Acts 1

King James Version

Full text for Acts Chapter 1

1¶ The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2Until 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:

3To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

4And, being assembled together with [them], commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but ‹wait for the promise of the Father, which, [saith he], ye have heard of me.›

5‹For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.›

6¶ When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7And he said unto them, ‹It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.›

8‹But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.›

9And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

12¶ Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

13And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas [the brother] of James.

14These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

15¶ 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,)

16Men [and] brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

17For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

18Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

19And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

20For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

21Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

23And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

24And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all [men], shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

25That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

26And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The book of Acts begins with Luke addressing Theophilus, recounting Jesus' post-resurrection appearances for forty days and His command to the apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Ghost. After instructing them to be His witnesses globally, Jesus ascended into heaven, with angels promising His return. Subsequently, the disciples, numbering about 120, gathered in Jerusalem, where Peter led them to choose Matthias by lot to replace Judas Iscariot, thus restoring the number of the twelve apostles.

Medium Summary

Acts chapter one opens with Luke's continuation of his former treatise, detailing Jesus' ministry and His post-resurrection appearances to the apostles over forty days, providing many infallible proofs and speaking of the kingdom of God. Jesus commanded them to remain in Jerusalem and await the baptism of the Holy Ghost, promising them power to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth. Following these instructions, Jesus was taken up into heaven, and two angels appeared, assuring the disciples that He would return in the same manner. The apostles then returned to Jerusalem, gathering in an upper room with other believers, including Mary, to pray. Peter addressed the assembly, explaining the necessity of fulfilling prophecy regarding Judas's betrayal and demise, and the need to appoint a new apostle. They nominated Joseph Barsabas and Matthias, and after prayer, cast lots, with Matthias being chosen to complete the twelve.

Long Summary

The first chapter of Acts, addressed by Luke to Theophilus, serves as a continuation of Luke's Gospel, recounting all that Jesus began to do and teach until His ascension. It details Jesus' post-resurrection period, during which He presented Himself alive to His apostles for forty days by many infallible proofs, speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. He specifically commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father, which was the baptism with the Holy Ghost, contrasting it with John's baptism with water. When questioned about the restoration of the kingdom to Israel, Jesus stated that the times and seasons were solely within the Father's power, but promised them power when the Holy Ghost came upon them, enabling them to be His witnesses throughout the world. As the disciples watched, Jesus was taken up into heaven, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. Two men in white apparel then appeared, assuring them that Jesus would return in the same manner as He ascended. The disciples returned from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem and gathered in an upper room, including Peter, James, John, and the other apostles, along with women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brethren. This assembly, numbering about 120, continued in prayer and supplication. Peter then stood up, referencing the scripture that foretold Judas's betrayal and the need for another to take his office. He recounted Judas's fate and the purchase of Aceldama, the field of blood. Peter declared that a new apostle must be chosen from among those who had companied with them from John's baptism until Jesus' ascension, to be a witness of His resurrection. They put forward Joseph called Barsabas and Matthias. After praying for divine guidance to show whom the Lord had chosen, they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, who was then numbered with the eleven apostles.

Core Concepts

  • Ascension of JesusJesus, after giving commandments and appearing to His disciples for forty days, was visibly taken up into heaven, and a cloud received Him out of their sight, marking the end of His earthly ministry.
  • Promise of the Holy GhostJesus commanded His apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the 'promise of the Father,' which He identified as being baptized with the Holy Ghost, promising them power to be His witnesses.
  • Apostolic WitnessThe apostles were commissioned to be witnesses of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Ghost, extending their testimony from Jerusalem to all Judaea, Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
  • Restoration of the TwelvePeter led the disciples to choose a replacement for Judas Iscariot, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy and ensuring the apostolic number of twelve was restored through divine guidance.
  • Judas's Demise and ProphecyThe chapter recounts Judas's betrayal, his subsequent death, and the purchase of Aceldama, linking these events to the fulfillment of prophecies found in the Psalms regarding his desolation and the taking of his bishoprick by another.
  • Divine Guidance through LotsTo select a new apostle, the disciples nominated two men and then prayed for the Lord to show His choice, ultimately using the casting of lots as a method to discern God's will.