Acts 1:3
After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
After His suffering
This phrase refers to the crucifixion and the immense physical and spiritual agony that Jesus endured. The Greek word for "suffering" is "πάσχω" (paschō), which encompasses not only physical pain but also emotional and spiritual distress. This suffering was prophesied in Isaiah 53 and fulfilled in the Gospels, highlighting the sacrificial nature of Christ's mission. His suffering was necessary for the atonement of sin, fulfilling the Old Testament sacrificial system and establishing a new covenant.

He presented Himself
The Greek word "παρίστημι" (paristēmi) means to stand beside or to present oneself. This indicates that Jesus actively and intentionally revealed Himself to His disciples. This presentation was not merely a vision or spiritual experience but a physical manifestation of the risen Christ. It underscores the reality of the resurrection, affirming that Jesus conquered death and is alive.

to them
The "them" refers to the apostles and other followers of Jesus. This group was the foundation of the early Church, and their witness was crucial for the spread of the Gospel. By appearing to them, Jesus was equipping and preparing them for their mission. This personal encounter with the risen Christ transformed their understanding and empowered them to become bold witnesses.

with many convincing proofs
The Greek term "τεκμήριον" (tekmerion) refers to evidence that is undeniable and conclusive. Jesus provided tangible, irrefutable evidence of His resurrection, such as showing His wounds and eating with His disciples. These proofs were necessary to dispel doubt and to confirm the truth of His resurrection, which is the cornerstone of Christian faith.

appearing to them
The Greek word "ὀπτάνομαι" (optanomai) means to be seen or to appear. This indicates that Jesus' appearances were visible and physical, not merely spiritual or metaphorical. His appearances were a testament to His bodily resurrection, affirming the hope of believers in their own future resurrection.

over a span of forty days
The period of forty days is significant in biblical history, often associated with times of testing, preparation, and revelation (e.g., Moses on Mount Sinai, Israel in the wilderness, Jesus' temptation). This time allowed Jesus to teach and prepare His disciples for the coming of the Holy Spirit and their mission to spread the Gospel. It was a period of transition from His earthly ministry to His heavenly reign.

and speaking about the kingdom of God
The "kingdom of God" was a central theme of Jesus' teaching. In Greek, "βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ" (basileia tou Theou) refers to God's sovereign rule and reign. During these forty days, Jesus clarified the nature of the kingdom, which is both a present reality and a future hope. He prepared His disciples to understand their role in advancing this kingdom through the power of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the spiritual and transformative nature of God's reign in the hearts of believers.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The central figure of this passage, who, after His resurrection, appeared to His disciples to confirm His victory over death and to teach them about the kingdom of God.

2. The Disciples
The followers of Jesus who witnessed His post-resurrection appearances and received His teachings during the forty days.

3. The Kingdom of God
The central theme of Jesus' teachings during this period, emphasizing the spiritual reign of God and the fulfillment of His promises.

4. Forty Days
The period during which Jesus appeared to His disciples, symbolizing a time of preparation and transition, similar to other significant biblical events (e.g., Moses on Mount Sinai, Jesus' temptation in the wilderness).

5. Convincing Proofs
The evidence Jesus provided to His disciples to affirm His resurrection, strengthening their faith and preparing them for their mission.
Teaching Points
The Reality of the Resurrection
The resurrection of Jesus is a historical and foundational truth of the Christian faith, supported by many convincing proofs. Believers can have confidence in the reality of the resurrection and its implications for eternal life.

The Importance of the Kingdom of God
Jesus' teachings about the kingdom of God during the forty days highlight its centrality in His mission. Christians are called to seek first the kingdom and live as its ambassadors in the world.

Preparation for Mission
The forty days served as a time of preparation for the disciples, equipping them for their mission. Believers today are also called to be prepared and equipped for the work God has for them.

Faith Strengthened by Evidence
Jesus provided evidence to strengthen the faith of His disciples. Christians can be assured that their faith is not blind but is supported by historical and spiritual truths.

