The Great Commission Begins
Acts 1 hums with excitement—a quiet moment before the church bursts to life, asking you: Will you step into God’s plan? For forty days, the risen Jesus teaches His followers (1:1-3), proving death can’t hold Him, then promises the Holy Spirit’s power (1:4-5). In the Great Commission (1:6-8), He calls them to spread His love from Jerusalem to the world’s edges, fulfilling Isaiah’s vision of a light to all nations (Isaiah 49:6). As Jesus ascends (1:9-11), clouds lift Him up, echoing Daniel’s Son of Man with a promise to return (Daniel 7:13-14). In the Upper Room, 120 believers pray together (1:12-14), readying their hearts. Peter leads, choosing Matthias to restore the Twelve (1:15-26), fulfilling Psalm 109:8’s prophecy (Psalm 109:8). Acts 1 blends ancient promises with bold steps, sparking the Spirit’s fire. Today, it challenges you to pray, trust, and share that same mission wherever you are.
The Promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5)
In Acts 1:4-5, Jesus gathers the apostles and commands them to stay in Jerusalem, promising they will soon receive the Holy Spirit. This gift, foretold in Joel 2:28-32, will empower them for their mission. His instruction to wait sets the stage for Pentecost, where the Spirit’s arrival will launch the church into action.
The Ascension and the Great Commission (Acts 1:6-11)
Acts 1:6-11 captures Jesus’ final charge to His apostles before His ascension. When they ask if He will now restore Israel’s kingdom, Jesus redirects them to their mission: to be His witnesses, empowered by the Spirit, from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). This echoes Isaiah 49:6’s call to be a light to the nations. As He ascends, angels promise His return, grounding the church’s hope in His second coming.
Historically, this moment on the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s journey from Jerusalem, marks the transition from Jesus’ earthly ministry to the church’s Spirit-led mission. Theologically, the ascension confirms Jesus’ exaltation (Philippians 2:9) and enables the Spirit’s coming (John 16:7). The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) is now set in motion, with the apostles tasked to disciple all nations. This passage challenges believers today to live as witnesses, trusting in Christ’s return and the Spirit’s power.
Preparing for Pentecost
This infographic details 'Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas,' fortifying the apostles’ ranks before Pentecost.
Acts 1:12-22 begins post-ascension as they return to Jerusalem (1:12), uniting 120 believers in the Upper Room for prayer (1:13-14). Peter rises (1:15), addressing Judas’s betrayal—his death in a field (1:18-19) fulfilling Psalm 69:25—and cites Psalm 109:8 (‘another take his office’) to call for a replacement (1:20-22), needing a witness from Jesus’s baptism to ascension.
Acts 1:23-26 concludes with Joseph (Barsabbas/Justus) and Matthias nominated (1:23); after prayer and casting lots (1:24-26), Matthias restores the Twelve, echoing Israel’s tribes.
This two-box flow—prayer to restoration—shifts from pause to action, blending scripture with divine choice. It’s Acts 1’s quiet close, steadying the church’s foundation after Jesus’s ascent (1:9-11) for the Spirit’s fire (Acts 2).
Mission Progression
This visual captures the seamless flow of events, showing how Christ’s final acts ignite the church’s journey, ready to spread His word across the earth.
Acts 1:1-26 unfolds a pivotal mission arc, charted in this flowchart, from Christ’s resurrection teaching (1:1-3) and the Spirit’s promise (1:4-5) to the Great Commission (1:6-8), which branches into three destinations—Jerusalem, Judea/Samaria, and the Ends of Earth—setting the stage for the church’s global expansion.
The Ascension (1:9-11) introduces a return promise, followed by Upper Room prayer (1:12-14) among 120 believers, uniting them in purpose. Peter’s leadership (1:15-20) then guides Matthias’s selection (1:15-26), restoring the Twelve and launching the church’s mission. OT echoes enrich this narrative: Joel 2:28-32’s Spirit outpouring, Daniel 7:13-14’s ascent, and Psalm 109:8’s succession prophecy all find fulfillment, bridging ancient promises to NT action.
