Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Acts 1

Act 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

The former treatise

i.e. the Gospel according to Luke.

Theophilus

Luk 1:3.

Act 1:2 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

Literally received up.

the Holy Ghost

Luk 24:49; Jhn 14:16, 26-27; Act 2:33.

Act 1:4 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 them

Or, eating with them.

heard of me

Or, heard from me.

Act 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

with…with

Or, in.

Act 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

restore

Scofield Matthew 3:2, note.

the kingdom

Forty days the risen Lord had been instructing the apostles "of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God," doubtless, according to His custom (Luk 24:27, 32, 44, 45), teaching them out of the Scriptures. One point was left untouched, viz., the time when He would restore the kingdom to Israel; hence the apostles' question. The answer was according to His repeated teaching; the time was God's secret (Mat 24:36, 42, 44; 25:13; cf. 1Th 5:1).

Kingdom (N.T.). Act 1:6-7; 2:29-32. (Luk 1:31-33; 1Co 15:28).

Act 1:7 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.

It is not for you to know the times or the seasons

Mat 24:36; Mar 13:32; 1Th 5:1.

Act 1:8 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.

ye shall be witnesses

Act 1:22; Luk 24:48; Jhn 15:27; Act 2:32.

Act 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

he was taken up

Christ (First Advent). Gen 3:15.

Act 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

while they looked

Or, as they were looking.

heaven

2Co 12:2.

Act 1:11 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.

is taken up

Or, was received up.

come in like manner

Christ (Second Advent). Deu 30:3.

The two Advents—Summary:

1. The O.T. foreview of the coming Messiah is in two aspects—that of rejection and suffering (as, e.g. in Isa 53), and that of earthly glory and power (as, e.g. in Isa 11; Jer 23; Eze 37). Often these two aspects blend in one passage (e.g. Psa 2). The prophets themselves were perplexed by this seeming contradiction (1Pe 1:10-11). It was solved by partial fulfilment. In due time the Messiah, born of a virgin according to Isaiah, appeared among men and began His ministry by announcing the predicted kingdom as "at hand" (Scofield Matthew 4:17, note). The rejection of King and kingdom followed.
2. Thereupon the rejected King announced His approaching crucifixion, resurrection, departure, and return (Matthew 12:38-40; 16:1-4, 27; Luk 12:35-46; 17:20-36; 18:31-34; 19:12-27; Mat 24; 25).
3. He uttered predictions concerning the course of events between His departure and return (Mat 13:1-50; 16:18; 24:4-26).
4. This promised return of Christ becomes a prominent theme in the Acts, Epistles, and Revelation.

Taken together, the N.T. teachings concerning the return of Jesus Christ may be summarized as follows:

1. That return is an event, not a process, and is personal and corporeal (Mat 23:39; 24:30; 25:31; Mar 14:62; Luk 17:24; Jhn 14:3; Act 1:11; Phl 3:20-21; 1Th 4:14-17).
2. His coming has a threefold relation: to the church, to Israel, to the nations.
   1. To the church the descent of the Lord into the air to raise the sleeping and change the living saints is set forth as a constant expectation and hope (Mat 24:36, 44, 48-51; 25:13; 1Co 15:51-52; Phl 3:20; 1Th 1:10; 4:14-17; 1Ti 6:14; Tit 2:13; Rev 22:20).
   2. To Israel, the return of the Lord is predicted to accomplish the yet unfulfilled prophecies of her national regathering, conversion, and establishment in peace and power under the Davidic Covenant (Act 15:14-17 with Zec 14:1-9). See "Kingdom (O.T.)" Scofield 2 Samuel 7:8-17; Scofield Zechariah 13:8, note; Luk 1:31-33; Scofield 1 Corinthians 15:24, note.
   3. To the Gentile nations the return of Christ is predicted to bring the destruction of the present political world-system (Dan 2:34-35; Scofield Revelation 19:11, note); the judgment of Mat 25:31-46, followed by world-wide Gentile conversion and participation in the blessings of the kingdom (Isa 2:2-4; 11:10; 60:3; Zec 8:3, 20, 23; 14:16-21).

Act 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

a sabbath day's journey

About 4,854 feet.

Act 1:13 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.

an

the. cf. Jhn 20:19.

Zelotes

The Zealot.

Act 1:15 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,)

disciples

Or, brethren.

Act 1:16 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.

the Holy Ghost

Holy Spirit. Act 1:2, 5, 8, 16; Act 2:17-18, 33, 38. (Gen 1:2; Mal 2:15.)

by the mouth of David spake

Inspiration. Act 1:8, 16; Act 9:15. (Exo 4:15; Rev 22:19.)

Judas

Psa 41:9.

Act 1:17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

obtained

Or, received.

Act 1:18 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.

the reward of iniquity

Zec 11:12-13.

Act 1:20 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.

Let his habitation be desolate

Psa 69:25.

bishoprick

Greek episkopen, overseership. See Scofield Titus 1:5-9, note.

let another take

Psa 109:8.

Act 1:22 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.

taken up

Literally received up.

be ordained to be a witness

Literally become a witness.

Act 1:23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

appointed two

Literally made two stand up.

Act 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

Bible prayers (N.T.). Act 4:24-30. (Mat 6:9; Rev 22:20.)

Act 1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

part of

the place in

transgression

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.