The Role of Witnesses
The disciples were witnesses to the resurrection and were tasked with spreading the message. Believers are also called to be witnesses of Christ's resurrection and His transformative power in their lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the reality of Jesus' resurrection impact your daily life and faith journey?

2. In what ways can you seek to understand and live out the teachings of the kingdom of God in your current context?

3. Reflect on a time when your faith was strengthened by evidence or experience. How can you use that to encourage others?

4. What steps can you take to prepare yourself for the mission God has for you, similar to how the disciples were prepared during the forty days?

5. How can you be a more effective witness of the resurrection in your community, and what practical actions can you take to share this message?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Luke 24:36-49
This passage describes one of the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus, where He provides peace and understanding to His disciples, similar to the convincing proofs mentioned in Acts 1:3.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8
Paul recounts the appearances of the risen Christ to various individuals and groups, affirming the historical reality of the resurrection and its foundational role in the Christian faith.

Matthew 28:18-20
The Great Commission, where Jesus commands His disciples to make disciples of all nations, is a direct outcome of the teachings and empowerment they received during the forty days.
After the ResurrectionHomilistActs 1:3
Christ Risen, Yet not AscendedW. H. Lewis, D. D.Acts 1:3
Christ's Conception of His KingdomActs 1:3
Forty Days with JesusJ. P. Gledstone.Acts 1:3
He Rose Again from the DeadF. Barrow, D. D.Acts 1:3
Noblesse ObligeJ. W. Burn.Acts 1:3
Sense Evidence Given of Christ's ResurrectionW. Arnot, D. D.Acts 1:3
Sensible Proofs of Christ's ResurrectionR. Tuck Acts 1:3
The Best Proof of Christ's ResurrectionChristlieb.Acts 1:3
The Conversations of the Great Forty DaysG. T. Stokes, D. D.Acts 1:3
The Epiphanies of the Forty DaysW. Denton, M. A.Acts 1:3
The Forty DaysJ. P. Lange, D. D.Acts 1:3
The Forty DaysJ. Hampden Gurney, M. A.Acts 1:3
The Forty DaysM. G. Pearse.Acts 1:3
The Forty DaysAlexander MaclarenActs 1:3
The Identification of the Risen ChristW. R. Campbell.Acts 1:3
The Kingdom of GodActs 1:3
The Risen JesusR.A. Redford Acts 1:3
The Significance of the Forty DaysJ. Lightfoot, D. D.Acts 1:3
The Unfolding of the Divine Kingdom Throughout the AgesMark Hopkins.Acts 1:3
The World's Supreme Question to the FrontP.C. Barker Acts 1:3
Things Pertaining to the Kingdom of GodActs 1:3
The Dawn of the Gospel DayR.A. Redford Acts 1:1-5
The Forty Days After the PassionE. Johnson Acts 1:1-5
Christ's Mission and OursS. Conway Acts 1:1-8
A True Commencement Must have Respect to What has Gone BeforeH. C. Trumbull, D. D.Acts 1:1-12
Aspects of Christ on the EarthActs 1:1-12
Christ Directs Thought to HeavenActs 1:1-12
Christ Preceding His Apostles to HeavenA. Maclaren, D. DActs 1:1-12
Christ's Finished and Unfinished WorkA. Maclaren, D. DActs 1:1-12
Jesus LivesJ. Stoughton.Acts 1:1-12
Literary HistoriesW. R. Campbell.Acts 1:1-12
St. Luke a Model for the Bible StudentR. Burgess, B. D.Acts 1:1-12
Teaching to be Combined with DoingGf. Pentecost.Acts 1:1-12
The Ascending LordMonday ClubActs 1:1-12
The Ascension of ChristJ W. Hamilton.Acts 1:1-12
The Ascension: its Central PositionNesselmann.Acts 1:1-12
The Beginning of Apostolicity (1J. Parker, D. D.Acts 1:1-12
The Beginning of Apostolicity (2J. Parker, D. D.Acts 1:1-12
The Coronation of ChristW. B. Campbell.Acts 1:1-12
The Ever-Active ChristA. Verran.Acts 1:1-12
The Gospels and the ActsW. Arnot, D. D.Acts 1:1-12
The Gospels the Living Picture of ChristLittle's "Historical Lights."Acts 1:1-12
The Last Days of the Gospel PeriodW. Hudson.Acts 1:1-12
The Memorabilia of ChristActs 1:1-12
The Ministry of Jesus a BeginningW. Hudson.Acts 1:1-12
The Permanence of Christ in HistoryA. Maclaren, D. DActs 1:1-12
The Pre-Eminence of the Doctrine of Christ IncarnateEvangelical MagazineActs 1:1-12
The Resurrection and Ascension of ChristD. Jennings.Acts 1:1-12
The Unchanged PlanW. R. Campbell.Acts 1:1-12
The Uniqueness of Christ's Earthly MinistryD. Thomas, D. D.Acts 1:1-12
TheophilusBp. Jacobsen.Acts 1:1-12
People
Alphaeus, Andrew, Barsabas, Bartholomew, David, James, Jesus, John, Joseph, Judas, Jude, Justus, Mary, Matthew, Matthias, Peter, Philip, Simon, Theophilus, Thomas, Zelotes
Places
Akeldama, Field of Blood, Galilee, Jerusalem, Judea, Olivet, Samaria
Topics
Alive, Appeared, Appearing, Clear, Concern, Convincing, Death, During, Forty, God's, Infallible, Intervals, Kingdom, Passion, Period, Pertaining, Present, Presented, Proofs, Reign, Shewed, Showed, Shown, Signs, Space, Speaking, Spoke, Suffered, Suffering, Sure, Teaching
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Acts 1:3

