Acts 1 Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Acts 1:1-5

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

A. Find Out:

1. About what had Theophilus previously written? v.1
2. With what had that narrative finished? v.2
3. What had Jesus done after the Cross? v.3a
4. What did Jesus speak about during that time? v.3b
5. For what were they to wait? v.4
6. What would happen to them? v.5

B. Think:

1. How is Acts seen to be a continuation of the Gospel of Luke?
2. What was the gift that Jesus spoke about?
3. How would the disciples experience this gift?

As he writes, Luke has it in mind that he wants to tell us about what happened at Pentecost but before he can do that he has to explain how it fitted in with God’s purpose that had been explained by Jesus.

First of all then, Luke reminds us that he had finished his previous narrative by telling of the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. This had been the culmination of his recounting the activities and teaching that Jesus had begun to do. It is important to note that word ‘begun’ for the book of Acts is an account of what Jesus continued to do but now through his followers.

During his last days in one physical body on the earth, Jesus had spent the time teaching his disciples more about the kingdom of God. Perhaps he explained to them the significance of all that had been happening over the previous three years, we just don’t know.

However, the most important thing that Jesus had said during that time was that the disciples were to receive a gift from God the Father, that he had previously told them about, the Holy Spirit. When He came it would be as if they were completely immersed in Him, just like John the Baptist had been immersing people previously in water. Thus Luke sets the scene for what will soon come.

D. Application:

1. Many convincing proofs: Are we so well grounded in Scripture that our faith is secure and able to be passed on?
2. Continuing the work: Do we see that we are now Christ’s body and our role is to continue his work?

Passage: Acts 1:6-11

6 Then they gathered round him and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’

7 He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’

A. Find Out:    

1. What did the disciples wonder? v.6
2. What did Jesus say they wouldn’t know? v.7
3. What did he say would happen to them though? v.8a
4. And what would they become as a result? v.8b
5. What then happened? v.9
6. What did the angels tell them? v.11

B. Think:

1. 1How were the disciples still thinking materialistically?
2. How does Jesus tell them just sufficient to keep going?
3. How are present day claimants to being the Christ shown to be false?

C. Comment:

Jesus has just promised that God will pour out His Holy Spirit on the disciples in the near future. The disciples, taught by Jesus, perhaps think back to times when the Spirit came on people in power and enabled them to do great things (e.g. Judges 6:34, 11:29 , 14:6, 14:19 ) and assumed that it would be to restore Israel to its former glory.

What they did not realise (and what we so often forget) is that God had the whole world in His mind, not just the one small geographical area in which they lived. What they also didn’t realise (and what we also so often forget) was that the power was simply to enable them be like Jesus, and do the same things he did, with the same obedience, humility and servant heartedness, while doing the Father’s will.

Note also that Jesus gave them no more details. That will be sufficient to keep them going. God so often just gives us sufficient and no more. The next step is often all we will get, and that is often not very clear, for He wants us to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Finally note the means of Jesus’ departure and the means he will return: supernaturally and in the public eye.   We can’t understand how he went up (just by the power of God!) or where he went (into heaven) and when he returns it will be just the same: he will leave every mouth open at the wonder of it.

D. Application:

1. Faith not sight: Do I remember, it’s a life of faith, not of sight. I have been told sufficient to keep me today. Can I rest in that?
2. Enabling: Can I remember, the power is here to help me be just like Jesus, the power of his own Holy Spirit?  He is here for me today.

Passage: Acts 1:12-26

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, ‘Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.’

18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20 ‘For,’ said Peter, ‘it is written in the Book of Psalms:

‘“May his place be deserted;
    let there be no one to dwell in it,”

and,

‘“May another take his place of leadership.”

21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.’

23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.’ 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

A. Find Out:

1. Where did the disciples go? v.13
2. Who were there? v.13-15
3. What did they do there? v.14
4. To what did Peter refer? v.16,20
5. What did he conclude and why? v.21,22
6. What 3 stages followed in the “selection process”? v.23-26

B. Think:

1. What do the disciples seem to be doing most at this stage?
2. What prompted Peter to take action?
3. How was the selection process a combination of human and divine acts?

C. Comment:

Jesus has gone; they are now alone and there must have seemed a tremendous gap in their lives, so they do all they can do: pray! When in doubt, when alone, pray! The Father is there – somehow. He must be!

While they are praying, and presumably reading Scripture, Peter becomes aware of a verse in Psalm 109 that seems to speak to him about Judas. He shares it with the rest and they decide to follow his suggestion and appoint another to replace Judas who is now dead. We see here first of all, a community of God’s people reliant on the Lord in prayer and guided by the Scripture, seeking to be obedient to it.

Whether or not their method of selection was right we are not told. Some say that because the chosen man was never heard of again it was not right, and they had wrong ideas about the role of an apostle. However, they are God-centred in their choosing. They use good thinking as to the criteria for choice, in line with Jesus’ stated purpose for them (v.22c & v.8b), and then turn to the Lord asking Him to over-rule in the choice. Whether or not this was a correct procedure, their hearts were in the right place!

D. Application:

1. Daily spiritual resources?  Key requirements, when waiting for the Lord to move to establish His Church, are prayer and Bible reading. Am I resourcing myself with them?
2. Waiting for the Lord?  While waiting it is good to establish your heart in God and seek to do everything He has previously commanded. Do I do this?