Acts 1:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said,

NIV: In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)

NASB: At this time Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters (a group of about 120 people was there together), and said,

CSB: In those days Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters--the number of people who were together was about a hundred twenty--and said,

NLT: During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them.

KJV: And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

NKJV: And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,

Jesus-followers in Jerusalem are gathered, waiting for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus had instructed them to do (Acts 1:4–5). In the nine days between Jesus' ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit, the disciples devote themselves to prayer (Acts 1:14) and worship (Luke 24:52–53). It's interesting to note that Jewish tradition says that while ten Jews are needed to establish a synagogue, 120 Jews are needed for a Jewish community.

While they wait, Peter takes his place as leader. He is an interesting showcase of what the Holy Spirit can do with our natural abilities. During Jesus' ministry, Peter often acted as the disciples' spokesman, but his words were rarely tempered by spiritual understanding. At one point, Jesus even told him his words were from Satan (Mark 8:31–33).

Before the ascension, Jesus had breathed on the disciples and given them a temporary measure of the Holy Spirit (John 20:22). We can only assume that Peter's words here are because of that gift. He now stands and considers their present circumstances. Judas Iscariot is dead. He sees the correlation in the Old Testament, specifically Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8 (Acts 1:20). And so, they need to find a replacement.

Jesus singled Peter out for a special purpose, as a kind of figurehead or metaphor for the spreading of the gospel (Matthew 16:18–19). Peter will go on to be a great speaker (Acts 2:14–41; 3:11–26; 4:8–12, 19–20; 10:34–43). And he will be present at the first mass conversions of Samaritans (Acts 8:14–17) and Gentiles (Acts 10:44–45). With the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, Peter is growing into the role God has planned for him.

Acts 1:12–26 records what happens when the Jesus-followers pray. Jesus has ascended (Acts 1:9). The Holy Spirit is coming (Acts 1:5). The apostles don't really know what these things mean, but they know where to start. They join the other Jesus-followers in Jerusalem and start praying. The next order of business is to find a replacement for Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus (Matthew 26:14–16, 47–50) and then hanged himself (Matthew 27:3–10). The remaining eleven apostles don't know this yet, but their third task will literally be to change the world.

Acts 1 sets the stage for the establishment of the church and the spread of the gospel. Jesus is alive but if the Holy Spirit is to come Jesus must ascend into heaven (John 16:7). The disciples obey His last instructions and wait in Jerusalem. Peter uses Old Testament Scripture to show the group of about 120 they must choose a disciple to replace Judas. The man must have been with them from Jesus' baptism to His ascension. Joseph Barsabbas and Matthias are put forward and, in the last use of the lots found in the Bible, Matthias is chosen.

Acts 1 is the second letter Luke wrote for Theophilus. In it, he narrates the transition between Jesus' ministry as described in the Gospel of Luke and the development and spread of the church. The disciples have received a temporary indwelling of the Holy Spirit (John 20:22), and Jesus has spent forty days reassuring His faithful followers (Acts 1:3), appearing to over five hundred in that short time (1 Corinthians 15:6). Now, the disciples complete some administrative-like tasks before the Holy Spirit can begin the ministry of the church on Pentecost (Acts 2).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.