     1654   numbers, 11-99
     2376   kingdom of God, coming
     2560   Christ, resurrection
     4945   history
     5472   proof, evidence
     7751   persuasion
     8105   assurance, basis of
     9110   after-life

Acts 1:1-3

     1436   reality

Acts 1:3-4

     9311   resurrection, of Christ

Library
June 3. "Ye Shall Receive the Power of the Holy Ghost" (Acts i. 8).
"Ye shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost" (Acts i. 8). There is power for us if we have the Holy Ghost. God wants us to speak to men so that they will feel it, so that they will never forget it. God means every Christian to be effective, to count in the actual records and results of Christian work. Dear friends, God sent you here to be a power yourself. There is not one of you but is an essential wheel of the machinery, and can accomplish all that God calls you to. I solemnly believe that there
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Ascension Day
Text: Acts 1, 1-11. 1 The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, concerning all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, 2 until the day in which he was received up, after that he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 to whom he also showed himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing unto them by the space of forty days, and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God: 4 and being assembled together with them, he charged them not
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

The Forty Days
'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.'--ACTS i. 3. The forty days between the Resurrection and the Ascension have distinctly marked characteristics. They are unlike to the period before them in many respects, but completely similar in others; they have a preparatory character throughout; they all bear on the future work of the disciples, and hearten them for the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

The Unknown To-Morrow
A New Year's Sermon 'It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power.'--ACTS i. 7. The New Testament gives little encouragement to a sentimental view of life. Its writers had too much to do, and too much besides to think about, for undue occupation with pensive remembrances or imaginative forecastings. They bid us remember as a stimulus to thanksgiving and a ground of hope. They bid us look forward, but not along the low levels of earth and its changes.
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

The Theme of Acts
'The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach. 2. Until the day in which He was taken up.'--ACTS i. 1, 2. 'And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31. Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.' --ACTS xxviii. 30, 31. So begins and so ends this Book. I connect the commencement and the close, because I think
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

The Ascension
'The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 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: 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: 4. And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

The Apostolic Witnesses
'Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us ... must one be ordained to be a witness with us of His resurrection.' --ACTS i. 21, 22. The fact of Christ's Resurrection was the staple of the first Christian sermon recorded in this Book of the Acts of the Apostles. They did not deal so much in doctrine; they did not dwell very distinctly upon what we call, and rightly call, the atoning death of Christ; out they proclaimed what they had
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

