Notes and Jottings

Acts 1

(1:1). Former treatise. This is the Gospel of St. Luke.

(1:1). Theophilus. He is called “most excellent” in Luke 1:3 which would suggest he was a man of high regard. His name means, “lover of God.”

(1:3). He presented himself alive. He presented himself in approximately A.D. 29.

(1:3). forty days. The only reference in the New Testament that records the length of time of Christ’s ministry after his resurrection.

(1:3). kingdom of God. The Lord Jesus Christ spent forty days after his resurrection teaching his apostles about the kingdom of God. Christ never told them when the kingdom would be restored to Israel. The time is known only by God.

(1:5). baptised with the Holy Ghost. God promised to give a new spirit. Jesus told his apostles that the Holy Spirit would give them power to carry out their mission (John 14:26). This promise of Jesus was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost. The mention of the spirit made them think that the kingdom was now going to be restored to Israel, hence the question in verse 6.

(1:6). kingdom to Israel? The Messianic, Davidic and Millennial Kingdom.

(1:8). Jerusalem. The preaching began in Jerusalem in Acts 2:1; in Judea and Samaria in Acts 8:5 and throughout the whole world in Acts 8:26.

(1:9). The Lord Jesus Christ went up to Heaven to be with the Father.

(1:11). The return of Christ will be similar to the ascension. His return will be visible and to the Mount of Olives (Rev. 1:7 & Zec. 14:4).

(1:12). a sabbath-day’s journey. This is only mentioned once in the Bible. It is the distance between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives which is about 2 km.

(1:19). in their proper tongue. The primary language of Jews at this time was Aramaic.

(1:19). Aceldama. The field bought with the money Judas had been paid for betraying Christ. Likely South West of Jerusalem and South East of the Hinnom Valley.

(1:20). in the book of Psalms. See Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8.

(1:22). “The last act of the old dispensation.” Harry A. Ironside.

(1:23). Joseph called Barsabbas was one of two candidates to replace Judas Iscariot as an apostle. He was also known as Justus. He was not selected to be an apostle although he was an eyewitness to the ministry of Christ. Being an eyewitness to the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ is an essential criteria to be an apostle. There is no biblical evidence to suggest that these thirteen apostles were substituted upon their death. For instance, refer to Acts 12:1–2. Jesus appointed the apostles to undertake the foundational tasks of the Church, which only need to be established once. Subsequent to the apostles’ deaths, additional roles, distinct from the apostolic office and not necessitating firsthand experience with Jesus, would continue the mission.

(1:23). Matthias. The other candidate to replace Judas Iscariot as an apostle. He was selected to replace Judas after prayer and casting lots. He was also an eyewitness to the ministry of Christ.

(1:25). apostleship. The requirements for apostleship presented in Acts 1 included:

(a). He needed to be male (v. 21). The term used is specifically for a man, not the general term for mankind.

(b). He must have been a companion of Jesus throughout His physical, earthly ministry (v. 21).

(c). He should have personally witnessed the resurrection (v. 22).

(d). He was required to be selected by the Lord Himself (vv. 24–26).

The Sixth Dispensation – Grace/Church.

The sixth dispensation is the dispensation of the Grace of God. It is also known as Church Age and it is the dispensation that we are currently under. The Church is distinct and separate from Israel. The Church is not Israel, and Israel is not the Church. Some of the characteristics of the Dispensation of Grace is that God’s grace is available to all people, and is dispensed to the whole world through the Church. During this dispensation Christ will build His Church and give the Church the responsibility of preaching the Gospel of God’s Grace to the ends of the earth. Another key aspect of this current dispensation is the fact that the Holy Spirit indwells with the Church which gives Christians the ability to live as Christ intended.

John 1:17 says, “For the law was given by Moses: grace and truth subsists through Jesus Christ.” The Dispensation of Grace began with the death and resurrection of Christ (Rom. 3:24-25, 4:24-25). In this dispensation there is no legal obedience as a condition of salvation. The testing in this dispensation is the acceptance or rejection of Christ as Lord and Saviour.

This dispensation is not tested as the others are. Certainly not failure and judgement but glory and victory. Grace has a twofold manifestation (1) In salvation (Rom. 3:24). (2) In the walk and service of Christians (Rom. 6:15). In this dispensation God speaks through His Son, to his holy Apostles and in the Scriptures.