Acts 1:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 1:1-5

In these verses, I. Theophilus is put in mind, and we in him, of St. Luke's gospel, which it will be of use for us to cast an eye upon before we enter upon the study of this book, that we may not only see how this begins where that breaks off, but that, as in water face answers to face, so do the acts of the apostles to the acts of their Master, the acts of his grace. 1. His patron, to whom he dedicates this book (I should rather say his pupil, for he designs, in dedicating it to him, to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 1:1-5

1:1-5 My Dear Theophilus, I have already given you an account of all the things that Jesus began to do and to teach, right up to the day when he was taken up to heaven, after he had, through the Holy Spirit, given his instructions to the apostles whom he had chosen. In the days that followed his sufferings he also showed himself living to them by many proofs, for he was seen by them on various occasions throughout a period of forty days; and he spoke to them about the kingdom of God. While he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 1:1

The former treatise have I made ,.... Meaning the Gospel written by him the Evangelist Luke, for from that he makes a transition to this, beginning here where he there left off; namely, at the ascension of Christ; see Luke 24:51 . O Theophilus ; See Gill on Luke 1:3 . of all that Jesus began both to do and teach . This is a summary of his former treatise, his Gospel, which gave an account of what Christ began to do, and did; not of the common and private actions of his life; or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 1:1

The former treatise - The Gospel according to Luke, which is here most evidently intended. O Theophilus - See the note on Luke 1:3 . To do and teach - These two words comprise his miracles and sermons. This introduction seems to intimate that, as he had already in his Gospel given an account of the life and actions of our Lord, so in this second treatise he was about to give an account of the lives and acts of some of the chief apostles, such as Peter and Paul. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 1:1

Verse 1 That he may pass over unto those things which followed the ascension of Christ, he briefly gathereth the sum of all those which before he had handled in the former book, that he may annex this thereunto. And he briefly setteth down this description of the history of the gospel, that it is a narration of those things which Christ did and said so long as he was conversant upon earth. Furthermore, whereas they interpret this commonly, that there was first in Christ purity of life, before... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:1

I made for have I made, A.V.; concerning for of, A.V.; to teach for teach, A.V. The former treatise; literally, the first history, narrative, or discourse. The form of the Greek, τὸν μὲν τρῶτον , shows that the writer had in his mind at the time to contrast the second history , which he was just beginning, and that naturally τὸν δὲ δεύτερον or τοῦτον δὲ τὸν λόγον , ought both grammatically and logically, to have followed. But the mention of "the apostles... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:1

"Alpha and Omega." "Concerning all that Jesus began both to do and to teach." This opening sentence of the Acts, full of significance, as pointing at once to the past years of Christ's earthly ministry and to the future work of his people, in his Name and by his power, and connecting them together. He himself is the Alpha of the kingdom, and he is the Omega. His doing and his teaching really one; in matter and in manner, Divine; the standard for apostles and all others; the Acts... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:1

The apparent incompleteness of our Lord's life. It was but a beginning. The word "began" is as characteristic of St. Luke as " straightway " is of St. Mark; it occurs thirty-one times in his Gospel. The idea of Christ's life on earth as being a "beginning" fits well into the Pauline theology, which sets in such prominence the present and continuous working of the risen, glorified, living Savior. To the apostles' first view our Lord's earthly life must have seemed a failure; they... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:1

The origin of the Gospel records. Luke reminds Theophilus of his having written his Gospel, and of the circumstances which called for his labors (comp. Luke 1:1-4 ). Incidentally we are assured that the historical figure of Christ is the essential foundation of the Christian system; and, therefore, such extreme care was necessary in securing authentic records of his words and works. The trustworthiness of our Gospels may be efficiently impressed by the illustration and enforcement of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:1

The threefold aspect of our Lord's human life. The aspects that need to be so carefully recorded. Two are stated in the text—to do, and to teach; the third we gather from the Gospel itself—to suffer. I. OUR LORD CAME TO DO . It has been said that "conduct is three-fourths of life;" and upon our Lord's daily life and doings we, first of all, reverently fix our gaze. 1. He came to live; to express in pure, beautiful character, and in sweet, self-denying, helpful... read more

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