NLT Illustrated Study Bible - Book of Acts - Flipbook - Page 8
A cts 1 : 1
1964
1. PROLOGUE (1:15)
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
In my first book* I told you, Theophi
lus, about everything Jesus began to do
and teach 2 until the day he was taken up to
heaven after giving his chosen apostles fur
ther instructions through the Holy Spirit.
3 During the forty days after he suffered and
died, he appeared to the apostles from time
to time, and he proved to them in many ways
that he was actually alive. And he talked to
them about the Kingdom of God.
4 Once when he was eating with them, he
commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem
until the Father sends you the gift he prom
ised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized
with* water, but in just a few days you will be
baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts
1
upon you. And you will be my witnesses,
telling people about me everywhere—in Je
rusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and
to the ends of the earth.”
9 After saying this, he was taken up into
a cloud while they were watching, and they
could no longer see him. 10 As they strained
to see him rising into heaven, two white-
robed men suddenly stood among them.
11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you
standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has
been taken from you into heaven, but some
day he will return from heaven in the same
way you saw him go!”
Matthias Replaces Judas
ACTS 1:1819; CP. MATT 27:310
12 Then
the apostles returned to Jerusalem
from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a
2. THE CHURCH BEGINS IN JERUSALEM
mile.* 13 When they arrived, they went to the
(1:6–5:42)
upstairs room of the house where they were
The Coming of the Holy Spirit (1:6–2:47) staying.
The Ascension of Jesus
Here are the names of those who were
ACTS 1:611 // MARK 16:1920 // LUKE 24:5053
present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip,
6 So when the apostles were with Jesus,
Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son
they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Ju
come for you to free Israel and restore our das (son of James). 14 They all met together
kingdom?”
and were constantly united in prayer, along
7 He replied, “The Father alone has the
with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other
authority to set those dates and times, and women, and the brothers of Jesus.
15 During this time, when about 120 be
they are not for you to know. 8 But you will
receive power when the Holy Spirit comes lievers* were together in one place, Peter
1:1
Luke 1:3
1:2
Matt 28:1920
Luke 24:4951
1:3
Luke 24:3336
John 20:19, 26;
21:1, 14
1:4
Luke 24:49
John 14:1617, 26
Acts 2:33
1:5
Luke 3:16
1:7
Matt 24:36
1 Thes 5:12
1:8
Luke 24:48
John 15:27
Acts 2:14
1:9
Mark 16:19
1:11
Rev 1:7
1:12
Luke 24:52
1:13
Matt 10:24
Mark 3:1619
Luke 6:1416
1:14
Acts 2:42
1:1 The reference is to the Gospel of Luke. 1:5 Or in; also in 1:5b. 1:12 Greek a Sabbath day’s journey. 1:15 Greek brothers.
1:13 Here Luke summarizes his first
book, the Gospel of Luke, which Luke
had previously written to Theophilus
(Luke 1:3). Theophilus is elsewhere
called “most honorable” (Luke 1:3)—
the title indicates that he was a person
of very high social standing (cp. Acts
23:26; 24:2; 26:25). He was probably
a benefactor or patron who assisted
Luke with the expenses of publication
or distribution of his work (see note on
Luke 1:3).
1:3 he proved to them in many ways
that he was actually alive: The Gos
pels describe the evidence for Christ’s
resurrection: Jesus’ tomb was empty
(Luke 24:34), his grave clothes were
undisturbed (John 20:39), and many
people saw him (see Matt 28; Mark
16:18; Luke 24:153; John 20:11–
21:23; 1 Cor 15:38). Jesus appeared to
the apostles in part to overcome their
doubt (Matt 28:17; Luke 24:1724, 38,
41; John 20:27; see Mark 16:14) • The
Kingdom of God was the central theme
of Jesus’ teaching (see Acts 1:68; Matt
4:17; Mark 1:1415; Luke 4:43).
1:4 until the Father sends you the
gift he promised: See 2:113; cp. John
14:1517.
T H E P E N TAT E U C H
1:5 baptized: See “Baptism,” 2:38, 41.
1:611 Jesus’ ascent into heaven (see also
Luke 24:5053) took place on the Mount
of Olives (Acts 1:12; Luke 24:50). It was
Jesus’ last physical appearance—he was
taken into heaven, where he will remain
“until the time for the final restoration of
all things” (Acts 3:21).
1:8 This key verse outlines the geograph
ical extension of the Good News from its
Jewish starting point in Jerusalem and
Judea (1:6–8:1), out to Samaria (8:425),
Antioch in Syria (11:1930), and eventu
ally throughout the Mediterranean world
to Rome (13:1–28:31). Christ later gave
a similar call to be his witnesses . . . to
the ends of the earth to Saul of Tarsus
(9:15), who had persecuted the Jewish
Christians and then became the primary
instrument for taking the Good News to
the Gentiles. • The Holy Spirit was the
source of power for all this evangelistic
and missionary effort (see “The Holy
Spirit’s Presence,” 1:8).
1:10 Christ’s rising into heaven indicates
his elevation to a place of ultimate
authority (see Eph 1:1923; Phil 2:911).
1:11 Jesus promised to return from
heaven in the same way (see Matt 24:30;
Mark 13:26; John 14:3). Jesus has gone
ISRAEL’S HISTORY
to heaven to prepare the place for his
followers (John 12:26; 14:14; 2 Cor 5:4;
Phil 3:21; Heb 6:20).
1:12 The witnesses of the ascension
returned to Jerusalem with joy, worship,
exhilaration, and praise to God (Luke
24:52), and with their doubts assuaged
(see note on Acts 1:3).
1:1326 While the apostles waited for the
promised gift of the Holy Spirit (1:45),
the whole company of 120 disciples in
Jerusalem engaged in earnest prayer
(1:1314), and then appointed an apostle
to replace Judas Iscariot (1:1526).
1:13 All eleven of the remaining apostles
were present (cp. Matt 10:24; Mark
3:1619; Luke 6:1316). Judas Iscariot is
omitted from this list on account of his
betrayal and death (Acts 1:1819).
1:14 The first disciples were united in
worship, fellowship, and prayer (see
also 2:42, 4647; 4:2431; 5:12; 12:5;
13:13). The faithful women who had
been witnesses of Jesus’ crucifixion and
resurrection were present (Luke 23:49,
5456; 24:110, 22). • The brothers of
Jesus had not believed in him during his
ministry (John 7:35; cp. Matt 12:4649),
but became his disciples after his resur
rection (see “James,” Acts 15:1321).
POETRY & WISDOM
