✍ Bible Study
Chapter-by-Chapter Study Guides
Ch. 1
Ch. 2
Ch. 3
Ch. 4
Ch. 5
Ch. 6
Ch. 7
Ch. 8
Ch. 9
Ch. 10
Ch. 11
Ch. 12
Ch. 13
Ch. 14
Ch. 15
Ch. 16
Ch. 17
Ch. 18
Ch. 19
Ch. 20
Ch. 21
Ch. 22
Ch. 23
Ch. 24
Ch. 25
Ch. 26
Ch. 27
Ch. 28
Waiting on What God Promised
Acts — Chapter 1 (BSB)
Chapter Overview
Acts chapter 1 opens with Luke addressing Theophilus and picking up where his Gospel left off, establishing that Jesus appeared to His disciples for forty days after the resurrection, speaking about the kingdom of God (v. 1-3). Before His ascension, Jesus gives a crucial command: the disciples are not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father — the baptism of the Holy Spirit (v. 4-5). When the disciples ask about the restoration of the kingdom to Israel, Jesus redirects their focus from timelines to mission, telling them they will be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (v. 6-8). He then ascends into heaven before their eyes, and two angels appear to assure the disciples that Jesus will one day return in the same way they watched Him go (v. 9-11). The chapter closes with the disciples returning to Jerusalem in unity, devoting themselves to prayer alongside the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and Peter leading the group in replacing Judas with Matthias (v. 12-26). For the individual believer today, this chapter is a powerful reminder that God's great work in your life is not rushed — it begins with obedience, waiting, and prayer.
Key Verses
Acts 1:3 (BSB)
"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."
The resurrection is not a rumor — it is a historical reality confirmed by many proofs over forty days. Jesus took time to teach His disciples and ground them in what the kingdom of God truly means before sending them out. For you personally, this is a reminder that your faith rests on solid, demonstrated truth, not wishful thinking.
Acts 1:8 (BSB)
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”"
Jesus does not call His followers to witness in their own strength — He promises them power through the Holy Spirit first. The mission begins close to home and expands outward, which means your everyday life and relationships are your Jerusalem. God may be asking you today to consider where your own witness begins and whether you are relying on His Spirit to fuel it.
Acts 1:11 (BSB)
"“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.”"
The angels gently redirect the disciples from gazing upward in wonder to living purposefully in the present, anchored by the promise of Christ's return. There is real hope in knowing that Jesus is coming back, but that hope is meant to mobilize you, not paralyze you. Let the certainty of His return be the fuel that keeps you faithful and active in what He has called you to do right now.
Acts 1:14 (BSB)
"With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers."
While they waited for the Spirit, the disciples did not sit idle — they devoted themselves to prayer with one accord. This kind of unified, consistent prayer was not accidental but intentional, and it prepared them for what God was about to do. Your own seasons of waiting are invitations to go deeper in prayer, trusting that God is at work even before you see the results.
Acts 1:24-25 (BSB)
"And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.”"
Before making an important decision, the early church prayed and acknowledged that God alone knows the heart — they were not relying on their own judgment. This posture of seeking God's wisdom in practical decisions is a model for how you can approach every significant choice in your life. When you have a decision to make, bringing it to God in prayer first is not a formality — it is an act of trust that He is sovereign over the details.
Main Themes
- The promise and power of the Holy Spirit
- Faithful waiting and devoted prayer
- The call to be a witness for Christ
Discussion Questions
- Is there an area of your life right now where God might be calling you to wait on Him rather than rush ahead — and what would it look like to spend that waiting time in prayer?
- When you think about being a witness for Jesus, what does your 'Jerusalem' — your immediate circle of influence — look like, and what is one small step you could take toward it this week?
Personal Application
Set aside a specific time this week to pray about one decision or situation you have been carrying on your own, surrendering it to God and asking Him to lead you — just as the early disciples did before choosing Matthias.
Identify one person in your everyday life — a coworker, neighbor, or family member — and pray for them by name each day this week, asking the Holy Spirit to open a door for you to be a witness to them in word or deed.
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You that my faith is built on the real and risen Jesus, who appeared, who taught, and who ascended with the promise of return. Help me to be someone who waits on You with patience and fills that waiting with prayer, just as the early disciples did in that upper room. Give me a fresh dependence on Your Holy Spirit today, and make me willing to be Your witness right where You have placed me. In Jesus name, Amen.
Acts · Chapter 1
Chapter 2 →