1:1 The 1 former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all
that Jesus began both to a do and teach,
(1) Luke switches over from the history of the Gospel, that is
from the history of the sayings and doings of Christ, unto
the Acts of the Apostles.
(a) The acts of Jesus are the miracles and deeds which
showed his Godhead, and his most perfect holiness, and
examples of his doctrine.
1:32 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion
by many b infallible proofs, being seen of them forty
days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom
of God:
(2) Christ did not immediately ascend into heaven after his
resurrection in order to thoroughly prove his resurrection,
and with his presence strengthen and encourage his Apostles
in the doctrine which they had heard.
(b) He called those things infallible proofs which are
otherwise termed necessary: now in that Christ spoke,
and walked, and ate, and was felt by many, these are
sure signs and proofs that he truly rose again.
1:4 And, being c 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.
(c) They were dispersed here and there, but he gathers them
together so that all of them might together be witnesses
of his resurrection.
1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized
d with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
(d) Either by the Father, or by me: so that either the
Father or Christ is set here contrasted with John, as
the Holy Spirit is contrasted with water, as things that
are comparable to one another.
1:63 When they therefore were come together, they asked of
him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time e restore again
the kingdom to Israel?
(3) We must fight before we triumph, and we must not search
curiously after those things which God has not revealed.
(e) To the old and ancient state.
1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times
or the f seasons, which the Father hath put in his own
power.
(f) That is, the proper occasions that provide opportunities
for doing matters, which occasions the Lord has
appointed to bring things to pass in.
1:94 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld,
he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their
sight.
(4) After Christ had promised the full power of the Holy
Spirit, with whom he would govern his church (even though
he would be absent in body), he took up his body from us
into heavenly tabernacles to remain there until the latter
day of judgment, as the angels witness.
1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up
into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up g from
you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have
seen him go into heaven.
(g) That is, out of your sight.
1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called
Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath h day's
journey.
(h) About two miles.
1:135 And when they were i 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.
(5) Ecclesiastical assemblies to hear the word, and to make
common prayer, were first instituted and kept in private
houses by the Apostles.
(i) They went into the house which the Church had chosen at
that time to be a gathering place for the whole
assembly.
1:14 These all k continued with l one accord in m prayer
and supplication, with the n women, and Mary the mother
of Jesus, and with his o brethren.
(k) The Greek word signifies an invincible constancy and
steadfastness.
(l) It is to good purpose that this agreement is mentioned:
for those prayers are most acceptable to God which are
made with agreeing minds and wills.
(m) The disciples prayed for the sending of the Holy
Spirit, and also to be delivered from present dangers,
of which there were many that they were experiencing.
(n) For it was appropriate to have the wives strengthened
and encouraged who would afterwards be partakers of the
dangers with their husbands.
(o) With his relatives.
1:156 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the
disciples, and said, (the number of p names together were
about an hundred and twenty,)
(6) Peter is made the spokesman and interpreter of the whole
company of the Apostles, either by secret revelation of the
Holy Spirit, or by the express judgment of the congregation.
(p) Because men are commonly referred to and enrolled by
their names.
1:167 Men [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.
(7) Peter anticipates the offence that might be taken at the
falling away of Judas the betrayer, showing that all things
which happened to him were foretold by God.
1:18 Now this man q purchased a field with the reward of
iniquity; and r falling headlong, he burst asunder in the
midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
(q) Luke did not consider Judas' purpose, but that which
followed it, and so we used to say that a man has done
himself harm, not that he wanted and intended to, but
in respect of that which followed.
(r) The Greek words signify this much, that Judas fell down
flat and was torn apart in the middle, with a
tremendously great noise.
1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation
be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his s
bishoprick let another take.
(s) His office and ministry: David wrote these words
against Doeg the King's herdsman: and these words
"shepherd", "sheep", and "flock" are used with
reference to the Church office and ministry, so that
the Church and the offices are called by these names.
1:218 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all
the time that the Lord Jesus t went in and out among us,
(8) The Apostles do not deliberate at all, but first they
consult and take guidance from God's word: and again they
do nothing that concerns and is incumbent upon the whole
body of the congregation, without making the congregation a
part of the decision.
(t) This kind of speech signifies as much in the Hebrew
language as the exercising of a public and difficult
office, when they speak of such as are in any public
office; (De 31:2; 1Ch 27:1).
1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that
he was taken up u from us, must one be ordained to be a
witness with us of his resurrection.
(u) From our company.
1:239 And they x appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who
was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
(9) The Apostles must be chosen immediately from God: and
therefore after praying, Matthias is chose by lot, which is
as it were God's own voice.
(x) Openly, and by the voices of the entire company.
1:25 That he may take y part of this ministry and apostleship,
from which Judas by transgression z fell, that he might
go to his own place.
(y) That he may be a member and partaker of this ministry.
(z) Departed from, or fallen from: and it is a metaphor
taken from the word "way": for callings are signified
by the name of "ways" with the Hebrews.
