referenced by Peter.
Psalm 69:25
Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.
Psalm 109:8:
Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
The property which Judas Iscariot acquired to be for his own private country dwelling must become a deserted place - and since he committed suicide it became called the "property of blood" and therefore nobody would want to live there - it would certainly be a desert (desolate) place from then on. Plus, God also foretold via David that a different person must take-over the position which he left vacant having committed suicide - somebody else must receive his overseership (overseeing function, the work of watching, scoping, the duty or function to have watchful-care and guardianship) within the Lord Jesus Christ's ministry.
Peter understood from the scriptures that somebody else was to take Judas Iscariot's place at that time because Christ Jesus was alive, not dead! There were only eleven apostles instead of the twelve which he originally had, and therefore Peter was taking the initiative to carry out God's Word regarding this situation. He said that it was therefore necessary that from the adult-males having accompanied them all the time that the Lord Jesus ministered among them, which officially began with his baptism by John (the baptizer, baptist) continuing up to the time of the day in which the resurrected Christ Jesus was received-up by God into heaven from the twelve, one of these brothers must become a witness of his resurrection together with the other eleven apostles (refer to verse 8 above).
While speaking about the time when Jesus was among them during his ministry and before he was taken-up by God into heaven, Peter gives Jesus the title of “Lord” as they had done many times previously. The word "Lord" refers to a master or an owner, one who has the authority or authoritative-power, the one from whom the directions and instructions are given and who is to be obeyed, the one who has the dominion over and exercises his lordship in relation to that-which his title of "Lord" or "Master" is being associated. This word emphasizes and confirms the validity and authenticity of the lord’s lordship relative to his slaves plus the respectful submission due to him by his slaves.
[Reference: Psalm 41:9; Acts 2:32, 3:15, 10:34-43; I Timothy 3:1(b).]
Acts 1:23-26:
.23And they caused two-people to stand, Joseph the (person) being called Barsabbas who was called Justus, and Matthias, .24and having prayed they said, "You, Lord, Knower-of-the-heart of all-people, must upwardly-point-out which one You selected-for-Yourself from these two-people .25to receive the lot of this ministry and apostleship away-from which Judas stepped-aside to journey into the place, (his) own place," .26and they gave lots to them and the lot fell on Matthias and he was voted-together with the eleven apostles.
From among the men gathered-together that day, they narrowed it down to Joseph (called Barsabbas and surnamed Justus) and Matthias. They prayed to God telling Him that He is the One Who personally knows the heart of all of them. The word "heart" literally means: the organ which keeps the fleshy body alive by circulating the blood; but figuratively it means: the center or core of a person's being, the seat of his whole personal self and life.
They asked God to show them by raising aloft and making it public regarding which one of these two people He picked-out for Himself to receive the allotment (assigned-portion [some texts have the word "place"]) of the ministry and apostleship which Judas had vacated by voluntarily stepping-aside from it to pass into his own place, as Peter has described above.
They gave lots to/for them (cast their lots, their ballots) and the result of their voting was that the inheritance (that assigned portion or lot which had previously been Judas') fell-down on Matthias and he was voted by the counting with pebbles as being the one selected to be together in company and association with the eleven apostles.
After Matthias was voted together with the eleven – there again were twelve (Matthias taking the place of Judas Iscariot).
[Reference: Luke 10:1, 16:15; Acts 15:8; Romans 1:5; Galatians 2:8. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (2) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]