Acts 1:1-4:37

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:1-5

The forty days after the Passion. I. JESUS PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE . In the work of God all is continuous. As in nature there is no pause, but in autumn we find the new petiole or leaf-stalk already formed when the old leaf is detached, so in the kingdom of God. There were ages of preparation for Christ's coming; and when he came, his life-work was a making ready to go. Full of blessing was the ministry of his visible presence; fuller still was to be that of the invisible... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:1-5

The dawn of the gospel day. These verses form an introduction to the whole book. The risen Christ is the chief Object in view. The light which has been a lowly light upon the earth, is now about to ascend and take its place as the Sun of Righteousness in the heavens. From thence he will shine upon the earth—first upon that part of the earth immediately below the point of his ascent; and from that, as a starting-place, from country to country, till the whole earth is enlightened. The Acts... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:1-8

Christ's mission and ours. The introduction to this narrative of" the things pertaining to the kingdom of God" suggests to us truths concerning the mission of our Divine Lord and also concerning our own. I. THE MISSION OF CHRIST . We gather front the opening words of Luke that this was fourfold, and may be included under these heads: 1. Miraculous works. He "began to do " (verse 1). The "mighty works" of Jesus were far from being mere "wonders:" they were 2. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:1-11

The recapitulation. St. Luke is like a traveler, who, having gained a certain summit, before he proceeds on his journey through the new country which is opening upon his view, stops and looks back upon the scene which he has traversed, but which he is now about to lose sight of. He marks the sites which had attracted his attention as he journeyed—the rising knoll, the conspicuous wood, the sheet of water, the open plain. But as he looks he spies out other objects which he had not noticed... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 1:1

The former treatise - The former book. The Gospel of Luke is here evidently intended. Greek: the former λόγος logos, meaning “a discourse,” or “a narrative.”O Theophilus - See the notes on Luke 1:3. Since this book was written to the same individual as the former, it was evidently written with the same design to furnish an authentic and full narrative of events concerning which there would be many imperfect and exaggerated accounts. See Luke 1:1-4. Since these events pertained to the descent... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 1:1-3

Acts 1:1-3. The former treatise have I made, &c. The treatise here referred to is undoubtedly the gospel, which was written by Luke, and dedicated by him to Theophilus. See note on Luke 1:1-2. That treatise ends, and this begins, in that important season, which reached from the resurrection of Christ to his ascension; this describing the acts of the Holy Ghost, (by the apostles,) as that does the acts of Jesus Christ; of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach That is, of all... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 1:1-11

1:1-2:47 BIRTH OF THE CHURCHThe task ahead (1:1-11)Theophilus, to whom the book is addressed, was apparently a person of influence to whom Luke wished to give a reliable account of the origins and development of Christianity. In his Gospel, Luke had told Theophilus of what Jesus began to do through his life, death and resurrection (1:1-2; cf. Luke 1:1-4). Luke now goes on to tell Theophilus what Jesus continued to do through his followers.On the occasions when Jesus appeared to his apostles... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 1:1

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 ). read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 1:1

I. THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM (Acts 1:1-8:4)In this chapter are found Luke's prologue to Acts (Acts 1:1-5), the ascension (Acts 1:6-11), the apostles and others waiting in Jerusalem (Acts 1:12-14), and a record of choosing a successor to Judas (Acts 1:15-26).THE PROLOGUE (Acts 1:1-5)The significance of the prologue with its introductory address to Theophilus lies in the fact that everything Luke said in the prologue to his gospel (Luke 1:1-5) applies with equal force here, Acts being, in fact, the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 1:1

Acts 1:1. The former treatise— This former treatise, undoubtedly, means the gospel, which was written by St. Luke, and dedicated by him to Theophilus. See the note on Luk 1:3.All in this verse, cannot mean every one of the miracles and sermons which Jesus wrought and preached. See John 20:30-31; John 21:25. By all, therefore, we must understand only all that was necessary to be recorded, to establish the divine mission of Christ, and to convince mankind. All that Jesus began to do and teach, is... read more

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