Acts 1

September 21, 2022

Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.

Reading along with us in Acts? Here’s today’s reading:

Acts 1 (NIV)

Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God...........Continue Reading

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This Post Has 6 Comments

  1. The disciples watch Jesus ascend into heaven and wait for the Holy Spirit.

    It is interesting that at this time, although they did not have the Holy Spirit, they were able to discern from the scripture that they were to appoint a new apostle to serve in Judas’ place. They used OT means to discern whom God chose, the casting of lots.

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  2. Jesus’ teachings needed to continue to travel after His death and the disciples obeyed Jesus in those final days before He ascended into heaven to be prepared for what happens next.
    The picture of unity in decision making provided in this chapter is a great one. They needed to replace Judas and start their work spreading the Word and they did so with great care. The obeyed the words of Jesus, they prayed, they worked together as Jesus would with a common goal to do God’s work, they waited on God’s direction, and a new apostle was chosen. Everything done in the right way and in God’s time.

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  5. And so Jesus ascends into heaven to cap off His time here on this earth and it is made clear that he will return in the same way. But before He leaves He promises the Holy Spirit. It is interesting that verse 8 is cast in opposition to the disciples question about whether Jesus will restore the kingdom to Israel. Jesus explains they can’t know when that will happen, BUT instead of that earthly power you will receive power when the Holy Spirt comes, and it won’t be power to vanquish the earth, but to be witnesses to the earth of who Jesus is and what He did. So Jesus not only gives the primary marching orders ( be my witnesses) but also provides the means to accomplish it (power from the Holy Spirit).

    It has always been interesting to me that they choose someone to replace Judas. They must have thought 12 was an important number if Jesus was the one who chose that many. Or maybe there was a gap created and they saw that it should be filled. They are guided by scripture in deciding the general principle of choosing someone and Old testament means of casting lots to discern the specific purpose. God always desires for us to know His will and provides various means for us to discover it. It is also interesting that we never hear anything else about Matthias but God tags someone else to be an apostle later in the book. God will always make His will clear if we look for it and wait for Him to work.

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  6. Some things that I found interesting from this chapter are:
    The apostles wanted Jesus to restore the kingdom to Israel. That was on their minds at the time, and Jesus had to change their focus by saying it was not for them to know but the Holy spirit would come upon them, and they would be his witnesses.
    Mary, the mother of Jesus was there with them in the upper room.
    At this time there were 120 believers.
    To take the place of Judas, it was necessary for them to choose someone who was with Jesus the whole time of his ministry, and that person turned out to be Matthias.

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