Bible Commentaries
Acts 1

Verse 1

former. Literally first. This links the Acts with Luke's Gospel, see p. 1575.

treatise = account. Greek. logos. App-121 .

have. Omit.

Theophilus. See note on Luke 1:3 .

of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .

Jesus. App-98 .

began. This shows that the Acts records the continuation of the Lord's ministry to the Circumcision (Romans 15:8 ).

Verse 2

taken up = received up. Compare Mark 16:19 .

after that He . . . had = having.

through. Greek. dia. App-104 .Acts 1:1 .

the Holy Ghost = Divine power. App-101 . given commandments unto = commanded.

the apostles. See App-189 .

had chosen = chose out (Luke 6:13 ).

Verse 3

also. Read after "Himself".

shewed = presented.

after His passion = after (Greek. meta. App-104 .) that He suffered.

infallible proofs = indubitable evidence. Greek. tek-merion. Only here. Compare 1 John 1:1 , 1 John 1:2 .

seen. Greek. optanomai. App-133 . Only here.

forty days = during (Greek. dia. App-104 .Acts 1:1; Acts 1:1 ) forty days. The only reference to the period between the Resurrection and the Ascension.

pertaining to = concerning. Greek. peri, as in Acts 1:1 .

the kingdom of God. App-112 and App-114 .

Verse 4

being assembled together with. Greek. sunalizomai. Only here.

commanded. Greek. parangello. First occurance Matthew 10:5 . Compare App-121 .:6. Not the same word as in Acts 1:2 .

depart = separate themselves. Greek. charizo. First occurance, Matthew 19:6 .

wait for. Greek. perimeno . Only here.

promise of the Father. See App-17 . Compare Luke 24:49 .

Verse 5

be baptized with. App-115 .

not. Greek. ou. App-105 .

many days hence = after (Greek. meta. App-104 .) these many days.

Verse 6

asked of = were questioning. Greek. eperotao. Compare App-134 .

wilt Thou. Literally if ( App-118 . a) Thou dost. Figure of speech Heterosis (of Tense). App-6 .

at = in. Greek. en . App-104 .

restore again = establish or setup. Greek. apokathistano. First occurance Matthew 12:13 .

the kingdom: i.e. the Messianic kingdom, which the prophets spoke of, and all Israelites were looking for. Compare Luke 1:32 , Luke 1:33 ; and see App-112 and App-114 .

Verse 7

unto. Greek. pros . App-104 .

for you = yours.

know. Greek. ginosko. App-132 .

the times, &c. = the great time, &c. A Hebraism, plural of majesty. Figure of speech Heterosis. App-6 .

in. Greek. en, as Acts 1:6 .

power = authority. App-172 .

Verse 8

power. Greek dunamis. App-172 .

the Holy Ghost = the Holy Spirit (with art.) App-101 . Compare Luke 24:49 .

upon. App-104 .

witnesses. See note on John 1:7 .

unto Me. Texts read, "of Me", or "My" witnesses. Compare Isaiah 43:10 , Isaiah 43:12 ; Isaiah 44:8 .

unto = as far as. Greek. heos.

earth. App-129 .

Verse 9

beheld. App-133 .

taken up = lifted up. Greek. epairo. First occurance Matthew 17:8 . Always in Gospels, "lift up".

a cloud. Not a rain cloud of the earth, but referring to the attendant angelic hosts. Compare Psalms 24:7-10 ; Psalms 47:5 .Matthew 24:30 ; Matthew 26:64 . 1 Thessalonians 4:17 . Revelation 1:7 ; Revelation 11:12 .

received. Greek. hupolambano. Here; Acts 2:15 .Luke 7:43 ; Luke 10:30 .

out of their sight = from ( App-104 .) their eyes.

Verse 10

looked stedfastly = were gazing earnestly. App-133 .

toward = into. App-104 .

heaven = the heaven (sing). See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

went up = was going.

behold. App-133 .

men. App-123 . These were angels. Compare Acts 10:30 . John 20:12 .

Verse 11

also said = said also.

Ye men of Galilee. Literally Men, Galileans. The term "men" was usual in addressing a company. Compare our use of the word, "Gentlemen". This usage is common in Acts: Acts 1:16 ; Acts 2:14 , Acts 2:22 , Acts 2:29 , Acts 2:37 ; Acts 3:12 ; Acts 5:35 ; Acts 7:2 ; Acts 13:15 , Acts 13:16 , Acts 13:26 , Acts 13:38 ; Acts 15:7 , Acts 15:13 ; Acts 17:22 ; Acts 19:35 ; Acts 21:28 ; Acts 22:1 ; Acts 23:1 , Acts 23:6 ; Acts 28:17 .

gazing up. App-133 . Some texts read App-133 .

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 departed (Zechariah 14:4 ).

have seen = beheld. App-133 .

go = going

Verse 12

Olivet. Only here in N.T., but found often in the Papyri. The usual expression is the "Mount of Olives".

from = near.

a sabbath day's journey. See App-51 .

Verse 13

were come = entered.

an = the.

upper room. Greek. huperoon : here; Acts 9:37 , Acts 9:39 ; Acts 20:8 . Not the same word as in Mark 14:15 .Luke 22:12 .

abode = were abiding. Greek. katameno. Only here.

Peter, &c. See App-141 .

