Acts 1

 1:1.  The author is undoubtedly Luke (see notes at Luke 1:1-4).  An interesting feature of Acts are the “we” sections, those parts where Luke himself was present as an eyewitness, and transitions from third person to first person plural (16:10-17; 20:5-17; 21:1-18; 27:1-28:16).

     1:2.  Before his ascension, Jesus gave them orders “by the Holy Spirit.”  This does not mean an inner feeling, but that the Spirit applied Jesus’ words to their hearts and minds.   As Jesus had promised, the Holy Spirit would “bring to your remembrance all that I have spoken to you.”  (John 14:26).  Also, their minds were opened to what the Spirit said of Christ in the OT Scriptures (16; Luke 24:44-45).

     1:3.  Cf. Luke 24:39; 1 Cor.15:6.

     1:4-8.  After their time in Galilee (Mk.16:7; John 21), with the danger of arrest lessened, they are gathered once more in Jerusalem to await the baptism with the Holy Spirit.  They had a measure of the Spirit already, of course, but this appears to be a special empowering and gifting peculiar to this apostolic age of new revelation (8).

     1:6-7.  Many Christians still exhibit the confusion of v.6, and are determined to ignore the answer of v.7.  The apostles had Luke 22:30 as an excuse.  But clearly, times are not given us to know.

     1:8.  Cf. Col.1:23.

     1:9.  “…a cloud received Him….”  This is the cloud that hides the glory of God, and which watched over Israel in the OT (cf. Ex.40:34ff.; Ps.97:1-2; 1 Kings 8:10-12).

     1:12.  A Sabbath day’s journey is about half a mile.

     1:14.  This is the last mention of Jesus’ mother in the NT, and the first mention of his brothers associated with the disciples.  (Contrast John 7:5).  After his resurrection, we know he appeared to his brother James (1 Cor.15:7).

     1:15-20.  Peter understands David as speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and as speaking the words of Christ.  Of course they applied to David in his context as well, but for the Christian, Ps.69 and 109 should also be read as though Christ himself were speaking.

     1:18-19.  See notes at Mt.27:7-10.

     1:21-26.  Judas’s place had to be filled by someone who had been with Jesus from his baptism on, but the most important thing was that he “become a witness with us of His resurrection.”  (22; Luke 24:46-48; Acts 2:32).

      1:26.  The lot was used often in the OT to determine God’s will beyond where man’s judgment and vision could see.  F.F.Bruce wryly comments, “But if there are better ways of appointing the right men to ecclesiastical responsibilities, there are also worse ways.”