Apostelgeschichte 1

1 Die erste Rede habe ich getan, lieber Theophilus, von alle dem, das Jesus anfing, beides, zu tun und zu lehren,

2 bis an den Tag, da er aufgenommen ward, nachdem er den Aposteln, welche er hatte erwählt, durch den Heiligen Geist Befehl getan hatte,

3 welchen er sich nach seinem Leiden lebendig erzeigt hatte durch mancherlei Erweisungen, und ließ sich sehen unter ihnen vierzig Tage lang und redete mit ihnen vom Reich Gottes.

4 Und als er sie versammelt hatte, befahl er ihnen, daß sie nicht von Jerusalem wichen, sondern warteten auf die Verheißung des Vaters, welche ihr habt gehört (sprach er) von mir;

5 denn Johannes hat mit Wasser getauft, ihr aber sollt mit dem Heiligen Geist getauft werden nicht lange nach diesen Tagen.

6 Die aber, so zusammengekommen waren, fragten ihn und sprachen: HERR, wirst du auf diese Zeit wieder aufrichten das Reich Israel?

7 Er aber sprach zu ihnen: Es gebührt euch nicht, zu wissen Zeit oder Stunde, welche der Vater seiner Macht vorbehalten hat;

8 sondern ihr werdet die Kraft des Heiligen Geistes empfangen, welcher auf euch kommen wird, und werdet meine Zeugen sein zu Jerusalem und in ganz Judäa und Samarien und bis an das Ende der Erde.

9 Und da er solches gesagt, ward er aufgehoben zusehends, und eine Wolke nahm ihn auf vor ihren Augen weg.

10 Und als sie ihm nachsahen, wie er gen Himmel fuhr, siehe, da standen bei ihnen zwei Männer in weißen Kleidern,

11 welche auch sagten: Ihr Männer von Galiläa, was stehet ihr und sehet gen Himmel? Dieser Jesus, welcher von euch ist aufgenommen gen Himmel, wird kommen, wie ihr ihn gesehen habt gen Himmel fahren.

12 Da wandten sie um gen Jerusalem von dem Berge, der da heißt Ölberg, welcher ist nahe bei Jerusalem und liegt einen Sabbatweg davon.

13 Und als sie hineinkamen, stiegen sie auf den Söller, da denn sich aufhielten Petrus und Jakobus, Johannes und Andreas, Philippus und Thomas, Bartholomäus und Matthäus, Jakobus, des Alphäus Sohn, und Simon Zelotes und Judas, des Jakobus Sohn.

14 Diese alle waren stets beieinander einmütig mit Beten und Flehen samt den Weibern und Maria, der Mutter Jesus, und seinen Brüdern.

15 Und in den Tagen trat auf Petrus unter die Jünger und sprach (es war aber eine Schar zuhauf bei hundertundzwanzig Namen):

16 Ihr Männer und Brüder, es mußte die Schrift erfüllet werden, welche zuvor gesagt hat der Heilige Geist durch den Mund Davids von Judas, der ein Führer war derer, die Jesus fingen;

17 denn er war zu uns gezählt und hatte dies Amt mit uns überkommen. {~}

18 Dieser hat erworben den Acker um den ungerechten Lohn und ist abgestürzt und mitten entzweigeborsten, und all sein Eingeweide ausgeschüttet.

19 Und es ist kund geworden allen, die zu Jerusalem wohnen, also daß dieser Acker genannt wird auf ihrer Sprache: Hakeldama (das ist: ein Blutacker).

20 Denn es steht geschrieben im Psalmbuch: "Seine Behausung müsse wüst werden, und sei niemand, der darin wohne", und: "Sein Bistum empfange ein anderer."

21 So muß nun einer unter diesen Männern, die bei uns gewesen sind die ganze Zeit über, welche der HERR Jesus unter uns ist aus und ein gegangen,

22 von der Taufe des Johannes an bis auf den Tag, da er von uns genommen ist, ein Zeuge seiner Auferstehung mit uns werden.

23 Und sie stellten zwei, Joseph, genannt Barsabas, mit dem Zunahmen Just, und Matthias,

24 beteten und sprachen: HERR, aller Herzen Kündiger, zeige an, welchen du erwählt hast unter diesen zweien,

25 daß einer empfange diesen Dienst und Apostelamt, davon Judas abgewichen ist, daß er hinginge an seinen Ort.

26 Und sie warfen das Los über sie, und das Los fiel auf Matthias; und er ward zugeordnet zu den elf Aposteln.

Apostelgeschichte 1 Commentary

Chapter 1

This book unites the Gospels to the Epistles. It contains many particulars concerning the apostles Peter and Paul, and of the Christian church from the ascension of our Saviour to the arrival of St. Paul at Rome, a space of about thirty years. St. Luke was the writer of this book; he was present at many of the events he relates, and attended Paul to Rome. But the narrative does not afford a complete history of the church during the time to which it refers, nor even of St. Paul's life. The object of the book has been considered to be, 1. To relate in what manner the gifts of the Holy Spirit were communicated on the day of Pentecost, and the miracles performed by the apostles, to confirm the truth of Christianity, as showing that Christ's declarations were really fulfilled. 2. To prove the claim of the Gentiles to be admitted into the church of Christ. This is shown by much of the contents of the book. A large portion of the Acts is occupied by the discourses or sermons of various persons, the language and manner of which differ, and all of which will be found according to the persons by whom they were delivered, and the occasions on which they were spoken. It seems that most of these discourses are only the substance of what was actually delivered. They relate nevertheless fully to Jesus as the Christ, the anointed Messiah.

