1.
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
former. Literally first. This links the Acts with Luke's Gospel, see p. 1575.
treatise = account. Greek. logos. App-121 .
have. Omit.
Theophilus. See note on Luke 1:3 .
of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .
Jesus. App-98 .
began. This shows that the Acts records the continuation of the Lord's ministry to the Circumcision (Romans 15:8 ).
2.
Until 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:
taken up = received up. Compare Mark 16:19 .
after that He . . . had = having.
through. Greek. dia. App-104 .Acts 1:1 .
the Holy Ghost = Divine power. App-101 . given commandments unto = commanded.
the apostles. See App-189 .
had chosen = chose out (Luke 6:13 ).
3.
To 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:
also. Read after "Himself".
shewed = presented.
after His passion = after (Greek. meta. App-104 .) that He suffered.
infallible proofs = indubitable evidence. Greek. tek-merion. Only here. Compare 1 John 1:1 , 1 John 1:2 .
seen. Greek. optanomai. App-133 . Only here.
forty days = during (Greek. dia. App-104 .Acts 1:1; Acts 1:1 ) forty days. The only reference to the period between the Resurrection and the Ascension.
pertaining to = concerning. Greek. peri, as in Acts 1:1 .
the kingdom of God. App-112 and App-114 .
4.
And, 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.
being assembled together with. Greek. sunalizomai. Only here.
commanded. Greek. parangello. First occurance Matthew 10:5 . Compare App-121 .:6. Not the same word as in Acts 1:2 .
depart = separate themselves. Greek. charizo. First occurance, Matthew 19:6 .
wait for. Greek. perimeno . Only here.
promise of the Father. See App-17 . Compare Luke 24:49 .
5.
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
be baptized with. App-115 .
not. Greek. ou. App-105 .
many days hence = after (Greek. meta. App-104 .) these many days.
6.
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
asked of = were questioning. Greek. eperotao. Compare App-134 .
wilt Thou. Literally if ( App-118 . a) Thou dost. Figure of speech Heterosis (of Tense). App-6 .
at = in. Greek. en . App-104 .
restore again = establish or setup. Greek. apokathistano. First occurance Matthew 12:13 .
the kingdom: i.e. the Messianic kingdom, which the prophets spoke of, and all Israelites were looking for. Compare Luke 1:32 , Luke 1:33 ; and see App-112 and App-114 .
7.
And 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.
unto. Greek. pros . App-104 .
for you = yours.
know. Greek. ginosko. App-132 .
the times, &c. = the great time, &c. A Hebraism, plural of majesty. Figure of speech Heterosis. App-6 .
in. Greek. en, as Acts 1:6 .
power = authority. App-172 .
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.
power. Greek dunamis. App-172 .
the Holy Ghost = the Holy Spirit (with art.) App-101 . Compare Luke 24:49 .
upon. App-104 .
witnesses. See note on John 1:7 .
unto Me. Texts read, "of Me", or "My" witnesses. Compare Isaiah 43:10 , Isaiah 43:12 ; Isaiah 44:8 .
unto = as far as. Greek. heos.
earth. App-129 .
9.
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
beheld. App-133 .
taken up = lifted up. Greek. epairo. First occurance Matthew 17:8 . Always in Gospels, "lift up".
a cloud. Not a rain cloud of the earth, but referring to the attendant angelic hosts. Compare Psalms 24:7-10 ; Psalms 47:5 .Matthew 24:30 ; Matthew 26:64 . 1 Thessalonians 4:17 . Revelation 1:7 ; Revelation 11:12 .
received. Greek. hupolambano. Here; Acts 2:15 .Luke 7:43 ; Luke 10:30 .
out of their sight = from ( App-104 .) their eyes.
10.
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
looked stedfastly = were gazing earnestly. App-133 .
toward = into. App-104 .
heaven = the heaven (sing). See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .
went up = was going.
behold. App-133 .
men. App-123 . These were angels. Compare Acts 10:30 . John 20:12 .
11.
Which 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.
also said = said also.
Ye men of Galilee. Literally Men, Galileans. The term "men" was usual in addressing a company. Compare our use of the word, "Gentlemen". This usage is common in Acts: Acts 1:16 ; Acts 2:14 , Acts 2:22 , Acts 2:29 , Acts 2:37 ; Acts 3:12 ; Acts 5:35 ; Acts 7:2 ; Acts 13:15 , Acts 13:16 , Acts 13:26 , Acts 13:38 ; Acts 15:7 , Acts 15:13 ; Acts 17:22 ; Acts 19:35 ; Acts 21:28 ; Acts 22:1 ; Acts 23:1 , Acts 23:6 ; Acts 28:17 .
gazing up. App-133 . Some texts read App-133 .
this same = this.
so . . . in like manner. The Descent, therefore, will be like the Ascension, actual, literal, visible, unexpected, save by those looking for Him, in the clouds of heaven, and to the same place whence He departed (Zechariah 14:4 ).
have seen = beheld. App-133 .
go = going
12.
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
Olivet. Only here in N.T., but found often in the Papyri. The usual expression is the "Mount of Olives".
from = near.
a sabbath day's journey. See App-51 .
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.
were come = entered.
an = the.
upper room. Greek. huperoon : here; Acts 9:37 , Acts 9:39 ; Acts 20:8 . Not the same word as in Mark 14:15 .Luke 22:12 .
abode = were abiding. Greek. katameno. Only here.
Peter, &c. See App-141 .
14.
