Acts 1:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

NIV: until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

NASB: until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen.

CSB: until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

NLT: until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit.

KJV: Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

NKJV: until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,

Luke is writing to Theophilus, who is possibly a Roman official of some sort, about the beginning of the church. He briefly covered Jesus' ascension in Luke 24:50–52 and will go into more detail in Acts 1:6–11. The commands Jesus gave the disciples include the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16–20) and to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4–5). Beyond this, no particular commands are recorded, but He did spend time explaining how the Old Testament Scriptures prophesied His death and resurrection (Luke 24:27, 45), and He reconciled with Peter (John 21:15–19), healing the rift Peter had created with his denial (Mark 14:66–72).

We have no record of any commands received by the apostles through the Holy Spirit before the ascension, except that they are to choose a replacement for Judas (Acts 1:12–26). After the resurrection, Jesus did give the disciples the Holy Spirit (John 20:22), but it appears to be in the way of the Old Testament. Old Testament God-followers were sometimes filled with the Holy Spirit, but only for a short time, John the Baptist excepting (Luke 1:15). It isn't until Pentecost that the Holy Spirit starts indwelling all believers (Acts 2:1–4). Jesus had told the disciples this must happen. During the last supper, He said, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth…" (John 16:12–13). The disciples couldn't fathom the idea of "the church" until they received the Holy Spirit.

At this time, Jesus has about 120 close followers in Jerusalem (Acts 1:15). The apostles mentioned are the eleven remaining of His primary twelve disciples (Mark 3:13–19). Judas has died, rather dramatically, having first hanged himself (Matthew 27:5) and then fallen and literally spilled his guts (Acts 1:18).

The term "apostle" causes some confusion today. The word comes from the Greek root word Apostolos, which simply means someone who is sent out as a delegate or messenger. The "office" of apostle is given only to the original eleven disciples and Judas' replacement, Matthias (Acts 1:23–26). These special apostles had witnessed Jesus' ministry from His baptism to His resurrection (Acts 1:21–22). More generically, Paul (Acts 9:15), Barnabas (Acts 13:2), Titus (2 Corinthians 8:23), and Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25) were "sent out" to preach the gospel, but they do not have the particular position of authority of the Twelve.

Although the modern church has traveling evangelists and missionaries, we do not have apostles in the same manner as the early church.

Acts 1:1–11 fulfills Jesus' teaching that for the Holy Spirit to come, He must return to heaven (John 16:7). After the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus spent forty days showing Himself to His believers to prove that resurrection and give them instructions. Now, it is time for Jesus' earthly ministry to end and the Holy Spirit's to come into full effect (John 16:8–14). Acts 1:1–11 is an expanded account of Luke 24:50–53; it is also part of a larger section of Acts that describes the ministry of the twelve apostles as they establish the church in Jerusalem (Acts 1—7).

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.