New Testament Commentary - Acts 1

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 1 Jesus ministers for forty days after his resurrection—Kingdom to be restored to Israel at a later time—The Twelve to bear witness in Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth—Jesus ascends into heaven—Matthias chosen to fill the vacancy in the Twelve.
1 The former treatise have ^aI made, O ^bTheophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost^a had given ^acommandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he ^ashewed himself alive after his ^bpassion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things ^cpertaining to the kingdom of God:	2^a he through the Holy Ghost Acts is the witness of the Lord Jesus Christ trough the Holy Ghost.	1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the ^apromise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be ^abaptized 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 ^arestore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the ^aseasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive ^apower, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be ^bwitnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in ^cSamaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
The Ascension
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was ^ataken ^bup; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into ^aheaven? this same Jesus, which is ^btaken up from you into heaven, shall so ^ccome in like ^dmanner 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.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
13 And 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. 14 These all continued with ^aone accord in prayer and ^bsupplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his ^cbrethren.
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,) 16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David ^aspake before concerning ^aJudas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. 18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he ^aburst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their ^aproper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be ^adesolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his ^bbishoprick let another take.
21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one ^abe ordained to be a ^bwitness with us of his ^cresurrection.
Selection of an Apostle
23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they ^aprayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which ^bknowest the hearts of all men, shew ^cwhether of these two thou hast ^dchosen, 25 That he may take part of this ministry and ^aapostleship, from which Judas by transgression ^bfell, that he might go to his own place. 26 And they gave forth their lots^a; and the lot fell upon ^aMatthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.	26^a they gave forth their lots This meaning that they set forth their sustaining votes.