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
continued = were continuing. Greek. proskartereo. In Acts, here; Acts 2:42 , Acts 2:46 ; Acts 6:4 ; Acts 8:13 ; Acts 10:7 .
with one accord = with one mind. Occurs eleven times in Acts, once in Romans 15:6 . Found in a Papyrus of 117 B.C.
prayer. App-134 .
supplication. The texts omit.
and Mary. The last mention of her, "at prayer".
brethren. App-182 .
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,)
stood up = rose up. Greek. anistemi. App-178 .
disciples. The texts read "brethren".
number. Greek. ochlos, crowd. This is an occurance of the Figure of speech Epitrechon.
together = to the same (place). Greek. epi to auto. See Acts 2:1 , Acts 2:44 ; Acts 4:26 . 1Co 7:5 ; 1 Corinthians 11:20 ; 1 Corinthians 14:23 .
an hundred and twenty = three forties. A divinely appointed number during a period of waiting. It -was the number of Ezra's great synagogue. See App-10 .
16.
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.
Men and brethren. Compare Acts 1:11 .
scripture. Greek. graphe.
fulfilled = filled full. App-126 .
Ghost = Spirit. App-101 .
by = through. App-104 .Acts 1:1 .
David. Peter asserts that Psalms 69 was written by David, and was the utterance of the Holy Spirit. Compare 2 Peter 1:21 .
concerning. App-104 .
was = became.
took = arrested. Greek. sullambano. Compare Matthew 26:55 .
17.
For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
numbered. Greek. katarithmeo . Only here.
with. Greek. sun, as in Acts 1:14 , but the texts read en, among.
had. Omit.
part = the lot. Greek. kleros. Five times in the Gospels, of the lots cast for the Lord's garments.
ministry. Greek. diakonia. App-190 .
18.
Now 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.
Now = Therefore. Verses Acts 18:19 form a parenthesis.
this man = this one, indeed.
purchased = caused to be purchased. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect). App-6 . See App-161 .
field = place, or holding. Greek. chorion . See note on Matthew 26:36 .
reward = pay. Greek. misthos. Sin pays its wages (Romans 6:23 ).
iniquity. App-128 . Compare 2 Peter 2:13 , where the same Greek words are translated "wages of unrighteousness".
headlong. Greek. prenes. Only here.
burst asunder. Greek. lakeo . Only here. Dr. John Lightfoot (1602-75) writes: "The devil, immediately after Judas had cast back his money into the temple, caught him up into the air, strangled him, threw him headlong, and dashed him in pieces on the ground". He refers to Tobit 3.8, and adds, "That this was known to all the dwellers at Jerusalem, argues that it was no common and ordinary event, and must be something more than hanging himself, which was an accident not so very unusual in that nation. " Works, viii, pp 366, 367. This requires that Matthew 27:5 be read, "He was hanged, or strangled", instead of "hanged himself".
gushed out = were poured out.
19.
And 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.
known. Greek. gnostos. Compare App-132 . This word occurs fifteen times, ten times in Acts. unto = to.
proper = own. Greek. idios.
tongue = dialect. Greek. dialektos. Only in Acts: here; Acts 2:6 , Acts 2:8 ; Acts 21:40 ; Acts 22:2 ; Acts 26:14 . Aceldama. See App-94 .:3 and 161.
20.
For 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.
is = has been.
the = a: i.e. the second book, in Psalms 69:25 .
habitation = farm, or country house. Greek. epaulis. Only here.
desolate = desert: i.e. let the place he has thus acquired become a wilderness.
let, &c. Literally let there not (Greek. me.) be the dweller (Acts 1:19 ).
therein = in (Greek. en App-104 .) it.
bishoprick. Greek. episcope, the office of an episcopos, or overseer. Occurs only here; Luke 19:44 . 1Ti 3:1 . 1 Peter 2:12 . Compare Acts 1:17 . This is a composite quotation from Psalms 69:25 , and Psalms 109:8 . App-107 .
another. Greek. heteros. App-124 .
take = receive.
21.
Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
all = in (Greek. en) all.
went in and out. A Hebraism for life in general. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Species). App-6 . Compare Acts 9:28 . Deuteronomy 28:6 . John 10:9 .
among = over. App-104 .
22.
Beginning 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.
baptism. Greek. baptisma. App-115 . Put for ministry by Figure of speech Synecdoche. App-6 .
one = one of these.
be ordained to be = become.
resurrection. Greek. anastasis. App-178 . The resurrection is the great subject of the Apostolic witness. Compare Acts 2:32 ; Acts 3:26 ; Acts 4:10 ; Acts 5:30 ; Acts 10:40 ; Acts 13:30 ; Acts 17:3 , Acts 17:31 , &c.
23.
And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
appointed = put forward, or nominated.
Barsabas. Texts read Barsabbas. App-94 .:11. Compare Acts 15:22 .
24.
And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
prayed. Greek. proseuchomai. App-134 .
Which knowest, &c. Literally heart-knowing. Greek. kardiognostes. Only here and Acts 15:8 . Compare Jeremiah 17:10 .
shew = shew plainly. Greek. anadeiknumi. Only here and Luke 10:1 .
whether of these two. Literally of these two, the one.
25.
That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
take part = receive the lot. Greek. kleros.
this ministry, &c. = this apostolic ministry. Figure of speech Hendiadys. App-6 .
apostleship. Greek. apostole. Only here, Romans 1:5 . 1 Corinthians 9:2 .Galatians 1:2 , Galatians 1:8 .
from. App-104 . but texts read apo.
by transgression fell = transgressed. App-128 .
that he might = to.
his own. Same word as "proper", Acts 1:19 .
26.
And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
lots, lot. Greek. kleros. Same word as "part", in Acts 1:17 .
numbered. Greek. sunkatapsephizo. Only here. See note on Luke 14:28 .
with. Greek. meta. App-104 .