The Ascension: Back Home Again Until -- --
Tarry ye--Go ye: the Jerusalem meeting--the walk to Olives--not Palestine only, but a world--the last word--upward--seen no more. Coming again: gazing upward, Acts 1:10, 11.--a continuation upward--the Olivet outlook.
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus

The Parting Promises of the Saviour.
(On Ascension Day.) TEXT: ACTS i. 6-11. THE great event that we commemorate to-day was no doubt something very different to the disciples at that time from what it is to us. They had hardly recovered from the stunned condition into which His death had thrown them; they had hardly come to realize calmly their pain at His separation from them; at least, they had certainly not yet learned to look at it in the right way, for they regarded it as the ruin of His whole work on earth--when His joyful resurrection
Friedrich Schleiermacher—Selected Sermons of Schleiermacher

The Mystery of Iniquity
"The mystery of iniquity doth already work." 2 Thess. 2:7. 1. Without inquiring how far these words refer to any particular event in the Christian Church, I would at present take occasion from them to consider that important question, -- In what manner the mystery of iniquity hath wrought among us till it hath well-nigh covered the whole earth. 2. It is certain that "God made man upright;" perfectly holy and perfectly happy: But by rebelling against God, he destroyed himself, lost the favour and
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Witnessing Better than Knowing the Future
"When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 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. 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."--Acts 1:6-8. THESE ARE AMONG THE LAST WORDS of
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 39: 1893

Tenth Day for God's Spirit on Our Missionaries
WHAT TO PRAY.--For God's Spirit on our Missionaries "What the world needs to-day is, not only more missionaries, but the outpouring of God's Spirit on everyone whom He has sent out to work for Him in the foreign field." "Ye shall receive power, when the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be My witnesses unto the uttermost parts of the earth."--ACTS i. 8. God always gives His servants power equal to the work He asks of them. Think of the greatness and difficulty of this work,--casting out
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

The Propagation of Christianity.
IN this argument, the first consideration is the fact -- in what degree, within what time, and to what extent, Christianity actually was propagated. The accounts of the matter which can be collected from our books are as follow: A few days after Christ's disappearance out of the world, we find an assembly of disciples at Jerusalem, to the number of "about one hundred and twenty;" (Acts i. 15.) which hundred and twenty were probably a little association of believers, met together not merely as believers
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity

The Second Coming of Christ.
When Jesus was taken up into heaven and a cloud had received him out of sight, two heavenly visitants appeared unto the men of Galilee and said, "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11. Jesus went up in a cloud and he is to come again in like manner as he went up. "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory." Mark 13:26. No one knows the exact time of his coming.
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day

Other New Testament Names for "Being Filled with the Spirit. "
That we may see how full the New Testament is of this blessing, and that we may the better understand what it is and how it is obtained, let us just glance at some other terms used by the Holy Ghost when speaking of it. 1. "Baptized with the Holy Ghost." "Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" (Acts i. 5). See also Acts xi. 16, Matt. iii. 11, Mark i. 8, Luke iii. 16, John i. 33. Now, though "baptized" and "filled" are sometimes convertible terms, it is instructive to note
John MacNeil—The Spirit-Filled Life

Prayer-Equipment for Preachers
"Go back! Back to that upper room; back to your knees; back to searching of heart and habit, thought and life; back to pleading, praying, waiting, till the Spirit of the Lord floods the soul with light, and you are endued with power from on high. Then go forth in the power of Pentecost, and the Christ-life shall be lived, and the works of Christ shall be done. You shall open blind eyes, cleanse foul hearts, break men's fetters, and save men's souls. In the power of the indwelling Spirit, miracles
Edward M. Bounds—The Weapon of Prayer