Verse 14

continued = were continuing. Greek. proskartereo. In Acts, here; Acts 2:42 , Acts 2:46 ; Acts 6:4 ; Acts 8:13 ; Acts 10:7 .

with one accord = with one mind. Occurs eleven times in Acts, once in Romans 15:6 . Found in a Papyrus of 117 B.C.

prayer. App-134 .

supplication. The texts omit.

and Mary. The last mention of her, "at prayer".

brethren. App-182 .

Verse 15

stood up = rose up. Greek. anistemi. App-178 .

disciples. The texts read "brethren".

number. Greek. ochlos, crowd. This is an occurance of the Figure of speech Epitrechon.

together = to the same (place). Greek. epi to auto. See Acts 2:1 , Acts 2:44 ; Acts 4:26 . 1Co 7:5 ; 1 Corinthians 11:20 ; 1 Corinthians 14:23 .

an hundred and twenty = three forties. A divinely appointed number during a period of waiting. It -was the number of Ezra's great synagogue. See App-10 .

Verse 16

Men and brethren. Compare Acts 1:11 .

scripture. Greek. graphe.

fulfilled = filled full. App-126 .

Ghost = Spirit. App-101 .

by = through. App-104 .Acts 1:1 .

David. Peter asserts that Psalms 69:0 was written by David, and was the utterance of the Holy Spirit. Compare 2 Peter 1:21 .

concerning. App-104 .

was = became.

took = arrested. Greek. sullambano. Compare Matthew 26:55 .

Verse 17

numbered. Greek. katarithmeo . Only here.

with. Greek. sun, as in Acts 1:14 , but the texts read en, among.

had. Omit.

part = the lot. Greek. kleros. Five times in the Gospels, of the lots cast for the Lord's garments.

ministry. Greek. diakonia. App-190 .

Verse 18

Now = Therefore. Verses Acts 18:19 form a parenthesis.

this man = this one, indeed.

purchased = caused to be purchased. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect). App-6 . See App-161 .

field = place, or holding. Greek. chorion . See note on Matthew 26:36 .

reward = pay. Greek. misthos. Sin pays its wages (Romans 6:23 ).

iniquity. App-128 . Compare 2 Peter 2:13 , where the same Greek words are translated "wages of unrighteousness".

headlong. Greek. prenes. Only here.

burst asunder. Greek. lakeo . Only here. Dr. John 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 known to all the dwellers at Jerusalem, argues that it was no common and ordinary event, and must be something more than hanging himself, which was an accident not so very unusual in that nation. " Works, viii, pp 366, 367. This requires that Matthew 27:5 be read, "He was hanged, or strangled", instead of "hanged himself".

gushed out = were poured out.

Verse 19

known. Greek. gnostos. Compare App-132 . This word occurs fifteen times, ten times in Acts. unto = to.

proper = own. Greek. idios.

tongue = dialect. Greek. dialektos. Only in Acts: here; Acts 2:6 , Acts 2:8 ; Acts 21:40 ; Acts 22:2 ; Acts 26:14 . Aceldama. See App-94 .:3 and 161.

Verse 20

is = has been.

the = a: i.e. the second book, in Psalms 69:25 .

habitation = farm, or country house. Greek. epaulis. Only here.

desolate = desert: i.e. let the place he has thus acquired become a wilderness.

let, &c. Literally let there not (Greek. me.) be the dweller (Acts 1:19 ).

therein = in (Greek. en App-104 .) it.

bishoprick. Greek. episcope, the office of an episcopos, or overseer. Occurs only here; Luke 19:44 . 1Ti 3:1 . 1 Peter 2:12 . Compare Acts 1:17 . This is a composite quotation from Psalms 69:25 , and Psalms 109:8 . App-107 .

another. Greek. heteros. App-124 .

take = receive.

Verse 21

all = in (Greek. en) all.

went in and out. A Hebraism for life in general. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Species). App-6 . Compare Acts 9:28 . Deuteronomy 28:6 . John 10:9 .

among = over. App-104 .

Verse 22

baptism. Greek. baptisma. App-115 . Put for ministry by Figure of speech Synecdoche. App-6 .

one = one of these.

be ordained to be = become.

resurrection. Greek. anastasis. App-178 . The resurrection is the great subject of the Apostolic witness. Compare Acts 2:32 ; Acts 3:26 ; Acts 4:10 ; Acts 5:30 ; Acts 10:40 ; Acts 13:30 ; Acts 17:3 , Acts 17:31 , &c.

Verse 23

appointed = put forward, or nominated.

Barsabas. Texts read Barsabbas. App-94 .:11. Compare Acts 15:22 .

Verse 24

prayed. Greek. proseuchomai. App-134 .

Which knowest, &c. Literally heart-knowing. Greek. kardiognostes. Only here and Acts 15:8 . Compare Jeremiah 17:10 .

shew = shew plainly. Greek. anadeiknumi. Only here and Luke 10:1 .

whether of these two. Literally of these two, the one.

Verse 25

take part = receive the lot. Greek. kleros.

this ministry, &c. = this apostolic ministry. Figure of speech Hendiadys. App-6 .

apostleship. Greek. apostole. Only here, Romans 1:5 . 1 Corinthians 9:2 .Galatians 1:2 , Galatians 1:8 .

from. App-104 . but texts read apo.

by transgression fell = transgressed. App-128 .

that he might = to.

his own. Same word as "proper", Acts 1:19 .

Verse 26

lots, lot. Greek. kleros. Same word as "part", in Acts 1:17 .

numbered. Greek. sunkatapsephizo. Only here. See note on Luke 14:28 .

with. Greek. meta. App-104 .