Jesus' Final Instructions and the Promise of the Spirit
Study note
Luke addresses Theophilus, connecting this account to his Gospel and summarizing how Jesus spent forty days after his resurrection teaching about the kingdom of God. Jesus commands his apostles to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, distinguishing it from John's water baptism.
1 Theophilus, in my first book I told you about everything Jesus began doing and teaching. The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 That story went all the way up to the day he was taken up into heaven. Before he left, he gave special directions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had picked. 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:
3 After he went through terrible suffering and death, he proved to them that he was alive again. Over a period of forty days, he kept showing up and talking with them about God's kingdom. 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:
4 During one of these times together, he gave them a command: "Stay right here in Jerusalem. Wait for what the Father promised -- the gift I already told you about." 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.
5 "John used water to baptize people, but in just a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
The Ascension of Jesus
Study note
The disciples ask Jesus if he will restore the kingdom to Israel, revealing their expectation of a political kingdom. Jesus redirects their focus toward the mission they will carry out through the Holy Spirit's power, serving as his witnesses from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. He then ascends into heaven, and two angels promise he will return in the same manner.
6 When they were all gathered together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will give Israel its kingdom back?" When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 Jesus told them, "The Father has decided when those things will happen, and that is not something you need to know." 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.
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth. 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 Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
9 Right after he said this, they watched him rise up into the sky. Then a cloud covered him, and they could not see him anymore. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 They kept staring up into the sky where he had gone. Suddenly, two men dressed in white appeared right beside them. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 "Men of Galilee," these two said, "why are you standing here looking up at the sky? This same Jesus who just left you and went into heaven will come back the very same way you saw him go." 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.
The Disciples in the Upper Room
Study note
The apostles return to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives and gather in an upper room for united prayer. The group includes the eleven apostles, certain women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
12 After that, they walked back to Jerusalem from the hill called Olivet, which was about half a mile away. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
13 Once they got there, they went upstairs to the room where they had been staying. The group included Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 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 Alphæus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
14 All of them met together regularly to pray, completely united. The women were there too, along with Mary the mother of Jesus and his brothers. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Matthias Replaces Judas
Study note
With the group numbering about one hundred and twenty believers, Peter addresses them, explaining that the Scriptures predicted Judas's betrayal and that another must take his place. After describing the grim fate of Judas and the field purchased with his blood money, Peter sets out the qualifications for the replacement: someone who witnessed Jesus' ministry from his baptism through his ascension. Two candidates are proposed, and after prayer, lots are cast, selecting Matthias as the twelfth apostle.
15 During those days, Peter stood up among the believers. There were about one hundred and twenty people there. He said, 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 "Friends, the scripture that the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David about Judas had to come true. Judas was the one who led the people who arrested Jesus." 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.
17 "He was one of us and had a role in this same ministry." For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
18 (Now Judas used the money he got from his evil deed to buy a field. He fell forward in that field, and his body split open so that all his insides spilled out.) 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.
19 (Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this. They named that field in their own language Aceldama, which means "The Field of Blood.") 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.
20 "The book of Psalms says, 'May his home become empty, with nobody living there.' It also says, 'Let someone else take over his role of leadership.'" 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.
21 "So we need to pick someone who was with us during the whole time the Lord Jesus was among us," Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 "starting from when John was baptizing all the way up to the day Jesus was taken up from us. This person must join us as a witness that Jesus rose from the dead." 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.
23 They put forward two names: Joseph called Barsabas (people also called him Justus) and Matthias. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 Then they prayed: "Lord, you can see into every person's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen" And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25 "to take the place in this ministry and work as an apostle that Judas walked away from when he went down his own dark path." That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
26 They drew lots between the two, and Matthias was selected. From that point on, he was counted as one of the twelve apostles. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.