New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Acts 1
2
until the day he was taken up to heaven. Before Jesus left, he gave orders to the apostles he had chosen. He did this through the Holy Spirit.
Reference
Holy
Hebrews 9:24
Acts 10:38
Parallel theme
Acts 1:9
John 20:21
Ephesians 2:20
John 13:1
John 16:28
John 13:3
Spirit
Isaiah 48:16
Word
John 13:18
3
After his suffering and death, he appeared to them. In many ways he proved that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of 40 days. During that time he spoke about God's kingdom.
Reference
Kingdom
Acts 28:31
Colossians 1:13
Romans 14:17
Matthew 21:43
Parallel theme
Acts 13:31
John 20:26
1 John 1:1
John 21:14
John 21:1
Matthew 28:9
4
One day Jesus was eating with them. He gave them a command. "Do not leave Jerusalem," he said. "Wait for the gift my Father promised. You have heard me talk about it.
Reference
Covenant
Luke 24:49
Acts 2:33
Parallel theme
John 14:16
John 15:26
John 7:39
John 20:22
Luke 12:12
Luke 11:13
Acts 10:41
Matthew 10:20
5
John baptized with water. But in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
Reference
Baptism
Acts 19:4
Holy
Matthew 3:11
Luke 3:16
Titus 3:5
Mark 1:8
Acts 10:45
Parallel theme
John 1:31
Joel 3:18
Spirit
1 Corinthians 12:13
6
When the apostles met together, they asked Jesus a question. "Lord," they said, "are you going to give the kingdom back to Israel now?"
Reference
Kingdom
Luke 19:11
Luke 17:20
Daniel 7:27
Luke 22:29
Matthew 20:21
Parallel theme
Matthew 24:3
Matthew 17:11
7
He said to them, "You should not be concerned about times or dates. The Father has set them by his own authority.
Reference
8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Then you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem. You will be my witnesses in all Judea and Samaria. And you will be my witnesses from one end of the earth to the other."
Reference
Holy
Matthew 28:19
Acts 5:32
Parallel theme
Mark 16:15
Acts 6:8
Romans 10:18
Luke 10:19
Spirit
Romans 15:19
Witness
Acts 4:33
John 15:27
Matthew 24:14
9
After Jesus said this, he was taken up to heaven. They watched until a cloud hid him from their sight.
Reference
10
While he was going up, they kept on looking at the sky. Suddenly two men dressed in white clothing stood beside them.
Reference
11
"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking at the sky? Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. But he will come back in the same way you saw him go."
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 1:7
1 Thessalonians 4:16
Mark 13:26
Matthew 24:30
Matthew 25:31
John 14:3
Matthew 16:27
Luke 21:27
Acts 13:31
References Jesus
1 Thessalonians 1:10
12
The apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. It is almost a mile from the city.
Reference
13
When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Peter, John, James and Andrew were there. Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew were there too. So were James, son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas, son of James.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 20:8
Luke 22:12
Mark 14:15
Mark 2:14
Acts 12:17
James 1:1
References Peter
Acts 2:38
14
They all came together regularly to pray. The women joined them too. So did Jesus' mother Mary and his brothers.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 2:1
Luke 11:13
Acts 2:46
Prayer
Acts 6:4
Ephesians 6:18
Acts 2:42
Colossians 4:2
Romans 12:12
Luke 18:1
Matthew 21:22
15
In those days Peter stood up among the believers. About 120 of them were there.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 15:6
16
Peter said, "Brothers, a long time ago the Holy Spirit spoke through David's mouth about Judas. What he said in Scripture had to come true. Judas was the guide for the men who arrested Jesus.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 41:9
Acts 1:20
Acts 13:38
Acts 23:1
Spirit
1 Peter 1:11
Word
John 13:18
Matthew 26:56
Matthew 26:54
Matthew 26:47
Mark 14:43
18
Judas bought a field with the reward he got for the evil thing he had done. He fell down headfirst in the field. His body burst open. All his insides spilled out.
Reference
19
Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this. So they called that field Akeldama. In their language, Akeldama means The Field of Blood.
📍 Akeldama
20
Peter said, "Here is what is written in the book of Psalms. It says, " 'May his home be deserted. May no one live in it.' --(Psalm 69:25) The Psalms also say, " 'Let someone else take his place as leader.' --(Psalm 109:8)
Reference
21
So we need to choose someone to take his place. It will have to be a man who was with us the whole time the Lord Jesus lived among us.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 15:27
22
That time began when John was baptizing. It ended when Jesus was taken up from us. The one we choose must join us in giving witness that Jesus rose from the dead."
Reference
23
So they suggested two men. One was Joseph, who was called Barsabbas. He was also called Justus. The other man was Matthias.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Acts 15:22
24
Then they prayed. "Lord," they said, "you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 15:8
Revelation 2:23
Romans 8:27
Prayer
Acts 6:6
Acts 14:23
References Lord
1 Samuel 16:7
Jeremiah 17:10
25
Show us who should take the place of Judas as an apostle. He gave up being an apostle to go where he belongs."
Reference
Chapter Summary
Acts 1 serves as the bridge between the Gospel of Luke and the story of the early Christian Church, beginning with Jesus' resurrection appearances and ending with the apostles preparing for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Luke explains that his previous book described what Jesus began to do and teach, while Acts will continue the story through the work of the apostles and the expanding community of believers.
After His resurrection, Jesus appears to His disciples over forty days, providing convincing evidence that He is alive and teaching them about the kingdom of God.
