Acts 1 - A Study Guide by Mark A. Copeland

<< Previous | Index | Next >>
                         "ACTS OF THE APOSTLES"

                              Chapter One

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To begin our study of Acts with a review of things taught by Jesus
   between His resurrection and ascension:  the kingdom of God, the
   Promise of The Father, being baptized by the Spirit

2) To note the role and qualifications of the apostles as witnesses of
   the resurrection of Christ

3) To see how Luke sets the stage for the great events described in
   chapter two

SUMMARY

Luke begins his second book to Theophilus by alluding to the first (the
gospel of Luke, Lk 1:1-4).  He briefly reviews what occurred during the
forty days between the resurrection and ascension of Christ (cf. Lk
24:1-53).  Special attention is given to the Promise of the Father
regarding the apostles being baptized by the Holy Spirit, who would
empower them as witnesses for Christ in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and
even to the end of the earth (1-8).

The ascension of Jesus is then described (cf. also Lk 24:50-51), along
with the promise of His return by two men in white apparel standing by
(9-11).  Obeying the command of the Lord, the apostles return to
Jerusalem, where they wait and continue in prayer along with the women,
Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers (12-14).

During this time, Peter addresses the (120) disciples regarding Judas
who betrayed Jesus.  Both the fall and replacement of Judas were
foretold by the Spirit through the mouth of David, so Peter proposes
guidelines for nominees to take the place of Judas in the apostolic
ministry of being a witness of Jesus' resurrection.  Two men are
selected for consideration, and following prayer for the Lord to show
which of the two He has chosen, lots are cast and Matthias is numbered
with the eleven apostles (15-26).

OUTLINE

I. THE PROLOGUE (1-8)

   A. THE FORMER ACCOUNT TO THEOPHILUS (1-3)
      1. Of all that Jesus began to do and teach
      2. Until the day in which Jesus was taken up
      3. After He had given commandments to the apostles
         a. To whom He had shown Himself alive, being seen during forty
            days
         b. Speaking of things pertaining to the kingdom of God

   B. THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (4-8)
      1. The apostles commanded to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the
         Promise of the Father
         a. Which they had heard from Him
         b. For while John baptized with water, they would be baptized
            with the Holy Spirit shortly
      2. The apostles question Jesus concerning the kingdom
         a. Would He now restore the kingdom to Israel?
         b. It is not for them to know the times or seasons which the
            Father has put in His own authority
      3. When the Spirit has come upon the apostles...
         a. They shall receive power
         b. They shall be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria,
            and to the end of the earth

II. THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST (9-11)

   A. JESUS ASCENDS TO HEAVEN (9)
      1. When He had spoken these words, while they watched
      2. A cloud received Him out of their sight

   B. THE PROMISE OF HIS RETURN (10-11)
      1. While looking steadfastly as Jesus ascends, two men in white
         apparel stand by
      2. They address the apostles
         a. "Men of Galilee"
         b. "Why do you stand gazing up into heaven?"
      3. They promise Jesus will return
         a. "This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven"
         b. "Will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven"

III. THE WAITING IN JERUSALEM (12-14)

   A. THE APOSTLES RETURN TO JERUSALEM (12)
      1. From the mount called Olivet
      2. About a Sabbath day's journey

   B. THEY CONTINUE IN PRAYER (13-14)
      1. In an upper room where they were staying
      2. The names of the apostles:  Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip,
         Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon
         the Zealot, Judas the son of James
      3. They pray with the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and His
         brothers

IV. THE SELECTION OF MATTHIAS (15-26)

   A. THE COUNSEL OF PETER (15-22)
      1. To about 120 disciples, of  the need to replace Judas
         a. His betrayal prophesied by the Spirit through David
            1) He became a guide to those who arrested Jesus
            2) Though he was numbered with the apostles and had a part
               in their ministry
         b. His gruesome death described by Luke
            1) He purchased a field with the wages of iniquity (Mt
               27:3-8)
            2) He fell headlong, burst open in the middle, entrails
               gushing out
            3) The field is called Akel Dama, Field of Blood
         c. His end and replacement foretold in the Psalms
            1) "Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live
               in it" (Ps 69:25)
            2) "Let another take his office" (Ps 109:8)
      2. Stipulating requirements for one to be a witness of His
         resurrection with the apostles
         a. Having accompanied the apostles all the time Jesus went in
            and out among them
         b. Beginning from the baptism of John, until the day Jesus
            ascended to heaven