Interpretation of Prophecy.
1. The scriptural idea of prophecy is widely removed from that of human foresight and presentiment. It is that of a revelation made by the Holy Spirit respecting the future, always in the interest of God's kingdom. It is no part of the plan of prophecy to gratify vain curiosity respecting "the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power." Acts 1:7. "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God"--this is its key-note. In its form it is carefully adapted to this great end.
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Mount Olivet. The Mount of Olives, 2 Samuel 15:30
Zechariah 14:4. In the Rabbins commonly, The Mount of Oil. "The mount called the mount of Olives, lying over against the city, is distant five furlongs." But Luke saith, Acts 1:12, "Then they returned from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath-day's journey." But now a sabbath-day's journey contained eight furlongs, or a whole mile. Neither yet, for all this, doth Luke fight against Josephus. For this last measures the space to the first foundation of Olivet; the other, to that
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The Resurrection of Christ.
The resurrection of Christ from the dead is reported by the four Gospels, taught in the Epistles, believed throughout Christendom, and celebrated on every "Lord's Day," as an historical fact, as the crowning miracle and divine seal of his whole work, as the foundation of the hopes of believers, as the pledge of their own future resurrection. It is represented in the New Testament both as an act of the Almighty Father who raised his Son from the dead, [209] and as an act of Christ himself, who had
Philip Schaff—History of the Christian Church, Volume I

The Acts of the Apostles.
Comp. § 82. 1. Critical Treatises. M. Schneckenburger: Zweck der Apostelgeschichte. Bern, 1841. Schwanbeck: Quellen der Ap. Gesch. Darmstadt, 1847. Ed. Zeller: Contents and Origin of the Acts of the Apostles. Stuttg., 1854; trsl. by Jos. Dare, 1875-76, London, 2 vols. Lekebusch: Composition u. Entstehung der Ap. Gesch. Gotha, 1854. Klostermann: Vindiciae Lucancae. Göttingen, 1866. Arthur König (R. C.): Die Aechtheit der Ap. Gesch. Breslau, 1867. J. R. Oertel: Paulus in der Ap. Gesch.
Philip Schaff—History of the Christian Church, Volume I

The Church and Her Mission, or the Three Constitutional Synods, 1760-1775
. As we enter on the closing stages of our journey, the character of the landscape changes; and, leaving behind the wild land of romance and adventure, we come out on the broad, high road of slow but steady progress. The death of Zinzendorf was no crushing blow. At first some enemies of the Brethren rejoiced, and one prophet triumphantly remarked: "We shall now see an end of these Moravians." But that time the prophet spoke without his mantle. Already the Brethren were sufficiently strong to realize
J. E. Hutton—History of the Moravian Church

Ascension Day. This Same Jesus which is Taken up from You into Heaven, Shall So Come, in Like Manner as Ye have Seen Him Go into Heaven.
This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven. Herr auf Erden muss ich leiden [92]Neumann. 1700. trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1855 Lord, on earth I dwell in pain; Here in anguish I must lie; Wherefore leav'st Thou me again, Why ascendest Thou on high? Take me, take me hence with Thee, Or abide, Lord, still in me; Let Thy love and gifts be left, That I be not all bereft. Leave Thy heart with me behind, Take mine hence with
Catherine Winkworth—Lyra Germanica: The Christian Year

Power "In" and "Upon. "
You remember that strange, half-involuntary "forty years" of Moses in the "wilderness" of Midian, when he had fled from Egypt. You remember, too, the almost equally strange years of retirement in "Arabia" by Paul, when, if ever, humanly speaking, instant action was needed. And pre-eminently you remember the amazing charge of the ascending Lord to the disciples, "Tarry at Jerusalem." Speaking after the manner of men, one could not have wondered if out-spoken Peter, or fervid James had said: "Tarry,
Dwight L. Moody—Secret Power

St. Ignatius (Ad 116)
When our Lord ascended into Heaven, He left the government of His Church to the Apostles. We are told that during the forty days between His rising from the grave and His ascension, He gave commandments unto the Apostles, and spoke of the things belonging to the kingdom of God (Acts i. 2f). Thus they knew what they were to do when their Master should be no longer with them; and one of the first things which they did, even without waiting until His promise of sending the Holy Ghost should be fulfilled,
J. C. Roberston—Sketches of Church History, from AD 33 to the Reformation

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