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Dear Theophilus, in my first book I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach,

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until the day He was taken up. Before that, He had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen.

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To them He also showed Himself after His suffering had ended, and by many signs He proved that He was alive. For during forty days He appeared to them repeatedly and spoke with them about the kingdom of God.

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And on one occasion, while He was eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to remain there and wait for the promise of the Father, which, He said, “you have heard from Me.

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For John baptized with water, but not many days from now you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

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So those who were gathered there asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

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He answered, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons, which the Father has set by His own authority.

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But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

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After He had said this, He was taken up while they watched, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.

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While they were looking intently into the sky as He went up, suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them,

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and said to them, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up into heaven from you, will come again in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.”

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Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, which is a Sabbath day’s journey from Jerusalem.

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When they had come to the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying. These were Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

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All these continued with one accord in prayer, together with some women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

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In those days Peter stood up among the brothers who were gathered there, about one hundred and twenty in all, and said:

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“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand through David concerning Judas, who became the guide of those who arrested Jesus.

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For he was numbered among us and had a share in this ministry.”

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— This man Judas acquired a field with the reward of his wrongdoing, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle, and all his inward parts spilled out.

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This became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that in their own language that field was called “Hakal-Dama,” that is, Field of Blood —.

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“For it is written in the book of Psalms:

Let his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one dwelling in it:
and: Let another take his office.

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Therefore one of those who have accompanied us continually while the Lord Jesus went in and out among us

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beginning from the baptism of John until the day Jesus was taken up into heaven from us, must be added to us, to be a witness with us of His resurrection.”

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Then they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also named Justus, and Matthias.

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They all prayed and said: “Lord, You who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen,

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to receive the ministry of this office, the apostleship from which Judas fell away to go to his own place.”

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Then they cast lots for the two, and the lot fell to Matthias, and thus he was added to the number of the eleven apostles.

📖 Acts 1 – Jesus’ Ascension & Preparation for the Holy Spirit

🧾 Summary of Acts 1

Acts 1 is the beginning of the book written by Luke, a continuation of the Gospel of Luke. This chapter includes:

1. Jesus appears after His resurrection
2. The command to wait for the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem
3. Jesus’ ascension into heaven
4. The choosing of Judas Iscariot’s replacement

1. Luke’s Introduction (verses 1–3)

• Luke refers to this book as a continuation of the “former book” (the Gospel of Luke).
• He writes that Jesus appeared for 40 days after His resurrection and taught about the Kingdom of God.
• Jesus gave many clear proofs that He was alive after His death.

2. The Promise of the Holy Spirit (verses 4–8)

• Jesus commanded the disciples not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise, namely the Holy Spirit.
• They asked, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
• Jesus answered that the times and seasons are under the Father’s authority, but they would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, and become His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

3. The Ascension of Jesus to Heaven (verses 9–11)

• After saying this, Jesus was taken up into heaven before their eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.
• Two angels appeared and said,

“This Jesus, who was taken up into heaven, will come again in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.”

4. The Disciples Wait in Jerusalem (verses 12–14)

• They returned to Jerusalem and continued steadfastly in prayer together in the upper room.
• The names of the remaining 11 apostles are mentioned, along with the presence of Mary the mother of Jesus and His brothers.

5. Choosing a Replacement for Judas (verses 15–26)

• Peter stood and said that the Scriptures must be fulfilled, and a replacement for Judas must be chosen.
• Two men were named: Justus and Matthias.
• They prayed and cast lots, and Matthias was chosen to be numbered with the twelve apostles.

📘 Main Teachings of Acts 1

1. Jesus’ resurrection is true and real, witnessed for 40 days.
2. The Holy Spirit is the Father’s promise to be awaited, not something that can be forced or ignored.
3. The church’s calling is to be Christ’s witnesses throughout the world, beginning with the nearest surroundings.
4. Jesus ascended into heaven, but will return – this gives hope for His coming again.

✨ Spiritual Meaning of Acts 1

• The Lord arranges and guides the history of the church from the beginning by His plan and power.
• Obedience and waiting in prayer are an important part of spiritual life – they did not move at once, but waited for the Lord’s command.
• The mission of the church begins with the power of the Holy Spirit, not human strength.
• Every believer is a witness of Christ, wherever he may be.