Session 1 The Former Treatise, the Kingdom Question, and the Witness Commission

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Before You Read

Big idea: Acts does not begin with a new church program. It begins with the risen Christ, His chosen apostles, Jerusalem, the kingdom of God, and the promise of the Holy Ghost.

How to use this guide: Read each KJV verse first. Then mark what the verse says before deciding what it means doctrinally.

Three words to keep watching

Kingdom - In Acts 1, this is connected to Israel's promised restoration, not merely to religion in the heart.
Witnesses - The apostles are witnesses to Christ, beginning in Jerusalem and moving outward.
Promise - Pentecost is introduced as something promised before, not as a surprise mystery newly revealed.

A simple right-division reminder: Right division means letting each passage stand in its own audience, timing, and revelation. In Acts 1, Paul has not yet been saved, and the mystery of the body of Christ has not yet been revealed through him.

Acts 1:1

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

What does the passage say?

Luke is writing a second volume to Theophilus.
The first volume was about what Jesus began to do and teach.
Acts continues the record of Christ's work. Jesus remains the main subject.

Words to notice

Former treatise - The earlier written account, the Gospel of Luke.
Began - Luke implies continuation. Christ's work did not become irrelevant after the ascension.

Cross-references worth marking

Luke 1:1-4 - Luke's first volume was also written to Theophilus.
Luke 24:44-53 - Luke ends with resurrection instruction, Jerusalem, and the ascension.

Do not miss

Acts should not be treated first as a handbook for modern church practice. Luke begins by tying Acts to the Lord's ministry already recorded in his Gospel.

Acts 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:

What does the passage say?

Luke's Gospel reached to the day Christ was taken up.
Before the ascension, Christ gave commandments to the apostles He had chosen.
The immediate audience is the chosen apostles, not all later believers in every respect.

Words to notice

Taken up - The ascension.
Commandments - Authoritative instructions from the risen Christ.
Holy Ghost - The KJV's normal New Testament wording for the third Person of the Godhead.

Cross-references worth marking

Mark 3:14-19 - The Lord chose the twelve.
Mark 16:14-20 - The risen Christ commissioned the eleven.
John 20:21-23 - The risen Christ sent the apostles with authority.

Do not miss

These are kingdom apostles under direct instruction from Christ. Paul is not yet in the story.

Acts 1:3

To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

What does the passage say?

Jesus proved He was alive after His suffering and death.
The proof was not vague or emotional; Luke calls them "many infallible proofs."
The forty-day subject was "the kingdom of God."
The apostles had just received kingdom instruction from the risen Lord.

Words to notice

Passion - Christ's suffering, especially leading to His death.
Infallible proofs - Convincing proofs.
Kingdom of God - In this setting, the promised rule and reign of God connected to Israel's hope.

Cross-references worth marking

Luke 24:36-49 - Jesus showed His risen body and opened the Scriptures.
Daniel 2:44 - God will set up a kingdom.
Isaiah 2:1-4 - Zion and Jerusalem are central in kingdom expectation.

Do not miss

If the apostles ask about the kingdom in verse 6, do not assume they are ignorant. Verse 3 says Christ had just taught them about the kingdom for forty days.

Acts 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.

What does the passage say?

Christ assembled with the apostles.
He commanded them to stay in Jerusalem.
They were to wait for "the promise of the Father."
This promise was something they had already heard from Christ.

Words to notice

Jerusalem - The required starting place.
Wait - They were not told to launch immediately.
Promise of the Father - A promised divine provision, not a new human program.

Cross-references worth marking

Luke 24:49 - They were to tarry in Jerusalem until endued with power from on high.
Joel 2:28-32 - The Spirit outpouring belongs to Israel's prophetic expectation.

Do not miss

Jerusalem is not just a convenient location. Acts begins where Israel's kingdom hope would be expected to begin.

Acts 1:5

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

What does the passage say?

John baptized with water.
The apostles would soon be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Pentecost is introduced as the fulfillment of a promise already announced.

Words to notice

Baptized with water - John's visible baptism connected to Israel's kingdom preparation.
Baptized with the Holy Ghost - The promised Spirit baptism soon to occur.
Not many days hence - Not many days from now.

Cross-references worth marking

Matthew 3:11 - John announced baptism with the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:16-21 - Peter explains Pentecost by quoting Joel.
Acts 11:15-16 - Peter later remembers this saying of the Lord.

Translation note

Modern Bibles normally say "Holy Spirit" where the KJV says "Holy Ghost." That is an English wording difference, not a different Person.

Do not miss

Fulfilled prophecy is not the same as newly revealed mystery. Acts 1:5 points backward to John's announcement and forward to Pentecost, but it does not reveal the body of Christ.

Acts 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?

What does the passage say?

