Acts 1:1-11

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Comparative texts about Baptism: Water & Spirit from DSS, Josephus, Babylonian Talmud. At (Rutgers University Dept of Religion) Mahlon H. Smith's Into His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus companion to the historical study of Christian texts.
  • "The Promised Spirit," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation.
  • Chapter III, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans, Ignatius of Antioch (c. 50 - 115). (Longer Version only - 4th cent interpolation)
  • III.XXIII.1, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • Chapter XIX, On Baptism,  Tertullian (c. 198)
  • III.6, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • Chapter XXIV, On the Flesh of Christ, Tertullian (c. 211)
  • Chapter XXII, Chapter LI, On the Resurrection of the Flesh,  Tertullian (c. 211)
  • Chapter XXX, Against Praxeas,  Tertullian (c. 213)
  • I.III.7, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen. (c.225)
  • II.28, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Origen. (c.228)
  • II.LXIII, VII.LI, Against Celsus, Origen (c. 246)
  • X.18, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Origen. (c.247)
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "(baptize) Either by the Father, or by [Christ]: so that either the Father or Christ is set here contrasted with John, as the Holy Spirit is contrasted with water, as things that are comparable to one another."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "It is enough that He has engaged to give believers strength equal to their trials and services; that under the influence of the Holy Spirit they may, in one way or other, be witnesses for Christ on earth, while in heaven he manages their concerns with perfect wisdom, truth, and love."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost - And so are all true believers to the end of the world."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "He is coming again; not another, but 'this same Jesus'; and 'as ye have seen Him go, in the like manner shall He come'--as personally, as visibly, as gloriously."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "Ye shall receive power. Not temporal power, such as they dreamed of, but spiritual and moral power."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "Cloud Rider," Blogging toward Sunday, Nanette Sawyer, Theolog: The Blog of The Christian Century, 2008.
    • "When the men in white confirm that the Cloud Rider will be back, they are also affirming that unjust kingdoms and arrogant leaders ultimately fall."
  • Blogging toward Sunday, Walter Brueggemann, Acts 1:1-11, Theolog: The Blog of The Christian Century, 2007.
    • "In the Book of Acts and long after, when the church is empowered by the Spirit, the world finds it irresistible!"
  • "'Will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' (Acts 1:6)," William Loader, Being the Church Then and Now: Issues from the Acts of the Apostles.
    • "You and I are the place of the promise of the kingdom now. Yet ultimately the kingdom is God’s reign, God’s effort, God’s gift. We are not asked to usurp God, but to share his purpose and by his Spirit become his action in the world."
  • "'Why do you stand looking up into heaven?' (Acts 1:11)," William Loader, Being the Church Then and Now: Issues from the Acts of the Apostles.
    • "Let us cross over to Jerusalem with the joy of grace and the assurance that the vision of the kingdom sets us to an agenda also of structure and sound planning for ministry."
  • "The Ascension," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • Commentary, Acts 1:4-8, Gina M. Stewart, The African American Lectionary, 2008.
    • "The second coming, or Parousia, brings the ultimate closure to the story of the kingdom and the gospel. But that is not to be the focus of the disciples’ attention. Instead, Jesus shifts the emphasis from speculation about the future to demonstration and transformation of the present. God’s promise to revitalize Israel is not a matter of when (v. 7), but how (v. 8)."
  • "The Ascension," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "The assurance of His return and the measure of His presence and power in these intervening days is to be found, to a great extent, in His ascension."
  • "Getting Ahead of God (Acts 1:1-26)," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "But God may wish to use methods and means which will not only be more effective but which will give all the glory to Him. We cannot, therefore, take pride in our plans, our program, our obedience. This, as I understand it, is what the sovereignty of God means in practical terms."
  • Discussions of Acts 1:1 and Acts 1:8 at the B-Greek Archive.
• Articles & Background:
  • "How to Be a Disciple," Dallas Willard. Adapted from The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering our Hidden Life in God. Reprinted in The Christian Century, 1998. At Religion OnLine.
    • "...it could well prove to be a major turning point in our life if we would ... ask ourselves if we really do intend to be life students of Jesus. Do we really intend to do and be all of the high things we profess to believe in? Have we decided to do them? When did we decide it? And how did we implement that decision?"
  • "Stepping into the Drama," study guide for adults, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Catechesis," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2003. Focus article: "Stepping into the Drama," Gary Furr.
  • "The Claims of the Prologues and Greco-Roman Rhetoric: The Prefaces to Luke and Acts in Light of Greco-Roman Rhetorical Strategies," Vernon K. Robbins, Jesus and the Heritage of Israel: Luke's Narrative Claim upon Israel's Legacy, ed. David P Moessner, 1999.
  • "'The Apostles Whom He Chose because of the Holy Spirit' A Suggestion Regarding Acts 1:2," J.J. Kilgallen, Biblica 81 (2000).
    • "In Acts 1,2 Luke has placed `through the Holy Spirit' between two verb forms, the participle `having given orders' and the verb `he had chosen'; suggestions have been offered over the years as to which of these two verb forms `through the Holy Spirit' is supposed to modify."
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  • Lee, Mark, "An Evangelical Dialogue on Luke, Salvation, and Spirit Baptism," Pneuma, 2004.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
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  • Smith, Carol, "Biblical Perspectives on Power," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 2001.
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      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
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  • Weissenbuehler, Wayne, "Acts 1:1-11, Expository Article," Interpretation, 1992.
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      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
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• Reviews:
• Sermons:
  • "Up in the Air," Paul Bellan-Boyer, I Heard of a City Called Heaven.
  • "Footprints on the Earth," the Rev. Barbara K. Lundblad, Day 1, 2005.
  • "Power Source," the Rev. Dr. Catherine Taylor, Day 1, 2003.
• With Children:
  • "The Ascension," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
  • "Footprints," Talks to Children, Rev. Donald McCorkindale, Dalgety Parish Church, Fife, Scotland.
  • "Men of God," Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com.
  • "Strange and Miraculous!" Linda Edwards, The Children's Chapel.
  • Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.:
    • "The Disciples Look Up into Heaven"
    • "Jesus Tells the Disciples What To Do"
    • "Jesus Visits His Disciples, but Thomas Needs Proof"
  • "Coming Suddenly," "Jesus Ascends," Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com.
  • Acts 1 Word Search, Don Crownover's Bible Puzzles.
• Drama:
  • "Up, Up and Away," musical by Raymond J. Lombardi, dramatix. (Royalty required.)
  • "Super Human Strength," Andy Lund, dramatix.
  • "High above the Clouds," from A Certain Jesus by Jose Ignacio and Maria Lopez Vigil. Ideal for catechetical and liturgical dramatization of today's gospel. Claretian Publications.
  • "Ascension?" Michael English, Milton Parish Church Drama Resources.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • "Acts 1:1-11," at Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration. Liberation emphasis.
  • Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
  • Clip Art: Jesus Taken Up into Heaven, Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld woodcuts, World Mission Collection, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
  • Jesus Will Be Back, Reverend Fun Cartoon, gospelcom.net. Check for printing permissions at right-hand side of destination page.
  • After Ascension, Ascension, Ascension 2, Clip Art, Anglican Diocese of Dunedin, New Zealand.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymnal Scripture References, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions, Acts 1:3, 8, 9, 11. The Cyber Hymnal.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Ascension
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
  • Ascension
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Acts