Proofs of Christ's resurrection. (1-5) Christ's ascension. (6-11) The apostles unite in prayer. (12-14) Matthias chosen in the place of Judas. (15-26)

Verses 1-5 Our Lord told the disciples the work they were to do. The apostles met together at Jerusalem; Christ having ordered them not to depart thence, but to wait for the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. This would be a baptism by the Holy Ghost, giving them power to work miracles, and enlightening and sanctifying their souls. This confirms the Divine promise, and encourages us to depend upon it, that we have heard it from Christ; for in Him all the promises of God are yea and amen.

Verses 6-11 They were earnest in asking about that which their Master never had directed or encouraged them to seek. Our Lord knew that his ascension and the teaching of the Holy Spirit would soon end these expectations, and therefore only gave them a rebuke; but it is a caution to his church in all ages, to take heed of a desire of forbidden knowledge. He had given his disciples instructions for the discharge of their duty, both before his death and since his resurrection, and this knowledge is enough for a Christian. It is enough that He has engaged to give believers strength equal to their trials and services; that under the influence of the Holy Spirit they may, in one way or other, be witnesses for Christ on earth, while in heaven he manages their concerns with perfect wisdom, truth, and love. When we stand gazing and trifling, the thoughts of our Master's second coming should quicken and awaken us: when we stand gazing and trembling, they should comfort and encourage us. May our expectation of it be stedfast and joyful, giving diligence to be found of him blameless.

Verses 12-14 God can find hiding-places for his people. They made supplication. All God's people are praying people. It was now a time of trouble and danger with the disciples of Christ; but if any is afflicted, let him pray; that will silence cares and fears. They had now a great work to do, and before they entered upon it, they were earnest in prayer to God for his presence. They were waiting for the descent of the Spirit, and abounded in prayer. Those are in the best frame to receive spiritual blessings, who are in a praying frame. Christ had promised shortly to send the Holy Ghost; that promise was not to do away prayer, but to quicken and encourage it. A little company united in love, exemplary in their conduct, fervent in prayer, and wisely zealous to promote the cause of Christ, are likely to increase rapidly.

Verses 15-26 The great thing the apostles were to attest to the world, was, Christ's resurrection; for that was the great proof of his being the Messiah, and the foundation of our hope in him. The apostles were ordained, not to wordly dignity and dominion, but to preach Christ, and the power of his resurrection. An appeal was made to God; "Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men," which we do not; and better than they know their own. It is fit that God should choose his own servants; and so far as he, by the disposals of his providence, or the gifts of his Spirit, shows whom he was chosen, or what he has chosen for us, we ought to fall in with his will. Let us own his hand in the determining everything which befalls us, especially in those by which any trust may be committed to us.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ACTS

This book, in some copies, is called, "The Acts of the holy Apostles". It contains an history of the ministry and miracles of the apostles of Christ, and is a sort of a journal of their actions, from whence it takes its name. It begins at the ascension of Christ, and reaches to the imprisonment of the Apostle Paul at Rome; and is a history of upwards of thirty years: it gives an account of the first Gospel church at Jerusalem, and of the progress of the Gospel there, and in Judea, by the means of all the apostles, and particularly Peter, the minister of the circumcision, and who also first opened the door of faith to the Gentiles: it shows how the Gospel went forth from Jerusalem, and was spread in the Gentile world, especially by the Apostle Paul, whose companion Luke was, that was the writer of this book; for that it was written by him is very evident from the beginning of it, it being dedicated to the same person his Gospel is, and of which he makes mention; and in the Complutensian edition the book is called, "The Acts of the Apostles of Saint Luke the Evangelist"; and so the title of it in the Syriac version is, "the Book of the Acts: that is, the history of the blessed apostles, which my Lord Luke the Evangelist collected for the saints". It was by him written in the Greek language; and we are told {a}, that there was a version of it into the Hebrew language, and which was laid up in the library of the Jews at Tiberias; and is cited by R. Azarias {b} under the name of twlweph, "the Acts": of the authority of this book there has been no doubt, among the ancients, only Cerinthus the heretic endeavoured to discredit it; and it was not received by another sort of heretics called Severiani, from Severus, a disciple of Tatian {c}. It is a most excellent and useful work, showing the first planting of Christianity, and of Christian churches, both among the Jews and Gentiles; the spread and progress of the Gospel in several parts of the world; what sufferings the apostles endured for the sake of it; and with what patience and courage they bore them; and what success attended them; and is a standing proof and confirmation of the Christian religion.

{a} Epiphan. Contr. Haeres. l. 1. Haeres. 30. {b} Meor Enayim, p. 167. {c} Euseb. Eccl. Hist. l. 4. c. 29.