The apostles ask about timing: "at this time."
They expect restoration.
They expect a kingdom.
They expect that kingdom to be connected to Israel.
Jesus does not rebuke the question.

Words to notice

Restore again - Return something promised or formerly held.
Kingdom to Israel - Plain language that should not be spiritualized before it is read.
At this time - Their question is especially about timing.

Cross-references worth marking

2 Samuel 7:12-16 - The Davidic kingdom promise.
Luke 1:32-33 - Christ is promised David's throne.
Romans 11:25-29 - Israel's future is not canceled.

Do not miss

This is one of the controlling verses for the whole book. If Acts is read as though Israel's kingdom expectation is already gone, the reader will miss the force of the opening question.

Acts 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.

What does the passage say?

Jesus answers the timing issue.
He does not deny the kingdom.
He does not deny Israel's restoration.
The Father controls the times and seasons.

Words to notice

Times or seasons - Appointed periods and timing.
Power - Authority.

Cross-references worth marking

Daniel 2:21 - God changes times and seasons.
Matthew 24:36 - The day and hour are not revealed.
1 Thessalonians 5:1 - Paul also uses the phrase "times and seasons."

Do not miss

Verse 7 does not erase verse 6. Jesus withholds the calendar, not the promise.

Acts 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.

What does the passage say?

The apostles would receive power after the Holy Ghost came upon them.
They would be witnesses unto Christ.
The order begins in Jerusalem, then moves to Judaea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth.
The verse follows the kingdom question and the promise of Holy Ghost baptism.

Words to notice

Power - Divine enablement for the witness Christ assigned.
Witnesses unto me - The KJV keeps the direction of witness clear: they are witnesses unto Christ.
Jerusalem...uttermost part of the earth - Geographic movement outward from Israel's capital.

Cross-references worth marking

Isaiah 43:10 - Israel is called the Lord's witnesses.
Matthew 24:14 - The gospel of the kingdom is preached in all the world before the end.
Acts 13:46 - Paul later turns to Gentiles after Jewish rejection.
Acts 28:28 - The salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles.

Do not miss

Acts 1:8 can be applied to the importance of witness, but in context it is first a kingdom witness commission to the apostles. Do not read Paul's later gospel of the grace of God backward into this verse.

Text And Translation Helps

In Acts 1:1-8, there are no major Textus Receptus vs critical text differences that change the doctrine of the passage.
The bigger danger is interpretive: turning kingdom words into church words before letting the passage speak.
KJV phrases worth remembering:
- "began both to do and teach" - Acts continues Luke's account of Christ's work.
- "the kingdom of God" - the stated subject of the forty days.
- "restore again the kingdom to Israel" - the apostles' kingdom expectation.
- "witnesses unto me" - the apostles' assigned testimony.

Common Ideas To Test

"Acts is the birth and pattern book of the church."
- Test it by Acts 1:1-8: the passage speaks of Christ's continued work, chosen apostles, Jerusalem, Holy Ghost promise, kingdom, and Israel.
"The apostles were still confused about the kingdom."
- Test it by Acts 1:3: Christ had just taught them kingdom matters for forty days.
"Acts 1:8 is simply the church's missions slogan."
- Test it by Acts 1:6-8: the verse follows the question about Israel's restored kingdom.
"Pentecost must begin the present church because the Spirit came."
- Test it by Acts 1:5 and Acts 2:16: the coming event is connected to prior promise and explained by prophecy.

Session Summary

Acts continues Luke's account of what Jesus began to do and teach.
The chosen apostles received commandments from the risen Christ.
For forty days, Jesus taught them about the kingdom of God.
The apostles were told to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Ghost baptism.
Their question about the restored kingdom to Israel was a timing question, not a foolish question.
Jesus withheld the times and seasons but promised power for witness.
Acts begins with Israel, Jerusalem, kingdom expectation, fulfilled prophecy, and apostolic witness.
The body of Christ and the dispensation of grace should be learned from Paul's later revelation, not forced into Acts 1.

For Long-Term Study

Mark these themes as Acts unfolds

Jerusalem first.
Israel addressed and given opportunity.
Signs and wonders connected to apostolic witness.
Repeated Jewish resistance.
Paul's separate calling and ministry.
Gentile blessing increasing as Israel resists.
The movement from Jerusalem toward Rome.

Questions to keep asking

Who is speaking?
To whom are they speaking?
Is the passage explaining prophecy, revealing mystery, or recording transition?
Is Israel being addressed nationally, locally, or indirectly?
Has Paul received and begun proclaiming the later revelation of grace yet?

One sentence to remember

Acts begins with the risen Christ preparing His chosen apostles for Spirit-empowered kingdom witness from Jerusalem outward, while the later Pauline mystery has not yet been revealed.

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