Acts Chapter One
Welcome to day one of reading acts through the month of February! Below you will find the chapter in Acts we are reading for today followed by some extras that you may wish to include in your study time. These will be available for you each day and if you feel comfortable sharing your responses below I would love to hear your heart! Pick and choose what you would like to do -- whatever works best for you!
READ IT:
Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”
18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:
“‘May his place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in it,’
and,
“‘May another take his place of leadership.’
21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
WRITE IT:
Copy the verse that had the biggest impact on you from chapter one either onto a notecard or into a journal and come back to it as often as you can today.
ANSWER:
1. What did Jesus mean by saying...
".. you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit"? (Acts 1:5)
2. Over how long did Jesus reveal Himself and teach His disciples (Acts 1:3)? Where else can you find this number used in the scriptures?
3. Using your own words, tell the meaning of Jesus’ words in verse 7. Do you ever have such questions? Why or why not?
4. Verse 8 is really the crux of the entire book of Acts. Re-read verse 8 and then answer the following:
a) What are they being called to do?
b) Where are they being called to do it?
c) How are they going to be able to do it?
YIELD:
If you went out to dinner with a friend and your friend did ALL the talking, not giving you even a moment to say a word...how would that make you feel? Sadly, I do this very thing to God ALL the time. I make time and space for Him— I read the word, I share all kinds of things with Him prayerfully, I study scriptures, read books etc ....but often leave out that quiet time to yield and just listen for His voice. Set a timer for 5 minutes (put away all phones, books, music, tv - any kind of distraction) and just yield. Listen. Be still.
Was this hard for you to do?
CLOSING PRAYER:
Thank you, God for this time together to not only read your word but unpack it and apply it to our lives. Thank you for your grace and for the power that your resurrection has earned for us. Teach us how to properly use these tools in our lives and give us opportunities to witness to others of your amazing grace! In Your name, Jesus, amen.
