Acts 1:1-9

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 1:6-11

In Jerusalem Christ, by his angel, had appointed his disciples to meet him in Galilee; there he appointed them to meet him in Jerusalem again, such a day. Thus he would try their obedience, and it was found ready and cheerful; they came together, as he appointed them, to be the witnesses of his ascension, of which we have here an account. Observe, I. The question they asked him at this interview. They came together to him, as those that had consulted one another about it, and concurred in the... 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

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 1:6-8

1:6-8 So when they had met together they asked him, "Lord, are you going to restore the kingdom of Israel at this time?" But he said to them, "It is not yours to know the times and the seasons which the Father has appointed by his own authority. But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power; and you will be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and in Samaria and to the farthest bounds of the earth." Throughout his ministry Jesus laboured under one great... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 1:9-11

1:9-11 When he had said these things, while they were watching, he was taken up and a cloud received him and he passed from their sight. While they were gazing into heaven, as he went upon his way, behold, two men in white garments stood beside them; and they said to them, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing looking up into heaven? This Jesus who has been taken up into heaven from you will come again in the same way as you have seen him go to heaven." This short passage leaves us face to... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 1:2

Until the day in which he was taken up ,.... That is, into heaven. The historian suggests, that his former treatise took in the main and principal things Jesus did and taught, until such time that he ascended to heaven: after that he, through the Holy Ghost, had given commandments unto the apostles, whom he had chosen : our Lord having chosen twelve of his own free grace and goodness, and not according to their worth and merit, to be his apostles, a little before his ascension to heaven,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 1:3

To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion ,.... That is, after his sufferings and death; for that he suffered many things, and at last death itself, is certain from the acknowledgment of the Jews themselves, who own, that they put him to death on the passover eve F4 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 43. 1. ; as well as from the accounts of the evangelists; and from the soldiers not breaking his legs, when the rest that were crucified with him were broken, because he was already... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 1:4

And being assembled together with them ,.... At their last meeting at Bethany, or Mount Olivet, which was by appointment: some render the words, as the Vulgate Latin, "and eating with them"; which was one of the proofs he gave of his being alive; and so the Syriac version renders it, "and when he had ate bread with them", and the Ethiopic version, "and dining with them", which he might do more than once; see John 21:12 this was the last time, when he commanded them that they should not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 1:5

For John truly baptized with water ,.... Or "in water", as he himself says, Matthew 3:11 John's baptism was water baptism, an immersion of persons in water: he was the first administrator of it, and therefore is here mentioned by name; and his, and the baptism of the Spirit, are opposed; for there were others, as the disciples of Christ, that baptized in water as well as John: and these words are not to be understood of the words of the Lord, by the mouth of John, which the disciples... read more

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