Before ascending to heaven, Jesus tells the apostles to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the Father's promise, which is the coming of the Holy Spirit.
The disciples are still wondering whether Jesus will restore the kingdom to Israel, but Jesus redirects their attention away from trying to determine God's timetable.
Instead, He gives them a mission.
They will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them and will become His witnesses beginning in Jerusalem, then moving throughout Judea and Samaria, and ultimately reaching the ends of the earth.
This statement provides the basic geographical direction for the entire book of Acts.
Jesus then ascends into heaven while the disciples watch.
As they continue looking upward, two men dressed in white tell them that Jesus will return in the same way they saw Him go.
The disciples therefore receive both a mission for the present and a hope for the future: they must continue Jesus' work while waiting for His return.
The apostles return to Jerusalem and gather together with other believers, including women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus' brothers.
Instead of immediately beginning their public ministry, they spend this period praying and waiting for God's promised Spirit.
Approximately 120 believers are gathered together, showing that the early Christian community already exists before the major public events of Pentecost.
Peter then takes a leadership role and addresses the problem created by Judas' betrayal and death.
Judas had been one of the twelve apostles and had shared in Jesus' ministry, but his betrayal left the apostolic group incomplete.
Peter explains that Scripture had anticipated what happened and that another person should take Judas' place.
The community therefore establishes a clear requirement for the replacement: the candidate must have accompanied Jesus throughout His ministry, from the time of John's baptism until the ascension, so that he could serve as a witness to Jesus' resurrection.
Two qualified men are presented: Joseph Barsabbas, also called Justus, and Matthias.
The believers pray, asking God to reveal whom He has chosen, and then cast lots.
Matthias is selected and added to the eleven apostles, restoring the group to twelve.
The chapter therefore ends with the apostles united, prayerful, restored to twelve, and waiting for the Holy Spirit.
The central message of Acts 1 is that Jesus' earthly ministry has ended, but His mission continues through His followers, empowered by the Holy Spirit and called to carry the message of His resurrection from Jerusalem to the entire world.
The chapter also establishes several major themes that will shape the rest of Acts: the resurrection, the ascension, the promised Holy Spirit, Christian witness, prayer, apostolic leadership, Scripture, God's timing, and the worldwide expansion of the Gospel.
Most importantly, Jesus does not simply tell the disciples to remember Him after His departure.
He gives them a purpose.
They are to become His witnesses, beginning where they are and gradually carrying the message farther and farther until it reaches the ends of the earth.
Acts therefore begins with a small community of approximately 120 believers waiting together in Jerusalem, but the mission Jesus gives them will eventually extend far beyond Jerusalem and become a movement reaching across the Roman world.
Luke explains that his previous book described what Jesus began to do and teach, while Acts will continue the story through the work of the apostles and the expanding community of believers.
After His resurrection, Jesus appears to His disciples over forty days, providing convincing evidence that He is alive and teaching them about the kingdom of God.
Before ascending to heaven, Jesus tells the apostles to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the Father's promise, which is the coming of the Holy Spirit.
The disciples are still wondering whether Jesus will restore the kingdom to Israel, but Jesus redirects their attention away from trying to determine God's timetable.
Instead, He gives them a mission.
They will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them and will become His witnesses beginning in Jerusalem, then moving throughout Judea and Samaria, and ultimately reaching the ends of the earth.
This statement provides the basic geographical direction for the entire book of Acts.
Jesus then ascends into heaven while the disciples watch.
As they continue looking upward, two men dressed in white tell them that Jesus will return in the same way they saw Him go.
The disciples therefore receive both a mission for the present and a hope for the future: they must continue Jesus' work while waiting for His return.
The apostles return to Jerusalem and gather together with other believers, including women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus' brothers.
Instead of immediately beginning their public ministry, they spend this period praying and waiting for God's promised Spirit.
Approximately 120 believers are gathered together, showing that the early Christian community already exists before the major public events of Pentecost.
Peter then takes a leadership role and addresses the problem created by Judas' betrayal and death.
Judas had been one of the twelve apostles and had shared in Jesus' ministry, but his betrayal left the apostolic group incomplete.
Peter explains that Scripture had anticipated what happened and that another person should take Judas' place.
The community therefore establishes a clear requirement for the replacement: the candidate must have accompanied Jesus throughout His ministry, from the time of John's baptism until the ascension, so that he could serve as a witness to Jesus' resurrection.
Two qualified men are presented: Joseph Barsabbas, also called Justus, and Matthias.
The believers pray, asking God to reveal whom He has chosen, and then cast lots.
Matthias is selected and added to the eleven apostles, restoring the group to twelve.
The chapter therefore ends with the apostles united, prayerful, restored to twelve, and waiting for the Holy Spirit.
The central message of Acts 1 is that Jesus' earthly ministry has ended, but His mission continues through His followers, empowered by the Holy Spirit and called to carry the message of His resurrection from Jerusalem to the entire world.
The chapter also establishes several major themes that will shape the rest of Acts: the resurrection, the ascension, the promised Holy Spirit, Christian witness, prayer, apostolic leadership, Scripture, God's timing, and the worldwide expansion of the Gospel.
Most importantly, Jesus does not simply tell the disciples to remember Him after His departure.
He gives them a purpose.
They are to become His witnesses, beginning where they are and gradually carrying the message farther and farther until it reaches the ends of the earth.
Acts therefore begins with a small community of approximately 120 believers waiting together in Jerusalem, but the mission Jesus gives them will eventually extend far beyond Jerusalem and become a movement reaching across the Roman world.