Acts 1 (KJV)

Read Acts chapter 1 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

Acts 1

Deep Verse Commentaries in This Chapter

Acts 1:8

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is com…"

Acts 1:7

"And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times o…"

Acts 1:9

"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he w…"

Popular Verses in Acts 1

Most searched verses from this chapter, with KJV text and context.

Acts 1:8 KJV

Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8 KJV

Acts & Early Church

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Acts 1 Summary

Acts 1 bridges the Gospels and the church age. The risen Jesus spends forty days with His disciples, teaching about the kingdom of God and commanding them to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit: 'Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me... unto the uttermost part of the earth.'

Jesus then ascends into heaven from the Mount of Olives as the disciples watch. Two angels assure them that Jesus will return 'in like manner.' The disciples return to Jerusalem and devote themselves to prayer in the upper room. Peter leads the selection of Matthias to replace Judas, restoring the apostolic number to twelve. The chapter sets the stage for Pentecost and the explosive birth of the church.

Key Themes

AscensionWaiting for the SpiritWitnesses to the WorldPrayer

Key Verses in Acts 1

"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 1:8

The church's mission statement — empowered by the Spirit, witnessing in expanding circles from local to global.

"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."

— Acts 1:9

The ascension — Jesus physically leaves earth, completing His earthly ministry and beginning His heavenly reign.

"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

The promise of Christ's visible, physical return — the church's ultimate hope.

Life Application

Acts 1:8 gives you both the power source and the mission scope. You don't witness in your own strength — the Holy Spirit empowers. And your mission starts where you are (Jerusalem), extends to your region (Judea/Samaria), and reaches the world. Start local, think global.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened at the ascension?

Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus physically ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives while the disciples watched. A cloud received Him — likely the glory cloud of God's presence. Angels confirmed He would return the same way: visibly, bodily, and from the sky.

Why did the disciples need to wait for the Holy Spirit?

Jesus commanded them not to begin their mission until they received the Spirit's power. Human effort alone cannot accomplish God's work. The waiting period (about 10 days) was spent in prayer, building unity, and preparing hearts for the supernatural empowerment that came at Pentecost.

Read the full summary of Acts