   B. MATTHIAS NUMBERED WITH THE APOSTLES (23-26)
      1. Two are proposed
         a. Joseph called Barsabas and surnamed Justus
         b. Matthias
      2. Prayer is offered to the Lord, who knows the hearts of all
         a. To show which of these two He has chosen
         b. Who would take part in the ministry and apostleship from
            which Judas fell
      3. Lots are cast
         a. The lot fell on Matthias
         b. He was numbered with the eleven apostles

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The Prologue (1-8)
   - The Ascension Of Christ (9-11)
   - The Waiting In Jerusalem (12-14)
   - The Selection Of Matthias (15-26)

2) What is the "former account" Luke has reference to? (1)
   - The gospel of Luke (Lk 1:1-4)

3) What three things does Luke mention Jesus did before He ascended?
   (2-3)
   - Gave commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen
   - Presented Himself alive by many infallible proofs
   - Spoke of things pertaining to the kingdom of God

4) How long a period was it between the resurrection and ascension of
   Christ? (3)
   - Forty days

5) What command did Jesus leave with His apostles? (4)
   - Not to depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the Promise of the
     Father

6) What did this "promise" pertain to? (5)
   - Being baptized with the Holy Spirit

7) What question did the apostles ask Jesus?  How did he respond? (6-7)
   - Would He at that time restore the kingdom to Israel?
   - It was not for them to know the times and seasons which the Father
     has put in His own authority

8) What was promised when the Spirit came upon them? What would they
   then be? (8)
   - The apostles would receive power
   - His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to end of the earth

9) What happened as Jesus ascended to heaven? (9)
   - A cloud received Him out of their sight

10) As Jesus ascended to heaven, who stood nearby? (10)
   - Two men in white apparel

11) What did they promise? (11)
   - Jesus will return in like manner as they saw Him ascend to heaven

12) From where did Jesus ascend to heaven?  How far was this from
    Jerusalem? (12)
   - Mount Olivet (near Bethany, cf. Lk 24:50)
   - A Sabbath day's journey (nearly a mile)

13) Where did the apostles stay in Jerusalem?  With whom did they
    pray? (13-14)
   - An upper room
   - With the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers
     (cf. Mt 13:55; Jn 7:5)

14) How many disciples were gathered there in those days? (15)
   - 120

15) Who stood up to speak?  What about? (15-20)
   - Peter
   - Replacing Judas who betrayed Jesus and hung himself

16) What happened to the body of Judas?  In what field? (18; Mt 27:3-10)
   - Fell headlong, burst open in the middle, and entrails gushed out
     (presumably after he hanged himself)
   - The field purchased with money paid to betray Jesus, known as Akel
     Dama, the Field of Blood

17) What were the requirements to be considered a replacement for Judas?
    (21-22)
   - Had accompanied the apostles all the time the Lord Jesus went in
     and out among them
   - From the baptism of John to the day Jesus ascended to heaven

18) What would be a primary role of the replacement? (22)
   - To be a witness with the apostles of the resurrection of Jesus

19) What two candidates were selected? (23)
   - Joseph called Barsabas, surnamed Justus
   - Matthias

20) What procedure was used to determine who would replace Judas?
    (24-26)
   - Prayer, and then the casting of lots

21) Who was numbered with the eleven apostles? (26)
   - Matthias
<< Previous | Index | Next >>
Home Page
Have A Bible Question? | Want A Free Bible Study Course? | Looking For A Church Near You?
Want To Talk With Someone By Phone? | Want To Discuss The Bible By Email?
Search The Outlines